Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT2 S2 Q4 Explanation

Dried grass clippings mixed

A free, expert breakdown of this official LSAT Logical Reasoning question.

TopicsParadox

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Stimulus

Dried grass clippings mixed into garden soil gradually decompose, providing nutrients for beneficial soil bacteria. This results in better-than-average plant growth. Yet mixing fresh grass causes poorer-than-average plant growth.

What this question is testing

Paradox

Your task

Break the argument into its conclusion and evidence, then do exactly what the question stem asks with that structure.

Common trap

Answers that sound relevant to the topic but don't connect to the argument's actual reasoning.

Winning move

Predict what a right answer must do, then test each choice against the conclusion-evidence gap.

Reading along? Open the full official question in LawHub — we show a fragment here and keep the reasoning in our own words.

The question
4.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the difference in plant

Answer choices

  1. Trap1% picked this

    The number of beneficial soil bacteria increases whenever any kind of plant material is mixed

  2. Trap9% picked this

    Nutrients released by dried grass clippings are immediately available to beneficial

  3. Trap4% picked this

    Some dried grass clippings retain nutrients originally derived from commercial lawn fertilizers, and thus provide additional

  4. Correct84% picked this

    Fresh grass clippings mixed into soil decompose rapidly, generating high levels of heat that kill

    Why this is right

    Answer D is correct.

    Skill tested: Paradox · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

  5. Trap2% picked this

    When a mix of fresh and dried grass clippings is mixed into garden soil, plant

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