Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT8 S4 Q7 Explanation

Derek: We must exploit available

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

TopicsPrinciple-Conform

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Stimulus

Derek: We must exploit available resources in developing effective anticancer drugs such as the one made from mature Pacific yew trees. Although the yew population might be threatened, the trees should be harvested now, since an anticancer chemical could take years to develop.

Lola: Not only are mature yews very rare, but most are located in areas where logging is prohibited to protect the habitat of the endangered spotted owl. Despite our eagerness to take advantage or a new medical breakthrough, we should wait for a synthetic drug rather than threaten owl, which could have far-reaching consequences for an entire ecosystem.

What this question is testing

Principle-Conform

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
7.

Lola’s position most closely conforms to which one of the

Answer choices

  1. Trap5% picked this

    Unless people’s well-being is threatened, there should be no higher priority than preserving endangered plant

  2. Trap0% picked this

    Medical researchers should work with environmentalists to come to an agreement about the rate of the Pacific yew

  3. Trap4% picked this

    Environmental concerns should play a role in decisions concerning medical research only if human lives

  4. Trap0% picked this

    Only medical breakthroughs that could save human lives would justify threatening

  5. Correct91% picked this

    Avoiding actions that threaten an entire ecosystem takes precedence over immediately providing advantage to a

    Why this is right

    Answer E is correct.

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

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