Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT9 S2 Q8 Explanation

Most of the ultraviolet radiation

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

TopicsParadox

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Full official LSAT questions are available through LawHub. This page provides LSAT Lab's explanation, strategy, and review tools without republishing the full official question.

Stimulus

Most of the ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth’s atmosphere from the Sun is absorbed by the layer of stratospheric ozone and never reaches the Earth’s surface. Between 1969 and 1986, the layer of stratospheric ozone over North America thinned, decreasing by about 3 percent. Yet, the stations across North America decreased over the same period.

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
8.

Which one of the following, if true, best reconciles the apparently discrepant

Answer choices

  1. Trap0% picked this

    Ultraviolet radiation increases the risk of skin cancer and cataracts; the incidence of skin cancer and cataracts increased

  2. Trap1% picked this

    Between 1969 and 1986, the layer of stratospheric ozone over Brazil thinned, and the average level of ultraviolet radiation reaching the

  3. Trap3% picked this

    Manufactured chlorine chemicals thin the layer of

  4. Correct89% picked this

    Ozone pollution, which absorbs ultraviolet radiation, increased dramatically between 1969

    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. Trap7% picked this

    Thinning of the layer of stratospheric ozone varies from one part of the world to another and

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