LSAT 105 – Section 2 – Question 18

LSAT 105 - Section 2 - Question 18

February 1999

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Question QuickView	Type	Tags	Answer Choices	Curve	Question Difficulty	Psg/Game/S Difficulty	Explanation
PT105 S2 Q18	+LR +Exp	Resolve reconcile or explain +RRE Causal Reasoning +CausR	A 2% 158 B 10% 160 C 65% 167 D 3% 157 E 20% 163	142 156 171	+Harder	145.978 +SubsectionMedium

In recent years the climate has been generally cool in northern Asia. But during periods when the average daily temperature and humidity in northern Asia were slightly higher than their normal levels the yields of most crops grown there increased significantly. In the next century, the increased average daily temperature and humidity attained during those periods are expected to become the norm. Yet scientists predict that the yearly yields of most of the region’s crops will decrease during the next century.

"Surprising" Phenomenon

Why do scientists expect crop yields to decrease when the crops seem to thrive in a warmer and wetter climate?

Objective

Any hypothesis that resolves this paradox must explain why crop yields are expected to decrease over the coming century. It may be a consequence of a climate that is consistently warmer and more humid, or it may be unrelated to climate.

Crop yields in southern Asia are expected to remain constant even after the average daily temperature and humidity there increase from recent levels.

This is information about southern Asia, not northern Asia. Rather than resolve the paradox, this states that the paradox does not exist in a different region.

Any increases in temperature and humidity would be accompanied by higher levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is vital to plant respiration.

This deepens the paradox by implying a warmer, more humid climate should result in greater crop yields. If plants rely on carbon dioxide to grow, and the impending changes will result in more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, then crops should benefit.

The climate in northern Asia has generally been too cool and dry in recent years for populations of many crop insect pests to become established.

This is a reason to expect crop yields will decrease. A consistently warm and humid climate will benefit pests, which over the long term may cause damage to crops that outweighs the potential benefits of a changing climate.

In many parts of Asia, the increased annual precipitation that would result from warmer and wetter climates would cause most edible plant species to flourish.

This deepens the paradox by further implying the changes in climate should cause crop yields to increase, not decrease. If a warmer, more humid climate causes edible plants to flourish, crops should not be expected to suffer.

The recent climate of northern Asia prevents many crops from being farmed there during the winter.

This does not explain why crop yields are expected to decrease over the next century. If changes in climate happen to allow more winter farming, that would be expected to increase yields, not diminish them.

LSAT 105 – Section 2 – Question 18

LSAT 105 - Section 2 - Question 18

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LSAT PrepTest 105 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Reading Comprehension

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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