LSAT 111 – Section 4 – Question 05

LSAT 111 - Section 4 - Question 05

October 2001

You need a full course to see this video. Enroll now and get started in less than a minute.

Request new explanation

Target time: 1:15

This is question data from the 7Sage LSAT Scorer. You can score your LSATs, track your results, and analyze your performance with pretty charts and vital statistics - all with a Free Account ← sign up in less than 10 seconds

Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT111 S4 Q05
+LR
Weaken +Weak
A
1%
155
B
2%
158
C
1%
159
D
93%
165
E
2%
162
120
132
145
 +Easiest 144.86 +SubsectionEasier

Kevin’s explanation

You need a full course to see this video. Enroll now and get started in less than a minute.

One of the advantages of Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) toxins over chemical insecticides results from their specificity for pest insects. The toxins have no known detrimental effects on mammals or birds. In addition, the limited range of activity of the toxins toward insects means that often a particular toxin will kill pest species but not affect insects that prey upon the species. This advantage makes B.t. toxins preferable to chemical insecticides for use as components of insect pest management programs.

Summarize Argument
The author concludes that B.t. toxins are better for managing insect pests than chemical insecticides. Why? Because particular B.t. toxins will kill only particular species, leaving other insects, birds, and mammals unharmed.

Notable Assumptions
The author assumes that chemical pesticides do not target particular species effectively in the same way as B.t. toxins. She assumes there is no other property of B.t. toxins that makes them less effective or more risky than chemical insecticides in practice.

A
Chemical insecticides cause harm to a greater number of insect species than do B.t. toxins.
This is irrelevant without knowing whether the species harmed are common pests. If B.t. toxins cause damage only to pest insects, but chemical insecticides cause damage to harmless insects, then the argument is strengthened.
B
No particular B.t. toxin is effective against all insects.
This doesn’t mean there is any insect for which no B.t. toxin is effective. It’s possible that every pest insect can be targeted with the appropriate B.t. toxin.
C
B.t. toxins do not harm weeds that do damage to farm crops.
This is irrelevant without information about whether chemical insecticides do the same. If neither substance does damage to such weeds, this offers no contrast.
D
Insects build up resistance more readily to B.t. toxins than to chemical insecticides.
This is a reason why B.t. toxins may be less effective than chemical insecticides in practice. Despite their advantages, B.t. toxins are more likely to be repelled by genetic resistance, and thus less likely to work.
E
Birds and rodents often do greater damage to farm crops than do insects.
This states no difference between B.t. toxins and chemical insecticides that would suggest B.t. toxins are less effective or riskier than chemical insecticides. The author does not say the use of chemical insecticides harms mammals or birds.

Take PrepTest

Review Results

LSAT PrepTest 111 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Reading Comprehension

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

Get full LSAT course

Leave a Reply