LSAT 130 – Section 4 – Question 07

LSAT 130 - Section 4 - Question 07

September 2009

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT130 S4 Q07
+LR
Resolve reconcile or explain +RRE
Causal Reasoning +CausR
A
78%
165
B
0%
157
C
19%
159
D
1%
151
E
1%
159
136
148
160
 +Medium 146.168 +SubsectionMedium

Farmer: Because water content is what makes popcorn pop, the kernels must dry at just the right speed to trap the correct amount of water. The best way to achieve this effect is to have the sun dry the corn while the corn is still in the field, but I always dry the ears on a screen in a warm, dry room.

"Surprising" Phenomenon

Why does the farmer dry the kernels inside and not in the field?

Objective

A hypothesis resolving this discrepancy will state some advantage to drying the kernels indoors or some disadvantage to drying them in the field. This must be a good enough reason, in the farmer’s judgment, to dry the kernels indoors.

A
The region in which the farmer grows popcorn experiences a long, cloudy season that begins shortly before the popcorn in fields would begin to dry.

This explains why the farmer dries the kernels indoors. The weather is not sunny consistently enough for the sun to dry them in the field.

B
Leaving popcorn to dry on its stalks in the field is the least expensive method of drying it.

This widens the discrepancy. It is another reason for the farmer to dry the kernels in the field.

C
Drying popcorn on its stalks in the field is only one of several methods that allow the kernels’ water content to reach acceptable levels.

This is necessary for the farmer’s choice to be sound, but not enough to resolve the discrepancy. Sun drying is the most effective method, so the farmer’s decision not to use that method remains a mystery.

D
When popcorn does not dry sufficiently, it will still pop, but it will take several minutes to do so, even under optimal popping conditions.

This offers no reason for the farmer to dry the kernels indoors. It implies that improperly dried kernels are functional, but gives no disadvantage to sun drying and no advantage to drying indoors.

E
If popcorn is allowed to dry too much, it will not pop.

This is not a disadvantage of sun drying, which is the best way to ensure the kernels trap “the correct amount of water.” It is not stated whether indoor drying or sun drying produces kernels with more water.

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LSAT PrepTest 130 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Reading Comprehension

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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