LSAT 103 – Section 3 – Question 12

LSAT 103 - Section 3 - Question 12

September 1998

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT103 S3 Q12
+LR
Must be false +MBF
Causal Reasoning +CausR
A
1%
163
B
1%
153
C
9%
163
D
89%
167
E
0%
159
125
139
153
 +Easier 148.537 +SubsectionMedium

The Levant—the area that borders the eastern Mediterranean—was heavily populated in prehistoric times. The southern Levant was abandoned about 6,000 years ago, although the northern Levant, which shared the same climate, remained heavily populated. Recently archaeologists have hypothesized that the sudden depopulation in the southern Levant was due to an economic collapse resulting from deforestation.

Summary

The Levant has a northern and a southern part, and both used to have high populations. The northern part still has a high population, but the southern part does not. This is because of a sudden economic collapse resulting from deforestation more than 6,000 years ago.

Notable Valid Inferences

The northern Levant did not face economic collapse about 6,000 years ago. Climate must not be part of the reason why the southern Levant is abandoned. The economic collapse is what caused the depopulation of the southern Levant, as opposed to some other factor.

A
The sheep and goats herded by the peoples of the southern Levant until 6,000 years ago grazed extensively on the seedlings and saplings of indigenous tree species.

This could be true. No information in the stimulus suggests the goats and sheep that existed prior to the deforestation and depopulation of the southern Levant did not graze on indigenous tree species’ seedlings and saplings.

B
Trees were used in the production of lime plaster, a building material used extensively throughout the southern Levant until 6,000 years ago.

This could be true. No information in the stimulus suggests trees were not used to produce lime plaster prior to the deforestation and depopulation of the southern Levant.

C
Organic remains from the northern Levant reliably indicate that tree species flourished there without interruption during the period when the southern Levant was being abandoned.

This could be true. No information in the stimulus suggests the northern Levant had any issues with deforestation.

D
Carbon dating of organic remains from the southern Levant reliably demonstrates that there were no forests present in that area prior to 6,000 years ago.

This must be false. We know the southern Levant faced economic collapse due to deforestation. Such deforestation could not have occurred if there were no forests in the region in the first place.

E
Since there are few traces of either quarried stone or of mud brick in buildings excavated in the southern Levant, it is likely that the buildings built there prior to 6,000 years ago were made almost entirely of timber.

This could be true. No information in the stimulus suggests the southern Levant’s buildings were not made solely from timber.

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LSAT PrepTest 103 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Reading Comprehension

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