LSAT 117 – Section 3 – Question 02

LSAT 117 - Section 3 - Question 02

October 2004

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT117 S3 Q02
+LR
+Exp
Resolve reconcile or explain +RRE
Causal Reasoning +CausR
Net Effect +NetEff
A
2%
158
B
1%
161
C
92%
166
D
5%
159
E
0%
156
126
137
149
 +Easier 146.848 +SubsectionMedium

Leatherbacks, the largest of the sea turtles, when subjected to the conditions of captivity, are susceptible to a wide variety of fatal diseases with which they would never come in contact if they lived in the wild. It is surprising, therefore, that the likelihood that a leatherback will reach its theoretical maximum life expectancy is about the same whether that animal is living in captivity or in the wild.

"Surprising" Phenomenon
Why do leatherbacks in captivity have the same likelihood of reaching maximum life expectancy as leatherbacks in the wild, even though leatherbacks in captivity are susceptible to fatal diseases they don’t get in the wild?

Objective
The correct answer should tell us about harmful things that wild leatherbacks face that captive leatherbacks don’t face, or healthy things about being in captivity that wild leatherbacks don’t benefit from.

A
Fewer diseases attack leatherbacks than attack other large aquatic reptiles.
This doesn’t differentiate between leatherbacks in the wild and those in captivity. So it’s not going to explain why the two kinds of leatherbacks have the same chance of reaching max life expectancy despite the extra threat from fatal diseases to captive leatherbacks.
B
The average life expectancy of sea turtles in general is longer than that of almost all other marine animals.
This doesn’t differentiate between leatherbacks in the wild and those in captivity. So it’s not going to explain why the two kinds of leatherbacks have the same chance of reaching max life expectancy despite the extra threat from fatal diseases to captive leatherbacks.
C
Most leatherbacks that perish in the wild are killed by predators.
This points out a threat faced by wild leatherbacks that captive leatherbacks don’t face. Although captive leatherbacks might face certain fatal diseases, the wild ones face predators. This could be why the overall likelihood of reaching max life expectancy is about the same.
D
Few zoologists have sufficient knowledge to establish an artificial environment that is conducive to the well-being of captive leatherbacks.
This presents a reason that captive leatherbacks might face additional harm compared to the wild leatherbacks. But this leads us to think captive leatherbacks should have a lower chance of reaching max life expectancy.
E
The size of a leatherback is an untrustworthy indicator of its age.
This doesn’t differentiate between wild and captive leatherbacks. So it’s not going to explain why the two kinds of leatherbacks have the same chance of reaching max life expectancy despite the extra threat from fatal diseases to captive leatherbacks.

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LSAT PrepTest 117 Explanations

Section 1 - Reading Comprehension

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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