LSAT 126 – Section 1 – Question 05

LSAT 126 - Section 1 - Question 05

October 2008

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT126 S1 Q05
+LR
Most strongly supported +MSS
Causal Reasoning +CausR
A
1%
156
B
92%
163
C
1%
154
D
4%
155
E
1%
152
128
138
147
 +Easier 146.126 +SubsectionMedium

Many scientists believe that bipedal locomotion (walking on two feet) evolved in early hominids in response to the move from life in dense forests to life in open grasslands. Bipedalism would have allowed early hominids to see over tall grasses, helping them to locate food and to detect and avoid predators. However, because bipedalism also would have conferred substantial advantages upon early hominids who never left the forest—in gathering food found within standing reach of the forest floor, for example—debate continues concerning its origins. It may even have evolved, like the upright threat displays of many large apes, because it bettered an individual’s odds of finding a mate.

Summary
The stimulus discusses the evolution of bipedal locomotion (walking on two feet) in early hominids. It suggests that this evolution may have been triggered by the move from dense forests to open grasslands. Bipedalism would have helped early hominids see over tall grasses, locate food, and avoid predators. However, it also would have been advantageous in forests for gathering food within standing reach and possibly for improving mating chances. Because it conferred substantial advantages in many scenarios, debate continues about its precise origins.

Strongly Supported Conclusions
There is ongoing scientific debate concerning the origins of bipedalism.
Bipedalism aided early hominids in dense forests and open grasslands.

A
For early hominids, forest environments were generally more hospitable than grassland environments.
This comparative statement does not have any support. The stimulus only distinguishes between the two environments but does not say which one is more hospitable.
B
Bipedal locomotion would have helped early hominids gather food.
The stimulus says in two places that bipedalism helped early hominids gather food.
C
Bipedal locomotion actually would not be advantageous to hominids living in open grassland environments.
This is antisupported. The stimulus acknowledges that bipedalism conferred several advantages to those in grassland environments.
D
Bipedal locomotion probably evolved among early hominids who exclusively inhabited forest environments.
This is too strong to support. The stimulus does not answer where bipedal locomotion evolved and even acknowledges that debate continues surrounding its origins.
E
For early hominids, gathering food was more relevant to survival than was detecting and avoiding predators.
The stimulus identifies both gathering food and detecting/avoiding predators as advantages, but does not give one a preference over the other.

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LSAT PrepTest 126 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Reading Comprehension

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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