LSAT 127 – Section 3 – Question 22

LSAT 127 - Section 3 - Question 22

December 2003

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Question QuickView	Type	Tags	Answer Choices	Curve	Question Difficulty	Psg/Game/S Difficulty	Explanation
PT127 S3 Q22	+LR	Must be false +MBF Conditional Reasoning +CondR	A 4% 158 B 65% 167 C 15% 159 D 12% 161 E 3% 158	151 159 167	+Harder	146.462 +SubsectionMedium

On the basis of relatively minor morphological differences, some scientists suggest that Neanderthals should be considered a species distinct from Cro-Magnons, the forerunners of modern humans. Yet the fact that the tools used by these two groups of hominids living in different environments were of exactly the same type indicates uncanny behavioral similarities, for only if they faced the same daily challenges and met them in the same way would they have used such similar tools. This suggests that they were members of the same species, and that the morphological differences are due merely to their having lived in different environments.

Summary

Some scientists think that Neanderthals are a different species from Cro-Magnons (the ancestors of modern humans) because of relatively minor morphological differences.

Both groups of hominids used exactly the same kinds of tools even in different environments.

The two groups would have used the same tools only if they faced the same daily challenges and met them in the same way.

The behavioral similarity shown in the tool use suggests that the two groups were members of the same species and that the morphological differences were from living in different environments.

Notable Valid Inferences

Cro-Magnons and Neanderthals faced the same daily challenges and met them in the same way.

Morphological differences between the members of two populations do not guarantee that the two populations do not belong to the same species.

This could be true. The stimulus leaves open the possibility that two populations have morphological differences and are members of the same species.

The daily challenges with which an environment confronts its inhabitants are unique to that environment.

This must be false. We know that the two species lived in different environments, and we also can logically infer that they faced the same daily challenges and met them the same way (because species use the same tools only if they face the same daily challenges).

There are greater morphological differences between Cro-Magnons and modern humans than there are between Cro-Magnons and Neanderthals.

This could be true. The stimulus does not give any information that allows us to compare the extent of morphological differences between different species.

Use of similar tools is required if members of two distinct groups of tool-making hominids are to be considered members of the same species.

This could be true. Use of similar tools is given as a sufficient condition for facing the same daily challenges; there is no information that prevents use of similar tools from being a necessary condition for being the same species.

Through much of their coexistence, Cro-Magnons and Neanderthals were geographically isolated from one another.

This could be true. We know that the two species were living in different environments; it could be the case that they were geographically isolated.

LSAT 127 – Section 3 – Question 22

LSAT 127 - Section 3 - Question 22

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LSAT PrepTest 127 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Reading Comprehension

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