LSAT 130 – Section 4 – Question 23

LSAT 130 - Section 4 - Question 23

September 2009

You need a full course to see this video. Enroll now and get started in less than a minute.

Request new explanation

Target time: 1:39

This is question data from the 7Sage LSAT Scorer. You can score your LSATs, track your results, and analyze your performance with pretty charts and vital statistics - all with a Free Account ← sign up in less than 10 seconds

Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT130 S4 Q23
+LR
Strengthen +Streng
Causal Reasoning +CausR
Eliminating Options +ElimOpt
A
16%
161
B
48%
167
C
2%
158
D
4%
157
E
30%
162
154
165
177
 +Hardest 146.168 +SubsectionMedium

Eight large craters run in a long straight line across a geographical region. Although some of the craters contain rocks that have undergone high-pressure shocks characteristic of meteorites slamming into Earth, these shocks could also have been caused by extreme volcanic events. Because of the linearity of the craters, it is very unlikely that some of them were caused by volcanoes and others were caused by meteorites. Thus, since the craters are all different ages, they were probably caused by volcanic events rather than meteorites.

Summarize Argument: Phenomenon-Hypothesis
The author hypothesizes that the eight large craters in a long straight line were probably caused by volcanic events rather than meteorites. This is because the craters contain rocks that show characteristics that could have been caused by volcanic events, and the linearity of the craters make it unlikely that the craters had different causes. In addition, the craters are all of different ages.

Notable Assumptions
The author assumes that craters in a straight line that are all of different ages are unlikely to be caused by meteorites slamming into earth. The author assumes that it is possible for volcanic events to produce craters in a straight line that are all of different ages. Another assumption is that there isn’t another more likely cause of the craters besides volcanic activity and meteorites.

A
A similar but shorter line of craters that are all the same age is known to have been caused by volcanic activity.
The craters we’re trying to explain are all of different ages. Evidence that volcanic activity can produce craters of the same age has no impact.
B
No known natural cause would likely account for eight meteorite craters of different ages forming a straight line.
In theory, meteorites could have hit Earth over a long time and left craters, but something covered up or removed some craters such that what’s left appears to be a straight line of craters. (B) strengthens the argument by eliminating this possibility.
C
There is no independent evidence of either meteorites or volcanic activity in the region where the craters are located.
If anything, this might weaken by suggesting the cause of the craters might be something besides volcanic activity.
D
There is no independent evidence of a volcanic event strong enough to have created the high-pressure shocks that are characteristic of meteorites slamming into Earth.
If anything, this might weaken by suggesting the cause of the craters might be something besides volcanic activity.
E
No known single meteor shower has created exactly eight impact craters that form a straight line.
The craters were all different ages, which already strongly suggests that the craters were not caused by a single meteor shower. So, (E) has no impact. The possibility we really want to eliminate is that they were created by multiple meteor showers over time.

Take PrepTest

Review Results

LSAT PrepTest 130 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Reading Comprehension

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

Get full LSAT course

Leave a Reply