LSAT 131 – Section 1 – Question 13

LSAT 131 - Section 1 - Question 13

December 2009

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT131 S1 Q13
+LR
+Exp
Main conclusion or main point +MC
A
11%
160
B
80%
166
C
1%
157
D
8%
159
E
0%
150
137
149
160
 +Medium 147.383 +SubsectionMedium

It is a mistake to think, as ecologists once did, that natural selection will eventually result in organisms that will be perfectly adapted to their environments. After all, perfect adaptation of an individual to its environment is impossible, for an individual’s environment can vary tremendously; no single set of attributes could possibly prepare an organism to cope with all the conditions that it could face.

Summarize Argument: Counter-Position
The author refutes a claim made previously by some ecologists: The author argues that it is a mistake to think that natural selection will eventually result in organisms that are perfectly adapted to their environments. This is because perfect adaptation is impossible. It is impossible because environments vary a great deal, and no single set of characteristics could cause an organism to be adapted to all the conditions it might face.

Identify Conclusion
The conclusion is the author’s refutation of a once held claim: “It is a mistake to think, as ecologists once did, that natural selection will eventually result in organisms that will be perfectly adapted to their environments.”

A
It is not possible for an individual to be perfectly adapted to its environment.
This is a sub-conclusion, not the ultimate conclusion. The fact that perfect adaptation is impossible supports that natural selection will never result in perfect adaptation.
B
Natural selection will never result in individuals that will be perfectly adapted to their environments.
This accurately rephrases the conclusion. The author says it is a mistake to think that natural selection will ever result in perfect adaptation, which means natural selection will never result in perfect adaptation.
C
No single set of attributes could enable an individual organism to cope with all of the conditions that it might face.
This is a premise that supports the sub-conclusion that perfect adaptation is impossible.
D
Because an individual’s environment can vary tremendously, no individual can be perfectly adapted to its environment.
This encapsulates the sub-conclusion and its support. Both ultimately support the argument that natural selection will never result in perfect adaptation.
E
Ecologists once believed that natural selection would eventually result in individuals that will be perfectly adapted to their environments.
This is the position provided in the context that the argument refutes.

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LSAT PrepTest 131 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Reading Comprehension

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