LSAT 135 – Section 4 – Question 14

LSAT 135 - Section 4 - Question 14

December 2011

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT135 S4 Q14
+LR
Main conclusion or main point +MC
Causal Reasoning +CausR
Net Effect +NetEff
A
0%
146
B
11%
157
C
0%
149
D
6%
158
E
83%
166
141
150
158
 +Medium 147.853 +SubsectionMedium

Geographer: Because tropical storms require heat and moisture, they form especially over ocean surfaces of at least 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit), ocean temperatures that global warming would encourage. For this reason, many early discussions of global warming predicted that it would cause more frequent and intense tropical storms. But recent research shows that this prediction is unlikely to be borne out. Other factors, such as instabilities in wind flow, are likely to counteract global warming’s effects on tropical storm development.

Summarize Argument: Causal Explanation
Global warming is unlikely to cause more frequent and intense tropical storms. Early predictions suggested that global warming would increase the frequency and intensity of tropical storms by raising ocean temperatures conducive to such storms. However, this is unlikely because global warming will have other effects, such as changes in wind flow, that will counteract its impact on tropical storm development.

Identify Conclusion
The conclusion is the geographer’s opinion that early predictions about global warming’s impact on tropical storm development were wrong. The geographer concludes that global warming will probably not cause more frequent and intense tropical storms.

A
Tropical storms are especially likely to form over warm ocean surfaces.
This answer is incorrect because it summarizes the context of the stimulus. It explains why some predicted that global warming would lead to more frequent and intense tropical storms: tropical storms are more likely to form over warm oceans.
B
Contrary to early discussions, global warming is not the only factor affecting the frequency and intensity of tropical storms.
This misstates the conclusion. The correct conclusion is that global warming will probably not result in more frequent and intense storms. However, this answer claims that the conclusion is about global warming not being the only factor affecting storm frequency and intensity.
C
If global warming were reversed, tropical storms would be less frequent and less intense.
This isn’t an argument made in the stimulus. The geographer doesn’t consider what would be required to reverse global warming; she only disputes one prediction about the effects global warming may have. Since this claim isn’t made in the stimulus, it can’t be the main conclusion.
D
Instabilities in wind flow will negate the effect of global warming on the formation of tropical storms.
This addresses a premise, not the main conclusion. The geographer uses global warming's effect on wind flow to support her conclusion that global warming won't lead to more intense and frequent storms. Since this claim is supporting evidence, it can't be the main conclusion.
E
Global warming probably will not produce more frequent and intense tropical storms.
This accurately captures the main conclusion: the geographer believes that predictions about global warming’s effect on tropical storms were likely incorrect. The answer summarizes this by stating that global warming probably won't lead to more frequent and intense storms.

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LSAT PrepTest 135 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Reading Comprehension

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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