LSAT 138 – Section 2 – Question 17

LSAT 138 - Section 2 - Question 17

December 2012

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT138 S2 Q17
+LR
Main conclusion or main point +MC
Causal Reasoning +CausR
Value Judgment +ValJudg
A
89%
165
B
0%
154
C
8%
157
D
1%
152
E
2%
150
137
145
153
 +Medium 147.395 +SubsectionMedium

Brianna: It would have been better to buy a tree last summer rather than this summer. The one we bought this summer is struggling to survive this summer’s drought. If we had bought one last summer, it would have been able to survive this summer’s drought, because last summer’s normal rainfall would have enabled it to develop established roots. Trees with established roots can better withstand droughts.

Summarize Argument: Causal Explanation
It would have been smarter to buy a tree last summer instead of this summer. The tree we bought this summer is struggling to survive because of the drought, but if we had bought it last summer, it would have received enough water from last summer’s normal rainfall to grow strong roots, which can better survive droughts.

Identify Conclusion
The conclusion is Brianna’s opinion that it would have been better to buy a tree last summer rather than waiting until this summer.

A
It would have been better to buy a tree last summer rather than this summer.
This statement captures Brianna’s conclusion that buying the tree last summer would have been smarter. The rest of her argument explains why: the tree would have developed strong roots with the previous summer’s normal rainfall, making it more resilient to this summer’s drought.
B
The tree purchased this summer is struggling to survive this summer’s drought.
This is a premise. It supports the conclusion by showing the downside of buying the tree this summer. The tree’s struggle highlights that if they had bought it last summer, it would have developed stronger roots with the normal rainfall, helping it survive this summer's drought.
C
If a tree had been purchased last summer, it would be better able to survive this summer’s drought.
This premise supports the conclusion by highlighting the benefit of buying the tree last summer. It suggests that a tree bought last summer would have grown stronger roots and better survived this summer's drought, reinforcing that buying it last summer would have been wiser.
D
A tree purchased last summer would have established roots.
This is a premise. It supports the conclusion by highlighting the benefit of buying the tree last summer. A tree with more established roots would have better survived this summer's drought, reinforcing that buying a tree last summer would have been wiser.
E
Trees with established roots can better withstand droughts.
This premise supports the main conclusion by explaining why buying the tree last summer would have been smarter. With established roots from last summer, the tree would be stronger and more resilient to this summer's drought. Thus, buying it last summer was the wiser choice.

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LSAT PrepTest 138 Explanations

Section 1 - Reading Comprehension

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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