LSAT 138 – Section 4 – Question 08

LSAT 138 - Section 4 - Question 08

December 2012

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT138 S4 Q08
+LR
+Exp
Main conclusion or main point +MC
Conditional Reasoning +CondR
A
3%
155
B
1%
154
C
2%
155
D
2%
154
E
93%
164
128
138
147
 +Easier 146.393 +SubsectionMedium

Adobe is an ideal material for building in desert environments. It conducts heat very slowly. As a result, a house built of adobe retains the warmth of the desert sun during the cool evenings and then remains cool during the heat of the day, thereby helping to maintain a pleasant temperature. In contrast, houses built of other commonly used building materials, which conduct heat more rapidly, grow hot during the day and cold at night.

Summarize Argument
Adobe—a type of clay—is a great building material for desert environments because heat takes a long time to pass through it, meaning the clay heats up and cools down slowly. As a result, adobe houses stay warm during cool evenings and remain cool during hot days, keeping the temperature comfortable. In contrast, houses made of other materials allow heat to pass through quickly, so they become hot during the day and cold at night.

Identify Conclusion
Adobe the perfect material for building homes in the desert.

A
Adobe is a suitable substitute for other building materials where the heat-conduction properties of the structure are especially important.
This is a necessary assumption of the argument. The argument concludes that adobe is better for building houses in the desert than other materials. This implies that adobe can replace other materials in deserts where controlling heat is important.
B
In the desert, adobe buildings remain cool during the heat of the day but retain the warmth of the sun during the cool evenings.
This is a premise. The passage explains how adobe keeps houses cool during the day and warm at night to support the conclusion that adobe is a great material for building homes in the desert. Since this claim supports the argument, it can’t be the argument’s main conclusion.
C
Because adobe conducts heat very slowly, adobe houses maintain a pleasant, constant temperature.
This refers to two premises. The passage explains that adobe conducts heat slowly, which helps keep houses at a steady temperature. This fact supports the claim that adobe is an ideal building material for desert environments. As it supports the argument, it isn’t the conclusion.
D
Ideally, a material used for building houses in desert environments should enable those houses to maintain a pleasant, constant temperature.
This is a necessary assumption. The argument concludes adobe is ideal because it helps desert houses stay at a comfortable, steady temperature. This means the argument assumes that a good building material for desert houses should help keep the temperature pleasant and constant.
E
Adobe is an especially suitable material to use for building houses in desert environments.
This accurately states the main conclusion. The passage says that adobe is an “ideal” material for building in the desert, meaning it’s especially good for that purpose. It specifies that adobe is ideal for constructing desert homes because it regulates house temperature.

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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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