LSAT 140 – Section 3 – Question 25

LSAT 140 - Section 3 - Question 25

December 2013

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT140 S3 Q25
+LR
Strengthen +Streng
Causal Reasoning +CausR
Sampling +Smpl
A
63%
167
B
4%
158
C
17%
162
D
8%
160
E
8%
161
151
160
170
 +Hardest 149.74 +SubsectionMedium

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New evidence indicates that recent property development bordering a national park has not adversely affected the park’s wildlife. On the contrary, a comparison of the most recent survey of the park’s wildlife with one conducted just prior to the development shows that the amount of wildlife has in fact increased over the intervening decade. Moreover, the park’s resources can support its current wildlife populations without strain.

Summarize Argument
The author concludes that recent property development next to a national park has not harmed the park’s wildlife. This is based on the fact that a comparison of a survey conducted right before the development began and a recent survey shows that the amount of wildlife has increased over the past decade. In addition, the park’s resources can support the current wildlife population without any strain.

Notable Assumptions
The author assumes that the amount of wildlife would not have increased more without the property development. The author also assumes that the amount of wildlife is a reliable indicator of whether the park’s wildlife has been harmed.

A
While both surveys found the same species of animals in the park, the more recent survey found greater numbers of animals belonging to each species.
This strengthens by helping to eliminate the possibility that the property development decreased the amount of certain species. Without (A), it’s possible the overall wildlife amount increased, but some species were wiped out.
B
The more recent survey was taken in the summer, when the diversity of wildlife in the park is at its greatest.
If anything, this might weaken the argument by providing an alternate explanation for why the recent survey showed an increase in wildlife amount. This suggests the development might have hurt wildlife, but this effect was masked by the timing of the recent survey.
C
Migration of wildlife into the park from the adjacent developing areas has increased animal populations to levels beyond those that the resources of the park could have supported a decade ago.
Whether the resources 10 years ago could have supported the current wildlife amount has no impact, because we know the park currently has enough resources. We don’t have any additional reason to believe wildlife haven’t been harmed.
D
The most recent techniques for surveying wildlife are better at locating difficult-to-find animals than were older techniques.
If anything, this might weaken the argument by providing an alternate explanation for why the recent survey showed an increase in wildlife amount. This suggests the development might have hurt wildlife, but the effect was masked by improvements in locating and counting wildlife.
E
The more recent survey not only involved counting the animals found in the park but, unlike the earlier survey, also provided an inventory of the plant life found within the park.
If anything, this might weaken the argument by providing an alternate explanation for why the recent survey showed an increase in wildlife amount. This suggests the development might have hurt wildlife, but this effect was masked by how the recent survey was conducted.

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LSAT PrepTest 140 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Reading Comprehension

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