LSAT 143 – Section 3 – Question 21

LSAT 143 - Section 3 - Question 21

June 2015

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT143 S3 Q21
+LR
Strengthen +Streng
Link Assumption +LinkA
A
28%
161
B
2%
156
C
1%
151
D
5%
159
E
64%
166
147
158
168
 +Harder 147.721 +SubsectionMedium

Maté is a beverage found in much of South America. While it is uncertain where maté was first made, there are more varieties of it found in Paraguay than anywhere else. Also, maté is used more widely there than anywhere else. Therefore, Paraguay is likely the place where maté originated.

Summarize Argument: Phenomenon-Hypothesis
The author hypothesizes that maté probably originated in Paraguay. This hypothesis is based on the observations that more varieties of maté are found in Paraguay than are found in any other country, and that maté is used more widely in Paraguay than in any other country.

Notable Assumptions
The author assumes that how many varieties of a drink there are and how widely used that drink is in a particular country are truly indicators of that drink originating in that country. The author also assumes that there isn’t compelling evidence that maté originated elsewhere (in other words, that would suggest an alternative hypothesis).

A
It is rare for there to be a great variety of types of a beverage in a place where the beverage has not been in use for a very long time.
This is irrelevant, because whether or not maté has been in use in Paraguay for a long time isn’t the same question as whether or not maté originated in Paraguay. This doesn’t help us with maté’s origin.
B
Many Paraguayans believe that maté became popular at a time when people from other areas of South America were first migrating to Paraguay.
This doesn’t strengthen because when maté became popular still doesn’t indicate anything about its origins. If we assume that the migration mentioned is related to maté’s popularity, this could even weaken by suggesting that maté was imported to Paraguay.
C
Many Paraguayans believe that the best maté is found in Paraguay.
This is totally irrelevant. What Paraguayans think about where the best maté can be found has no bearing on where maté originated.
D
There are few places outside of South America where maté is regularly consumed.
This doesn’t tell us anything specific to Paraguay, so doesn’t help us decide whether maté really did likely originate in Paraguay, or whether it originated in another South American country.
E
Typically, the longer a beverage has been in use in a particular place, the more widely that beverage is used there.
This strengthens by affirming the author’s assumption that the wider use of maté in Paraguay than in any other country suggests that maté has a longer history in Paraguay than elsewhere. That would definitely support the hypothesis that maté originated in Paraguay.

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LSAT PrepTest 143 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Reading Comprehension

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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