LSAT 144 – Section 2 – Question 10

LSAT 144 - Section 2 - Question 10

October 2015

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT144 S2 Q10
+LR
Sufficient assumption +SA
Link Assumption +LinkA
A
2%
156
B
93%
165
C
2%
151
D
1%
151
E
2%
157
129
138
148
 +Easier 148.975 +SubsectionMedium

J.Y.’s explanation

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The Asian elephant walks with at least two, and sometimes three, feet on the ground at all times. Even though it can accelerate, it does so merely by taking quicker and longer steps. So the Asian elephant does not actually run.

Summary
The author concludes that the Asian elephant does not run. Why? Because the Asian elephant always has at least two feet on the ground at all times. In addition, it accelerates only by taking quick and longer steps.

Missing Connection
We’re trying to prove that the Asian elephant doesn’t run. But do we know from the premises what “running” requires? No. We don’t know what can establish that something doesn’t run. So, at a minimum, the correct answer should tell us what’s required to run.
To go further, we can anticipate some specific relationships that would make the argument valid. Any answer that gets us from one of the premises to “not run” could be correct. For example:
In order to run, something must have fewer than two feet on the ground at some point in time.
In order to run, something must accelerate in a way besides merely taking quicker and longer steps.

A
If an animal cannot accelerate, then it cannot run.
But the Asian elephant can accelerate. So (A) doesn’t establish that the elephant can’t run.
B
To run, an animal must have all of its feet off the ground at once.
(B) establishes that running requires having all feet off the ground at once. But we know the Asian elephant doesn’t have all of its feet off the ground at once — it always has at least 2 feet on the ground. So (B) allows us to conclude that the Asian elephant doesn’t run.
C
The Asian elephant can walk as quickly as some animals run.
(C) doesn’t tell us what’s required to run. So it doesn’t establish that the Asian elephant can’t run.
D
It is unusual for a four-legged animal to keep three feet on the ground while walking.
(D) doesn’t tell us what’s required to run. So it doesn’t establish that the Asian elephant can’t run.
E
All four-legged animals walk with at least two feet on the ground at all times.
(E) doesn’t tell us what’s required to run. So it doesn’t establish that the Asian elephant can’t run.

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LSAT PrepTest 144 Explanations

Section 1 - Reading Comprehension

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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