LSAT 146 – Section 2 – Question 18

LSAT 146 - Section 2 - Question 18

June 2016

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT146 S2 Q18
+LR
+Exp
Argument part +AP
A
77%
163
B
3%
155
C
3%
155
D
15%
158
E
1%
153
141
150
159
 +Medium 148.55 +SubsectionMedium

The consensus among astronomers, based upon observations of the surfaces of pulsars, is that pulsars are spinning balls of neutrons compressed into a sphere some 10 kilometers in diameter with a mass roughly equal to that of our sun. However, their observed properties are also consistent with some pulsars actually being filled with quarks, the building blocks of neutrons. Because the core of a quark-filled pulsar, unlike a neutron-filled one, would have an overall positive charge, it would attract a layer of negatively charged particles that could support a crust of neutrons.

Summarize Argument: Counter-Position
The author concludes that it is possible for pulsars to be filled with quarks. This is in contrast with the consensus among astronomers, which is that pulsars are made of neutrons. To support her conclusion, the author says that if a pulsar was filled with quarks, it would have a positive charge, which would attract a layer of negatively charged particles, which could then support a crust of neutrons. Other astronomers believe that pulsars are made of neutrons because of observations of the surfaces of pulsars; the information provided by the author would explain this surface of neutrons but opens the possibility that pulsars are filled with quarks instead of neutrons.

Identify Argument Part
The statement in the question stem is a premise that provides information to explain how a quark-filled pulsar could still have a crust of neutrons.

A
It helps explain how pulsars could have neutrons on their surface even if they were not entirely made up of neutrons.
The statement in the question stem provides information that helps explain how the author’s conclusion that pulsars are filled with quarks is consistent with the observation that pulsars have neutrons on their surface.
B
It forms part of a challenge to the claim that some pulsars may be made up of quarks.
The statement in the question stem helps support the conclusion that pulsars may be made of quarks; it does not challenge this claim.
C
It helps explain why some pulsars would not be readily recognized as such by astronomers.
The argument does not discuss what astronomers can readily recognize. We do not know if astronomers have difficulty recognizing pulsars; the argument is concerned with the composition of pulsars.
D
It presents a new finding that challenges the consensus view of the structure of pulsars.
The claim in the question stem does open an alternative to the consensus view, but we cannot say that it is a new finding.
E
It points out a problem with the view that pulsars have a mass roughly equal to that of our sun.
The information in the question stem does not challenge the claim about the mass of pulsars.

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LSAT PrepTest 146 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Reading Comprehension

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