LSAT 148 – Section 3 – Question 07

LSAT 148 - Section 3 - Question 07

December 2016

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT148 S3 Q07
+LR
+Exp
Strengthen +Streng
A
1%
148
B
6%
158
C
1%
153
D
4%
152
E
89%
163
129
140
150
 +Easier 149.233 +SubsectionMedium

Expert: Some people claim that, since food production has thus far increased faster than population has, there is no need to be concerned about widespread food shortages. These people fail to recognize that the planet’s resources allow for food to be produced at only a few times the current amount, beyond which no increase in production will be possible. Thus, widespread food shortages are inevitable.

Summarize Argument
The expert concludes that widespread food shortages will definitely happen. This is based on the claim that the planet’s resources will only allow for only a certain amount of increase in food production from now, after which no more increases will be possible.

Notable Assumptions
The expert assumes that the world population will eventually grow past the point where the maximum food production allowed by the planet’s resources is enough.

A
The world’s food resources, though limited, are renewable.
This doesn’t help the argument, because it doesn’t establish that the world’s population will ever exceed the level supported by maximum food production. In fact, it tells us nothing at all about population.
B
Food resources from the world’s oceans will eventually be fully utilized.
This is irrelevant, since the expert has already established that there is a maximum amount of food production allowed by the planet’s resources; it doesn’t make a difference to point out where those resources might come from.
C
The world’s population has recently remained fairly stable because of falling birth rates.
This weakens by undermining the expert’s assumption that the world population’s food needs will surpass what the earth can produce. If the population continues to be stable, even the planet’s current food production should still be enough to prevent food shortages.
D
Periodic regional food shortages have occurred at least briefly throughout history.
This is irrelevant, since the expert’s prediction of widespread food shortages in the future doesn’t rely on any evidence of regional food shortages occurring in the past.
E
Population will continue to grow at least briefly when food production has reached its maximum level.
This strengthens by affirming the expert’s assumption that the world population’s food needs will surpass what the earth can produce.

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LSAT PrepTest 148 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Reading Comprehension

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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