LSAT 148 – Section 3 – Question 13

LSAT 148 - Section 3 - Question 13

December 2016

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT148 S3 Q13
+LR
+Exp
Argument part +AP
Causal Reasoning +CausR
Net Effect +NetEff
A
11%
158
B
9%
156
C
76%
164
D
3%
155
E
1%
156
141
151
161
 +Medium 149.233 +SubsectionMedium

Some ornithologists believe that many species of songbirds are threatened by deforestation. Yet they also claim that, despite recent reforestation, matters continue to worsen, since it is fragmentation of forest rather than reduction of forest size that endangers songbird species. The introduction of open spaces and corridors in forests reduces the distance of songbird nests from unforested areas and thus reduces the songbirds’ natural shield from predators.

Summarize Argument: Causal Explanation
Ornithologists conclude that, despite recent reforestation efforts, the songbird situation is still getting worse. This is because songbirds are affected by forest fragmentation rather than a net reduction in size. Open spaces and wide corridors in forests, presumably the result of reforestation, make songbirds less shielded from their natural predators.

Identify Argument Part
The referenced text gives a phenomenon that’s seemingly at odds with the wider situation. Shouldn’t reforestation efforts mean the songbird situation is improving? The argument shows why this isn’t necessarily the case.

A
It is used as evidence that various species of songbirds will continue to be threatened with extinction.
The referenced text isn’t evidence. It’s a phenomenon that the author reconciles with the current threat to songbird species.
B
It is presented as a claim that is rejected by ornithologists who present declining songbird populations as evidence of deforestation.
The author never states that ornithologists reject the claim that reforestation is happening. In fact, it’s something the ornithologists in question do in fact claim.
C
It is presented as a phenomenon that is compatible with the ornithologists’ claim that the threat to songbirds continues to worsen.
Despite reforestation seeming helpful to songbird species, the threat to songbirds is only growing stronger. The rest of the argument demonstrates how these two things can happen at once.
D
It is used as evidence that songbirds’ predators will continue to have a habitat and so will continue to pose a threat to songbirds.
The argument isn’t that reforestation gives songbirds’ predators a home. It’s that forest fragmentation leaves songbirds vulnerable to predators.
E
It is presented as evidence for the claim that songbirds’ predators are threatened by extinction unless they have open spaces and corridors that give them access to their prey.
The referenced text isn’t evidence. It certainly isn’t supporting the idea that songbirds’ predators are threatened which extinction, since that claim never appears in the argument.

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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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