LSAT 150 – Section 2 – Question 13

LSAT 150 - Section 2 - Question 13

June 2018

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Question QuickView	Type	Tags	Answer Choices	Curve	Question Difficulty	Psg/Game/S Difficulty	Explanation
PT150 S2 Q13	+LR	Except +Exc Strengthen +Streng	A 71% 162 B 2% 156 C 8% 157 D 7% 159 E 12% 162	120 142 165	+Medium	145.632 +SubsectionMedium

Scientist: It seems likely that the earliest dinosaurs to fly did so by gliding out of trees rather than, as some scientists think, by lifting off the ground from a running start. Animals gliding from trees are able to fly with very simple wings. Such wings represent evolutionary middle stages toward developing the large wings that we associate with flying dinosaurs.

Summarize Argument

The scientist concludes the first dinosaurs to fly probably glided out of trees, rather than flying from a running start. Why? Because gliding from trees requires only simple wings that are stepping stones, evolutionarily, to the larger wings of later dinosaurs.

Notable Assumptions

The scientist assumes it’s more likely the first flighted dinosaurs had wings for gliding than wings for lifting off. This means assuming wings for lifting off the ground are either less simple than wings for gliding or less of a stepping stone toward the wings of later dinosaurs. It also means assuming there’s no other characteristic of the first flighted dinosaurs that would make it less likely they glided from trees than lifted off the ground.

Early flying dinosaurs built their nests at the base of trees.

This doesn’t favor the scientist’s argument. It implies the first flighted dinosaurs lived on the ground, which if anything makes it less likely they flew by gliding out of trees.

Early flying dinosaurs had sharp claws and long toes suitable for climbing.

This strengthens the scientist’s argument. It implies the first flighted dinosaurs were capable of climbing trees, which rules out the possibility they were confined to the ground.

Early flying dinosaurs had unusual feathers that provided lift while gliding, but little control when taking flight.

This strengthens the scientist’s argument. It implies the first flighted dinosaurs had biological characteristics more consistent with gliding than with lifting off from the ground.

Early flying dinosaurs had feathers on their toes that would have interfered with their ability to run.

This strengthens the scientist’s argument. It implies the first flighted dinosaurs had toes that would have made it difficult to lift off from a running start.

Early flying dinosaurs lived at a time when their most dangerous predators could not climb trees.

This strengthens the scientist’s argument. It implies the first flighted dinosaurs had a reason to climb trees: to avoid predators. It rules out the possibility those dinosaurs would have gained no advantage by living in trees.

LSAT 150 – Section 2 – Question 13

LSAT 150 - Section 2 - Question 13

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LSAT PrepTest 150 Explanations

Section 1 - Reading Comprehension

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Reading Comprehension

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