LSAT 150 – Section 3 – Question 15

LSAT 150 - Section 3 - Question 15

June 2018

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT150 S3 Q15
+LR
Point at issue: disagree +Disagr
A
20%
157
B
75%
164
C
2%
154
D
2%
155
E
1%
156
143
152
161
 +Medium 148.057 +SubsectionMedium

Carrillo: Using the number of existing primate species, along with measures of the genetic diversity among these primates and among the extinct primate species, our statistical model strongly supports the conclusion that the first primate developed around 81.5 million years ago.

Olson: Given that the oldest primate fossils discovered so far date back only 55 million years, your estimate of how long primate species’ development has gone on is sheer speculation.

Speaker 1 Summary
Carrillo argues his statistical model shows that the first primates developed 81.5 million years ago.

Speaker 2 Summary
Olson believes that Carillo’s estimate is purely speculative because the oldest primate fossils found date back to 55 million years ago.

Objective
Disagreement: Carillo and Olsen disagree over whether Carillo’s model is accurate.

A
primates have been around for more than 55 million years
Carrillo agrees with this because he believes that the first primate developed around 81.5 million years ago. However, Olsen also agrees! He says that the oldest fossil dates back 55 million years, implying that the first primate was older than 55 million years old
B
Carrillo’s statistical model is a reliable way of dating the first appearance of primate species
Carrillo certainly agrees that his model is correct. Olson directly states that Carrillo's model is based on “pure speculation,” making it unreliable.
C
the available sample of primate fossils is representative of the variety of primate species that have existed
This answer choice is far too broad for either speaker to have a position on. Olson only discusses *one* fossil, while Carrillo is primarily focused on the results of his model. You have to make a lot of assumptions to make this work.
D
the dating of the primate fossils that Olson cites is accurate
Olson certainly agrees that his citation is correct. However, Carillo does not challenge or address this at all. Carillo’s discovery and Olson’s citation could both be correct. It is possible that the earliest primate fossil has never been discovered.
E
fossils of the first primate species that developed have been discovered
Carrillo does not address this statement at all, and it is implied that Olson disagrees. He acknowledges that the oldest fossils discovered “so far” date back 55 million years. He likely believes that there could be older fossils that have yet to be discovered.

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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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