LSAT 158 – Section 4 – Question 08

LSAT 158 - Section 4 - Question 08

May 2020

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT158 S4 Q08
+LR
Main conclusion or main point +MC
Causal Reasoning +CausR
Math +Math
A
0%
144
B
5%
154
C
77%
162
D
13%
153
E
4%
152
138
147
157
 +Medium 148.293 +SubsectionMedium

Climatologist: The waters off the Pacific coast of North America have warmed about 4 degrees over the past 15 years. Some scientists claim that this trend is a symptom of a more general, global warming caused by human-generated air pollution. However, this conclusion is far from justified—it is known that there are many natural cycles of ocean temperature changes that last 60 years or more.

Summarize Argument: Counter-Position
Some scientists think that warming off the Pacific Coast of North America is due to global warming from human-generated air pollution. The author concludes that this belief is not supported. This is because there are many natural (non-human-generated) cycles of ocean temperature changes. The author is suggesting that because the warming might be explained by these natural cycles, we cannot conclude that it is due to global warming from human-generated air pollution.

Identify Conclusion
The conclusion is the author’s assessment of the lack of support for the view that the warming off the Pacific coast is due to global warming from human-generated air pollution: “[T]his conclusion is far from justified.”

A
Some scientists have found evidence that the waters off the Pacific coast of North America have grown significantly warmer over the past 15 years.
This is context. Some scientists propose a hypothesis for this warming. The author says that hypothesis is not justified.
B
The warming of the waters off the Pacific coast of North America is not a symptom of a more general, global warming caused by human-generated air pollution.
This goes too far. The author just says the belief that it is caused by global warming from human-generated air pollution is not justified. That doesn’t mean the author thinks it’s not the cause.
C
The conclusion that the warming of the waters off the Pacific coast of North America is a symptom of a more general, global warming caused by human-generated air pollution is far from justified.
This is a paraphrase of the conclusion.
D
The warming of the waters off the Pacific coast of North America may be the result of a natural cycle of ocean temperature changes.
This is part of the author’s support. Because the warming of the waters might be due to natural cycles, the author concludes that the belief the warming is caused by human-generated air pollution is not justified.
E
If the warming of the waters off the Pacific coast of North America is due to a natural cycle of ocean temperature changes, then it is not a symptom of a more general, global warming caused by human-generated air pollution.
This is an assumption underlying the author’s argument. Because the warming of the waters might be due to natural cycles, the author concludes that the belief the warming is caused by human-generated air pollution is not justified.

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LSAT PrepTest 158 Explanations

Section 1 - Reading Comprehension

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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