Sections 4

Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 76 - Section 4 - Question 03

December 17, 2015

Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 144 - Section 4 - Question 03

December 17, 2015

The official listing of an animal species as endangered triggers the enforcement of legal safeguards designed to protect endangered species, such as tighter animal export and trade restrictions and stronger antipoaching laws. Nevertheless, there have been many cases in which the decline in the wild population of a species was more rapid after that species was listed as endangered than before it was so listed.

"Surprising" Phenomenon

Why have some animal species declined faster in the wild after being listed as endangered, even though this status is meant to provide legal protection?

Objective

The correct answer will be a hypothesis that explains how listing a species as endangered can lead to an increase in the rate of population decline. It will explain a key difference between the intended legal protections and the actual consequences of listing a species as endangered by connecting population decline to public awareness or attention around the endangered species.

A

The process of officially listing a species as endangered can take many years.

This might explain why the rate of population decline continues after a species is listed as endangered (perhaps the listing came too late and the damage is done), but it does not explain why the rate of population decline increases as soon as an animal is listed as endangered.

B

Public campaigns to save endangered animal species often focus only on those species that garner the public’s affection.

This does not connect public attention around endangered animals to the rate of decline in the animals’ population, so it does not help us to explain why a species’ rate of population decline increases after it is listed as endangered.

C

The number of animal species listed as endangered has recently increased dramatically.

This does not explain the connection between the “endangered” status and an increase in population decline. There may be more endangered species than ever, but we still do not know why population decline increases after a species is listed as endangered.

D

Animals are more desirable to collectors when they are perceived to be rare.

This is the only answer choice that could explain the endangered status leading to increased population decline. The perceived rarity of an endangered species makes it more desirable to collectors, who are more likely to illegally obtain it and thus increase population decline.

E

Poachers find it progressively more difficult to locate animals of a particular species as that species’ population declines.

This does not explain why a species’ population decline increases after it is listed as endangered. If anything, poachers’ inability to locate a particular species might decrease that species’ population decline.

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Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 76 - Section 4 - Question 02

December 17, 2015

3 comments

Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 144 - Section 4 - Question 02

December 17, 2015

3 comments

Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 76 - Section 4 - Question 01

December 17, 2015

3 comments

Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 144 - Section 4 - Question 01

December 17, 2015

Aisha: Vadim is going to be laid off. Vadim’s work as a programmer has been exemplary since joining the firm. But management has already made the decision to lay off a programmer. And this firm strictly follows a policy of laying off the most recently hired programmer in such cases.

Summary

The author concludes that Vadim, a programmer, is going to be laid off. This is based on the fact that his company has already decided to lay off a programmer, and the firm will follow the following rule in deciding who to lay off:
Most recently hired programmer → laid off

Missing Connection

We know the company will lay off the most recently hired programmer. So to establish that Vadim will be laid off, we want to know that he is the most recently hired programmer.

A

The firm values experience in its programmers more highly than any other quality.

(A) doesn’t tell us that Vadim is the most recently hired programmer. So it doesn’t guarantee that he will be laid off.

B

When Vadim was hired, the policy of laying off the most recently hired programmer was clearly explained.

(B) doesn’t tell us that Vadim is the most recently hired programmer. So it doesn’t guarantee that he will be laid off.

C

Vadim is the most recently hired programmer at the firm.

(C) establishes that Vadim was the most recently hired programmer at the company. So, based on the policy described, he will be the programmer who is laid off.

D

Every other programmer at the firm has done better work than Vadim.

(D) doesn’t tell us that Vadim is the most recently hired programmer. So it doesn’t guarantee that he will be laid off.

E

It is bad policy that the firm always lays off the most recently hired programmer.

(E) doesn’t tell us that Vadim is the most recently hired programmer. So it doesn’t guarantee that he will be laid off.

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Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 32 - Section 4 - Question 21

October 24, 2015

23 comments

Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 32 - Section 4 - Question 18

October 24, 2015

25 comments

Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 29 - Section 4 - Question 25

October 24, 2015

15 comments

Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 107 - Section 4 - Question 25

October 24, 2015

Formal performance evaluations in the professional world are conducted using realistic situations. Physicians are allowed to consult medical texts freely, attorneys may refer to law books and case records, and physicists and engineers have their manuals at hand for ready reference. Students, then, should likewise have access to their textbooks whenever they take examinations.

A

cites examples that are insufficient to support the generalization that performance evaluations in the professional world are conducted in realistic situations

The strength of the author’s examples is irrelevant. We’re focusing on whether the author’s reasoning for arguing that students should have access to textbooks during exams is sound.

B

fails to consider the possibility that adopting its recommendation will not significantly increase most students’ test scores

The effect the author’s recommendation would have on test scores is irrelevant to whether the reasoning in the author’s argument is sound.

C

neglects to take into account the fact that professionals were once students who also did not have access to textbooks during examinations

We don’t know if the author took this into account, but regardless, the fact that professionals were once students has no bearing on the strength of the author’s argument that students should have access to textbooks during exams.

D

neglects to take into account the fact that, unlike students, professionals have devoted many years of study to one subject

We don’t know if the author took this into account, but regardless, the fact that professionals have devoted years to studying one subject has no bearing on the soundness of the author’s reasoning.

E

fails to consider the possibility that the purposes of evaluation in the professional world and in school situations are quite dissimilar

This describes a possibility that the author ignores. If the purposes of evaluation in the professional world differ from those in school, it may be well-reasoned that students aren’t allowed access to textbooks even though professionals have access to reference materials.

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