- Tue May 23, 2017 12:32 pm
#35282
Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14220)
SR, Must—Purpose. The correct answer choice is (A)
This question refers specifically to the last paragraph, which opens with the author’s list of the three
factors that affect fire behavior: topography, weather, and fuel. As discussed in the ViewSTAMP
analysis above the author lists these three factors to introduce the point that only the third factor can
be controlled by human effort, so land managers should focus their efforts on the fuel (smaller trees,
brush, etc.) in order to minimize the risk of more devastating, large-scale fires.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. As prephrased above, the author’s purpose
in listing those three factors is to support the assertion that land managers should focus on the only
one of the three factors over which they can maintain some degree of control.
Answer choice (B): The author does not believe that land managers’ efforts will always be
ineffective, nor does the author discuss the interaction between any of the three factors listed. This
choice doesn’t even pass the Fact Test, let alone match the prephrased answer above.
Answer choice (C): The three factors are not listed to show why forest fires can be devastating, but
rather to point out the fact that only controllable factor should be the one that land managers focus
on.
Answer choice (D): Topography and weather are listed as the factors beyond human control, and fuel
level is listed as the only controllable factor. The author does not argue that specific fuel types and
forest densities are dependent on topographic and weather conditions, so this choice fails the Fact
Test and should be ruled out of contention in response to this Must—Purpose question.
Answer choice (E): The mention of the three factors affecting fire development is not intended to
suggest anything about lightning’s role in suppression efforts, so this cannot be the right answer
choice.
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14220)
SR, Must—Purpose. The correct answer choice is (A)
This question refers specifically to the last paragraph, which opens with the author’s list of the three
factors that affect fire behavior: topography, weather, and fuel. As discussed in the ViewSTAMP
analysis above the author lists these three factors to introduce the point that only the third factor can
be controlled by human effort, so land managers should focus their efforts on the fuel (smaller trees,
brush, etc.) in order to minimize the risk of more devastating, large-scale fires.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. As prephrased above, the author’s purpose
in listing those three factors is to support the assertion that land managers should focus on the only
one of the three factors over which they can maintain some degree of control.
Answer choice (B): The author does not believe that land managers’ efforts will always be
ineffective, nor does the author discuss the interaction between any of the three factors listed. This
choice doesn’t even pass the Fact Test, let alone match the prephrased answer above.
Answer choice (C): The three factors are not listed to show why forest fires can be devastating, but
rather to point out the fact that only controllable factor should be the one that land managers focus
on.
Answer choice (D): Topography and weather are listed as the factors beyond human control, and fuel
level is listed as the only controllable factor. The author does not argue that specific fuel types and
forest densities are dependent on topographic and weather conditions, so this choice fails the Fact
Test and should be ruled out of contention in response to this Must—Purpose question.
Answer choice (E): The mention of the three factors affecting fire development is not intended to
suggest anything about lightning’s role in suppression efforts, so this cannot be the right answer
choice.