- PowerScore Staff
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- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Tue Jun 27, 2017 6:20 pm
#36461
Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14508)
The correct answer choice is (B)
The main purpose of the author’s last paragraph is to elaborate on implications of the new research,
so you should select a response that refl ects that. Furthermore, since these choices are very specifi c,
you must be careful to eliminate any choice that misrepresents the last paragraph, even if it does, in
general, capture the notion of elaboration.
Answer choice (A): The fi rst part of this choice—“to suggest that new research overturns the
assumption”—makes this answer attractive to many test takers because that is the purpose of the
last paragraph. However, do not simply accept an answer because it starts off well. In this case, the
remainder of the answer does not accurately describe the situation. The assumption discussed in the
passage is that parasitic interactions inevitably evolve over time to symbiosis. This answer, on the
other hand, states that the assumption is that lichen-forming fungi are primarily symbiotic. Because
there is a difference between evolving to a state and primarily being in that state, this answer choice
is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. If you were attracted to the fi rst part of
answer choice (A), then you should have been attracted to this answer choice as a whole.
This response refers very generally to the attack on the assumption that fungi inevitably evolve
toward symbiosis. By maintaining a very abstract, uncommitted description of the observation
in lines 50-53, the LSAT test-writers have created an ideal LSAT response. Some test takers will
avoid this response, because they feel it does not bring out the negative nature of the implications.
However, the important consideration is actually whether the response is logically valid. If lines
50-53 disprove an assumption, those lines defi nitely imply something about the assumption, and so
it is entirely acceptable to select this generally worded, but logically strong, response. You should
remember that the LSAT test writers can deliver the correct response to Must Be True questions
using weaker wording than necessary, because when answering a Must Be True question, a weaker
wording of information or an inference is always logically valid, but many test takers will not know
that and will therefore automatically eliminate the correct choice.
As a fi nal note, the paragraph does introduce an “implication” (line 45); however, it is best to avoid
developing a tendency to word-match, because the LSAT test makers will sometimes capitalize on
that behavior by using “key” words out of context in an attractive but incorrect choice, and deliver
the correct choice in a completely logical fashion that avoids using any key words from the passage.
Answer choice (C): Since neither the last paragraph nor any part of passage made any reference to
the broader fi eld of “evolutionary science,” this response is much broader than the passage and is
unjustifi ed.
Answer choice (D): Since the new research “overturns” an assumption, and this response indicates
that an assumption is verifi ed, this answer is completely contrary to the passage.
Answer choice (E): Although the paragraph mentions that symbiotic relationships can evolve into
parasitic relationships, there is absolutely no description of how it could happen, and thus this
answer is wrong in stating that the purpose of the paragraph is to “explain.”
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14508)
The correct answer choice is (B)
The main purpose of the author’s last paragraph is to elaborate on implications of the new research,
so you should select a response that refl ects that. Furthermore, since these choices are very specifi c,
you must be careful to eliminate any choice that misrepresents the last paragraph, even if it does, in
general, capture the notion of elaboration.
Answer choice (A): The fi rst part of this choice—“to suggest that new research overturns the
assumption”—makes this answer attractive to many test takers because that is the purpose of the
last paragraph. However, do not simply accept an answer because it starts off well. In this case, the
remainder of the answer does not accurately describe the situation. The assumption discussed in the
passage is that parasitic interactions inevitably evolve over time to symbiosis. This answer, on the
other hand, states that the assumption is that lichen-forming fungi are primarily symbiotic. Because
there is a difference between evolving to a state and primarily being in that state, this answer choice
is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. If you were attracted to the fi rst part of
answer choice (A), then you should have been attracted to this answer choice as a whole.
This response refers very generally to the attack on the assumption that fungi inevitably evolve
toward symbiosis. By maintaining a very abstract, uncommitted description of the observation
in lines 50-53, the LSAT test-writers have created an ideal LSAT response. Some test takers will
avoid this response, because they feel it does not bring out the negative nature of the implications.
However, the important consideration is actually whether the response is logically valid. If lines
50-53 disprove an assumption, those lines defi nitely imply something about the assumption, and so
it is entirely acceptable to select this generally worded, but logically strong, response. You should
remember that the LSAT test writers can deliver the correct response to Must Be True questions
using weaker wording than necessary, because when answering a Must Be True question, a weaker
wording of information or an inference is always logically valid, but many test takers will not know
that and will therefore automatically eliminate the correct choice.
As a fi nal note, the paragraph does introduce an “implication” (line 45); however, it is best to avoid
developing a tendency to word-match, because the LSAT test makers will sometimes capitalize on
that behavior by using “key” words out of context in an attractive but incorrect choice, and deliver
the correct choice in a completely logical fashion that avoids using any key words from the passage.
Answer choice (C): Since neither the last paragraph nor any part of passage made any reference to
the broader fi eld of “evolutionary science,” this response is much broader than the passage and is
unjustifi ed.
Answer choice (D): Since the new research “overturns” an assumption, and this response indicates
that an assumption is verifi ed, this answer is completely contrary to the passage.
Answer choice (E): Although the paragraph mentions that symbiotic relationships can evolve into
parasitic relationships, there is absolutely no description of how it could happen, and thus this
answer is wrong in stating that the purpose of the paragraph is to “explain.”