LR Question 17 Explanation
QUESTION TEXT: The conventional view is that asteroids strike the…
QUESTION TYPE: Strengthen
CONCLUSION: The geophysicist thinks there is a natural pattern to asteroid strikes.
REASONING: Asteroid strikes in the late cretaceous caused a halo-like pattern across the northern hemisphere.
ANALYSIS: We can’t say that the asteroid strikes are organized just because the asteroids followed a halo-like pattern. Randomness can also produce patterns.
You need evidence that shows the halo wasn’t an accident. Answer D does that by showing that the earth forced the asteroids into certain orbits. An object’s orbit determines where it will land. This is basic physics, you’re allowed to use this kind of knowledge.
Many wrong answer focus on the extinctions, or on the effects of the asteroid strikes. We only care whether they followed a pattern.
___________
- This explains how the asteroids caused extinctions. It doesn’t show that the asteroid strikes followed a pattern.
- This shows that asteroids could affect continental drift. It doesn’t show that they followed an organized pattern.
- This large cluster of asteroids could be random. This answer doesn’t show the asteroid strikes followed an organized plan.
- CORRECT. This shows that the earth controlled the locations of the asteroid strikes. If an asteroid follows a specific orbit, then it will strike in a pre-determined place. (basic physics, you’re allowed to use this)
- This shows that the asteroid strikes were unusual. It doesn’t show they were planned.
More Resources for Strengthen Questions
- Intro Course lesson: This intro course lesson covers Strengthen questions.
- Mastery Seminar lesson: This LR Mastery seminar lesson covers strengthen questions.
I’m not an LSAT expert, and I haven’t even taken the test yet, but I have found (unfortunately), a plethora of errors on this site. The most egregious thus far has been the explanation for why answer C is wrong for PT68 S3 Q17. Answer choice C clearly talks about “meteors”, not “asteroids” (which is why it is wrong). This is not mentioned above, and if fact, you seem to not notice the detail creep. I made this same mistake during the timed exam, but noticed it after. I would have expected the same from Graeme.
I thank Graeme for his effort in producing all of this, but I would not feel good if I did not warn other students about the above.
A meteor is an asteroid that strikes the earth. Or a smaller piece of one. In this context, the difference in terms makes no difference.
The LSAC places great importance on the principle of charity. You should first seek to put an answer in its strongest form before eliminating it. You can read about LSAC’s view on this here (search for charity): https://lsathacks.com/lsac-responses/
Principle of charity: https://philosophy.lander.edu/oriental/charity.html
In this case, you should have asked yourself whether meteors and asteroids are basically the same thing in this context. They are. A difference in words doesn’t necessarily mean concepts have shifted.
Similarly, you might also apply the principle to what you’re reading on this site. There are typically many ways to eliminate an answer. You could have asked if what I wrote worked (it does). And it’s the more fundamental logical reason for why C is wrong.
There are errors on this site of course – you can’t make a project this large without having some mistakes. I’m extremely appreciative when people point them out, and please feel free to do so.
But this wasn’t one of them.