LSAT 108 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q7

LR Question 7 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: When an invading insect threatens …

QUESTION TYPE: Most Strongly Supported

FACTS:

1. Ants attack invading insects that threaten their territory or food.
2. Ant swarms can deter even aggressive flying insects like wasps.
3. Ants don’t attack all insects in their territory.
4. Riodinid caterpillars live harmoniously among South American ants.
5. Riodinid caterpillars are a favorite prey of wasps.
6. The caterpillars produce secretions that ants eat.

ANALYSIS: Let’s look at the relationship between the different insects.

• Caterpillars live among ants (Fact 4)
• Ants deter wasps (Fact 2)
• Wasps like to eat these caterpillars (Fact 5)

So living among ants probably gives the caterpillars some protection from wasps.

___________

1. Nothing says the secretions are chemically identical to plant secretions.
2. Out of scope. We’re never told that South American ants are better defenders than ants elsewhere.
3. Way too strong. The stimulus says ants don’t attack all insects within their territory. We only know one example (riodinid caterpillars). There could be many others they also don’t attack.
4. We only know that these caterpillars are a favorite prey of these wasp. Nothing says they’re the wasps are the only other organisms that eat caterpillars.
5. CORRECT. See above. Also notice the careful wording: “less likely” (not impossible) and “attacked successfully” (ants may deter or interrupt attacks). This is what we can infer from the facts.