LSAT 135 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q11

LR Question 11 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Spreading iron particles over the surface …

QUESTION TYPE: Principle – Conform

CONCLUSION: The iron-seeding strategy should not be implemented right away.

REASONING: Its side effects haven’t been studied, and it would alter the oceans.

ANALYSIS: For Principle – Conform questions, try to look away from the context a little. The argument isn’t really about climate change or oceans. Those are just the facts of this particular case.

The reasoning is:

• This strategy could solve an important problem.
• But it would change an important resource (the oceans).
• We don’t understand its side effects.
• Therefore, we shouldn’t implement it yet.

The key idea is the combination of two facts:

1. The strategy affects an important resource
2. Its consequences are not well understood

The conclusion isn’t “never do it.” It’s just don’t implement it until we understand the consequences better.

___________

1. Knowing the side effects isn’t enough. The argument doesn’t say that once we know the side effects, we automatically should implement the strategy.
2. CORRECT. The oceans are an important resource. The consequences haven’t been adequately studied. So, don’t implement the strategy.
3. The argument never says the side effects are worse than the greenhouse effect. It only says they’re unknown.
4. Too strong. The author doesn’t object simply because the oceans would be altered. The problem is that they’d be altered without understanding the consequences.
5. The author’s concern isn’t that iron seeding might worsen the greenhouse effect. It’s that it may have other unknown side effects affecting the oceans. That’s a different principle. Exacerbation might be concerning, but it’s not what this stimulus is concerned about.