LSAT 157 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q11

LR Question 11 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Biologist: The evolutionary advantage of sexual reproduction…

QUESTION TYPE: Role in Argument

CONCLUSION: The sole reason that sexual reproduction has become the rule among both animals and plants is that natural selection has favoured some entire species over others.

REASONING: Sexual reproduction increases the range of genetic variation in a species, which is advantageous. However, this advantage extends only to the species as a whole, not to individuals.

ANALYSIS: The author explains that sexual reproduction is advantageous for a species. But it isn’t advantageous for individuals, only the whole group. The author then concludes that sexual reproduction has become the norm because natural selection has favoured entire species.

You might not see the connection here – it’s a bit obtuse. But the author is thinking about why sexual reproduction has become the rule. There must be a reason natural selection has favoured it. It doesn’t provide advantages on an individual level, so it must be being selected on a species level.

The fact that it doesn’t benefit individuals in the species is a claim that supports the argument. Because it doesn’t benefit individuals, it must be the norm because of its benefits to the species.

___________

1. CORRECT. See above.
2. The claim does not shed doubt on the conclusion, it supports it.
3. The argument does not call this claim into question.
4. The argument doesn’t seek an explanation for why sexual reproduction doesn’t benefit individuals. The argument uses the claim to reach the conclusion.
5. This claim is not presented as the main explanation of a phenomenon. Natural selection on a species level is presented as the explanation for the dominance of sexual reproduction.

Recap: The question begins with “Biologist: The evolutionary advantage of sexual reproduction”. It is a Role in Argument question. Learn how to master LSAT Role questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.