LSAT 157 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q8

LR Question 8 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Anthropologists: For early humans who moved from a hunter-gatherer…

QUESTION TYPE: Role in Argument

CONCLUSION: Groups that transitioned to agriculture from hunter-gathering were likely motivated by benefits that accompanied agriculture, such as accumulation of wealth.

REASONING: The transition was accompanied by problems such as disease, injury, and more homogenous diets. This would make the transition traumatic for the group.

ANALYSIS: There is support in the argument for the claim that the transition was traumatic. The author backs it up with things like disease and injury. But the last part of the argument doesn’t support the statement that the transition was traumatic. In fact, that statement supports the end of the argument, which must be the overall conclusion. If the transition was traumatic, they must have been motivated by some other benefit.

___________

1. CORRECT. See above.
2. This statement plays an important role in the argument. The traumatic transition is a necessary premise in the author’s conclusion that there must have been a significant benefit.
3. There is support for this premise. Examples were given of ways the transition was traumatic.
4. The statement is not the conclusion. It supports the conclusion, which comes at the end.
5. The argument does not seek to rebut the statement. In fact, it is important to the logic. There must have been a reason for undergoing such a traumatic transition.

Recap: The question begins with “Anthropologists: For early humans who moved from a hunter-gatherer”. It is a Role in Argument question. Learn more about LSAT Role questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.