LR Question 25 Explanation, by LSATHacks
QUESTION TEXT: By examining fossilized beetles, a research team has…
QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption
CONCLUSION: A research team has determined the maximum summer temperatures in Britain over the past 22,000 years.
REASONING: The researchers looked at fossils of beetles that still exist in the present. The researchers then looked at the temperature tolerances of the present beetles. When several fossils of different species were dated to the same period researchers were able to tell what the max temperature was by using the temperature tolerances of present-day beetles.
ANALYSIS: The argument is assuming that temperature tolerances of the beetles haven’t changed over the years.
___________
- It doesn’t matter. We just need to know what the max temperature is for each species of beetle.
- They’re not assuming this. In fact, the researchers are able to date each fossil. They don’t have to make assumptions.
- The process doesn’t have to be more accurate for beetles as long as it is accurate for beetles.
- This sound nice but its wrong. The temperature tolerance of the least tolerant beetle would determine the max summer temperature. If a beetle that could only survive 20 degrees Celsius existed then summer temperatures couldn’t have been over 20. It doesn’t matter if other beetles could survive higher temperatures.
- CORRECT. The researchers based temperature tolerances on their knowledge of present day beetles. But 22,000 years is a long time. The fossilized beetles might have had different temperature tolerances from their present day counterparts. If so then the study is flawed.
Recap: The question begins with “By examining fossilized beetles, a research team has”. It is a Necessary Assumption question. Learn how to master LSAT Necessary questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.