LSAT 2 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q8

LR Question 8 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Measurements of the extent of amino-acid decomposition…

QUESTION TYPE: Most Strongly Supported

ANALYSIS: This is a hard question that demands lateral thinking. We can measure the age of archaeological sites based on how fast amino acids decompose in fragments of egg shells.

This technique can be used to date older sites in cold climates because eggshells decompose slower. Therefore they will be around longer. If they’re completely decomposed we can’t test them.

We therefore need to know two things:

1. How much the amino acids have decomposed.
2. How fast amino acids decompose in that particular climate.

If it were impossible to determine whether a climate had been consistently hot or cold, then this technique would not be much good.

___________

1. Old sites are easier to date using this technique if they are in a colder climate. This does not mean that the oldest sites are coldest. It just means we might not be able to date the oldest sites if they are in warm climates.
2. The stimulus is very specific: it is only discussing the egg shell dating technique. The amino acid fragments might be present in other materials: this is not discussed.
3. CORRECT. If “large unsuspected climactic fluctuations” had occurred, that would mean we wouldn’t know whether the site had been hot or cold. Further, we wouldn’t know that we wouldn’t know since the fluctuations are “unsuspected.” It is less likely we could take accurate measurements in such circumstances.
4. The rate of decomposition may increase or decrease as time goes on. We have no idea if only 1/5 of the acids will have decomposed after 200,000 years or not.
5. We have no idea. The eggshell fragments may still be found even after all of the amino acids have decomposed. In other words, we may be just as likely to find eggshells in warm archaeological sites.

Recap: The question begins with “Measurements of the extent of amino-acid decomposition”. It is a Most Strongly Supported question. Learn more about LSAT MSS questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.