LSAT 21 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q24

LR Question 24 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Changes in the Sun’s luminosity…

QUESTION TYPE: Method of Reasoning

ARGUMENTS: The statistician points out that the Sun’s brightness is correlated with land temperatures on Earth. He therefore claims that the Sun’s brightness controls land temperature.

The meteorologist points out that a single factor can’t control a complicated system like our climate.

ANALYSIS: The meteorologist doesn’t dispute the statistician’s evidence or give any new evidence of his own. Instead he uses a general principle to show that he is correct.

___________

1. CORRECT. In general, a single variable can’t control a complex system. The specific case is our planet’s climate.
2. Actually, the meteorologist uses a generalization to make his point. He gives no examples.
3. This didn’t happen. An example would be: if the meteorologist had said that some third factor both changed the Sun’s brightness and changed Earth’s land temperatures.
4. The meteorologist never mentioned experiments.
5. The meteorologist didn’t give any evidence. He just used a general principle to make his point.

Recap: The question begins with “Changes in the Sun’s luminosity”. It is a Method of Reasoning question. Learn more about LSAT Method of Reasoning questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.