LSAT 107 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q5

LR Question 5 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: The chances that tropical storms will develop in a…

QUESTION TYPE: Most Strongly Supported

FACTS:

1. Warm waters increase the chance of tropical storms.
2. More carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will warm waters.

ANALYSIS: I simplified the facts above to show what you should pay attention to on this sort of question. You don’t need to focus on the details, as long as they don’t have a logical effect, or switch form.

(The facts above would have been the same if the argument had said 29 degrees celsius, at a depth of 100 feet.)

The conclusion is that more emissions of CO2 will warm waters and cause more tropical storms.

___________

1. CORRECT. CO2 emissions will heat waters, which makes storms more likely.
2. The stimulus just said that storms are more likely above 26 degrees. But they could still occur at cooler temperatures.
3. This doesn’t have to be true. The earth used to be a lot warmer. All we know is that presently, CO2 emissions will tend to warm waters.
4. The stimulus only talked about likelihood of tropical storms. We have no idea what affects how fierce storms are.
5. We only know that carbon dioxide increases ocean temperatures. The reverse doesn’t have to be true.

Recap: The question begins with “The chances that tropical storms will develop in a”. It is a Most Strongly Supported question. Learn how to master LSAT MSS questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.