LSAT 106 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q14

LR Question 14 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: The axis of Earth’s daily rotation is tilted with…

QUESTION TYPE: Must Be True

FACTS:

1. Earth is tilted at 23 degrees.
2. It can stay tilted at that degree thanks to the moon.
3. Without a stable tilt, a planet can’t support life. The climate becomes extreme and unstable.
4. Mars has smaller moons and no stable tilt. Mars can’t support life.

ANALYSIS: We can conclude that the moon is essential to life on earth.

___________

1. A moon seems to be a necessary conditions for life. But it’s not a sufficient conditions. Mars might also need to be closer to the Sun, for example.
2. CORRECT. This is well supported. If the moon left, Earth’s tilt would become unstable. That would make our climate extreme and chaotic, and we would die.
3. This makes the same as mistake as A. Having a stable tilt is a necessary condition, but not a sufficient condition for life. A stable planet might be too small, or cold to support life, or the planet might lack an atmosphere.
4. This is silly. Everyone knows the earth orbits the sun, thanks to gravity. That almost certainly affects our degree of tilt.
5. Mars’ problem is that it’s moons are too small. It’s possible a planet with two larger moons could have a stable tilt, as well as other conditions sufficient to allow life.