LSAT 29, Logical Reasoning II, Q11, LSATHacks

LR Question 11 Explanation, by LSATHacks

QUESTION TEXT: Sometimes when their trainer gives the hand signal…

QUESTION TYPE: Strengthen

CONCLUSION: Dolphins are capable of higher cognitive functions, possibly even language and forethought. Their behavior is not simply learned responses to a given stimulus. 

REASONING: When dolphins see the “do something creative together”, signal they do a bunch of different creative things. 

ANALYSIS: We’re trying to show that dolphins are smart and that they are capable of creating new routines without being taught by their trainers. 

We don’t have much evidence. The dolphins just do a couple of things in response to the hand gestures. Maybe the trainers taught the dolphins that they like both of those moves.

To show creativity, we should show that dolphins invent new moves.

___________

1. Other mammals are irrelevant. We care about what dolphins can do. 
2. CORRECT. This shows that the dolphins can frequently create new behaviors. They aren’t simply repeating moves their trainers taught them.
3. Lots of animals can do tricks for food. We’re trying to show that dolphins are different. 
4. So? This stimulus is about dolphins interacting with one another and creating new things. They’re only interacting with the human to the extent that they act on his signal. 
5. This weakens the argument slightly. It shows that the dolphins aren’t inventing new, unique routines. 

Hi, I'm Graeme Blake

Founder of LSAThacks; I scored a 177 on the LSAT.

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