LSAT 30, Logical Reasoning II, Q19, LSATHacks

LR Question 19 Explanation, by LSATHacks

QUESTION TEXT: Birds need so much food energy to maintain their body…

QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption

CONCLUSION: Seed eating birds must spend more time eating than nectar eating birds that have the same energy requirements.

REASONING: A given amount of nectar provides more energy than an equal amount of seeds. 

ANALYSIS: This has told us how much energy each type of food has. But hasn’t told us how long it takes to eat each type of food. 

___________

1. All the argument has to assume is that occasionally birds of different types have the same energy requirements. That’s how they can make the comparison.
2. This isn’t necessary. Even if a nectar eating bird eats a few seeds it will still mostly eat nectar.
3. CORRECT. If the nectar eating bird takes longer to eat the nectar than the seed-eating bird, then the nectar eating bird might have to spend more time eating. Total eating time depends both on how much energy the food has and how long it takes to eat it. 
4. Body temperature doesn’t matter as long as each type of bird has the same energy requirements. Birds just have to eat enough to maintain their body temperatures (whatever temperature that happens to be for each bird.)
5. It doesn’t matter what influences a bird’s overall energy needs. The stimulus is comparing two birds that have the same energy requirements.

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