LSAT 30, Logical Reasoning II, Q2, LSATHacks

LR Question 2 Explanation, by LSATHacks

QUESTION TEXT: The current theory about earthquakes holds that they are…

QUESTION TYPE: Main Point

CONCLUSION: One thing remains mysterious in the theory about earthquakes.

REASONING: The current theory is that earthquakes are caused by plates of rock sliding past each other. The plates are pressed together until powerful forces overcome the resistance. The overcoming of resistance should create heat. But…no increases in temperature unrelated to weather have been detected following earthquakes. 

ANALYSIS: The main point is that we still don’t know everything about earthquakes. Our theory predicts heat yet we haven’t been able to find heat. 

___________

1. This is true but it isn’t the main point. The main point is that earthquakes aren’t fully explained. 
2. CORRECT. There’s still stuff we need to figure out. 
3. Not quite. We might figure out the true cause later. We just don’t know it now.
4. This might not even be true. It’s possible the theory is wrong and that no heat is detected. 
5. The stimulus isn’t sure about this. It could be that the heat is there but we don’t detect it. 

Hi, I'm Graeme Blake

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

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