LSAT 37, Logical Reasoning II, Q25, LSATHacks

LR Question 25 Explanation, by LSATHacks

QUESTION TEXT: In ancient Mesopotamia, prior to 2900 B.C….

QUESTION TYPE: Strengthen

CONCLUSION: The historians say that the decline in wheat production was due to too much irrigation, not enough drainage and buildup of salt in the soil.

ANALYSIS: There is no reasoning given for the hypothesis. So we just have to find some that shows that salt was the main problem. 

___________

1. The problem was too much salt, not lack of water. The land was actually over-irrigated. 
2. CORRECT. If salt was the problem, then this explains why barley did better than wheat. 
3. This tells us a fact about barley production but it doesn’t explain why barley overtook wheat.
4. This weakens the theory that salt was the cause.
5. This confirms the idea that barley took over but it doesn’t help us conclude that salt was the problem. 

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