LSAT 119 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q11

LR Question 11 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: According to the theory of continental drift, in prehistoric times…

QUESTION TYPE: Strengthen

ANALYSIS: We need to think of a way to strengthen the idea that South America and Africa were once linked. The key here is to remember that this drift occurred a long, long, long time ago, in prehistoric times. So our evidence needs to be ancient.

Human evidence won’t be very useful.

___________

1. CORRECT. This is the best answer. The rock is rare and very old, and exists in the area the continents would have been joined.
2. Answers B through E are tempting, but are all too recent. I’ve got a better explanation for why there are West Africans in Brazil: the Portuguese brought them there as slaves a few hundred years ago.
3. The climate of California resembles that found in the Mediterranean. That does not mean they were once attached.
4. This is very vague. “Some” tribes speak languages that are “linguistically similar” to those spoken by “certain” western African peoples. Could well be a coincidence. The continents drifted apart long ago, and many tribes have surely changed locations and languages since then.
5. This refers to current plants, which are easily moved. They could have been brought over by the slave traders (answer choice B). Many plants in North America come from Europe.

Recap: The question begins with “According to the theory of continental drift, in prehistoric times”. It is a Strengthen question. Learn how to master LSAT Strengthen questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.