LSAT 5 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q8

LR Question 8 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Two paleontologists, Dr. Tyson and Dr. Rees, disagree…

QUESTION TYPE: Weaken

CONCLUSION: Tyson’s conclusion is that the footprints are from hominids.

REASONING: Tyson argues that the footprints are like human prints, with the big toe right next to the other toe.

ANALYSIS: This question requires us to think about the context and picture it in our head. The tracks are cross stepped. I’ll make a crude diagram. BT is big toe and lt represents the four smaller toes.

(You shouldn’t actually draw a foot on the LSAT, but this is easier to explain with visualization)

Normal human footprints look like this. The big toes are on the inside: lt-BT BT-lt

The cross tracked footprints would have the big toes on the outside: BT-lt lt-BT

The cross tracking is…weird. Why would a human walk like that? This is the key to weakening Tyson’s argument, which focuses on how the footprints were similar to human feet.

___________

1. This might actually help Tyson: it could explain why the footprints were cross tracked.
2. CORRECT. This would explain the “cross tracking.” The bear’s normal footprints would look like this: BT-lt lt-BT. And they would look a lot like human feet but on switched over. This weakens Tyson: these tracks are probably bear tracks.
3. This doesn’t really explain anything. It could be that this particular hominid had a funny way of walking.
4. This is pretty vague. “Some details”…which details?
5. This doesn’t do anything to the argument of either scientist.

Recap: The question begins with “Two paleontologists, Dr Tyson and Dr Rees, disagree”. It is a Weaken question. Learn more about LSAT Weaken questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.