LSAT 138 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q8

LR Question 8 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Adobe is an ideal material for building in desert…

QUESTION TYPE: Identify the Conclusion

CONCLUSION: Adobe is a great material for desert construction.

REASONING: Adobe buildings conduct heat slowly. In the desert, they retain heat in the evening, and retain coolness in the days. Other materials will grow hot during the day and cool at night.

ANALYSIS: Often, the first sentence is the conclusion, especially in an argument with no conclusion indicators (words such as “thus” or “therefore”.)

The whole argument is aimed at showing that Adobe is a good material for desert construction.

___________

1. Two problems: 1. This doesn’t mention deserts. 2. Adobe would not be ideal if heat conduction were important but you needed fast heat conduction.
2. This is a fact supporting the conclusion.
3. This contradicts the passage. Adobe houses don’t maintain a constant temperature. Their temperature just changes more slowly than houses built from other materials.
4. This also contradicts the passage. The author didn’t say that adobe houses have constant temperatures. Presumably they fluctuate somewhat.
5. CORRECT. Every fact in the argument is aimed at supporting the first statement. The whole argument lists advantages of Adobe and disadvantages of other materials when used in desert environments.