LSAT 142 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q6

LR Question 6 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Scientist: There is a lot of concern that human…

QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption

CONCLUSION: Climate change is an opportunity.

REASONING: If human behavior causes climate change, then we can control climate change to make it less extreme.

ANALYSIS: This argument has a bit of a different structure from most. The right answer actually points out the weakness of a premise itself. This is rare on the LSAT, but not impossible. The faulty premise is that, if we cause climate change, then we can control the climate to make it better.

The right answer points out that we might not be able to control our own behavior. If we can’t control our behavior, we can’t control the climate. So this answer directly contradicts the premise.

___________

1. It doesn’t matter whether the cause of climate change influences the severity of the effects. The issue is whether we can control climate change.
   Negation: Human and natural climate change both have similar effects.
2. CORRECT. The negation of this destroys the premise that we can control climate change. If we can’t control our behavior, we can’t control climate change.
   Negation: Humans are incapable of controlling the behavior that affects climate change.
3. It doesn’t matter what happened in the past. There’s a first time for everything.
   Negation: This is the first time that humans have affected the climate.
4. It doesn’t matter who is at risk from climate change. If we can control climate change, we can reduce the risks.
   Negation: Other species face just as much risk from climate change as humans do.
5. It almost never matters if one thing is easier/larger/more important than another thing. Do you care if LSAT or GPA is more important for law school admissions? They’re both rather important, and the relative rank won’t affect any decisions you make.
   Negation: It is equally easy to identify and to change behaviors that cause climate change.