LSAT 77, Logical Reasoning I, Q25

QUESTION TEXT: Among small- to medium-sized marine mammals…

QUESTION TYPE: Must be False

FACTS:

1. Longer = deeper
2. D > NFS
3. ES > WS

ANALYSIS: Unusually, this question is like a logic game. Specifically, a sequencing game. We know the relative ordering of dolphins vs. northern fur seals, and elephant seals vs. Weddell seals.

You may have wondered: does longer really mean deeper? If you skim the answers, it’s clear this has to be the case. Otherwise, the question wouldn’t make sense. Don’t get hung up in technicalities when it’s clear there’s only one plausible interpretation of a given statement.

In another circumstance, I could see such a statement not being definitive, and there being other factors. E.g. “The healthier your food, the longer you live” clearly shouldn’t mean that food is the only factor. But if you consider the full circumstances of this question and the answers, the question is only possible if longer = deeper, so it’s silly to fret about whether that isn’t the case.

Once you equate the two terms, this question is easy. Just go through the answers and see which one violates one of the ordering facts. I drew the diagrams below for each answer and checked them against the diagrams from the stimulus. A, B, C and E are consistent with the stimulus. D contradicts it. I wouldn’t say this question is hard. It’s just unfamiliar. The logic is actually extremely easy.

___________

1. ES > DS > WS,
2. D > WS > NF
3. WS > D > NFS
4. CORRECT. WS > D > NFS > ES. This diagram contradicts the diagrams from the stimulus. WS can’t be before ES.
5. ES > NFS > WS

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