LSAT 8 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q2

LR Question 2 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: When old-growth forests are cleared of tall trees…

QUESTION TYPE: Paradox

FACTS: Leafy shrubs grow better when tall trees disappear and more sunlight reaches the forest floor. Mule deer are dependent on eating leafy shrubs. Yet mule deer eat better in old growth forests.

ANALYSIS: Note that this stimulus is talking specifically about mule deer and not all deer. To answer it we have to explain why they are better fed in an old growth forest. Most of the wrong answers don’t even talk about food.

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1. Are those tough plants more common in old growth forests? This doesn’t explain our paradox.
2. This doesn’t explain why they are malnourished. It’s just a curious fact about mule deer gender ratios.
3. This is just a fact about mule deer. It explains nothing.
4. CORRECT. Here we go. Leafy shrubs get a lot of sunlight when the tall trees are gone. They may get too much sunlight and become less nourishing to mule deer.
5. This would make mule deer more vulnerable in a forest. How does that explain why mule deer do better in forests? Also note that this answer choice isn’t about nourishment.

Recap: The question begins with “When old-growth forests are cleared of tall trees”. It is a Paradox question. Learn more about LSAT Paradox questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.