LSAT 149 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q2

LR Question 2 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Domestication of animals is a cooperative activity…

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Reasoning

CONCLUSION: We probably developed language in order to domesticate animals.

REASONING: Something like language is required to domesticate animals.

ANALYSIS: This argument is silly. It assumes that because language is useful for domesticating animals, then we must have learned language in order to domesticate animals.

But this is silly. We use language for many things. You know what else humans needed language for? To develop rocketships! Couldn’t have done it without language. But it doesn’t mean we created language in order to develop rocketships.

The rest of the reasoning structure is just a distraction. But, here it is in case you wanted to check if you had it right: “domestication ➞ cooperative ➞ sophisticated means of communication”

___________

1. This is a different flaw. The author isn’t saying that if you learn language you can automatically domesticate animals. Instead, they’re saying the purpose of language learning was to help domesticate animals.
   Example of flaw: Humans need language to domesticate animals. So any human society that developed language will domesticate animals.
   (This is false: all humans have language, but not every human society domesticated animals)
2. This is a different flaw.
   Example of flaw: If I jump off that cliff, I will die. So, that’s the only way I can die. Cliff jumping is the unique cause of death.
3. This is a different flaw. Further, the stimulus didn’t mention the timeline of the development of language and domestication.
   Example of flaw: The iPhone was developed at the same time as George Bush’s presidency. So, George Bush caused the development of the iPhone.
4. This describes a circular argument. It is almost never correct because it is hard to write a circular argument which isn’t obviously circular.
   Example of flaw: This pen is good because it is a good pen.
5. CORRECT. Precisely. Language fulfills many purposes. There’s no reason to assume it was specifically made for animal domestication.

Recap: The question begins with “Domestication of animals is a cooperative activity”. It is a Flawed Reasoning question. Learn more about LSAT Flaw questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.