LSAT 149 | Section 2 | Reading Comprehension: Q6

RC Question 6 Explanation

DISCUSSION: The author’s main point was that cosmologists are wrong to think that the universe is finely tuned for life. There are in fact multiple possible universes that would support life.

They agree a multiverse is possible though. However, this doesn’t necessary have to show up in the answer as it was more of a tangent.

___________

1. CORRECT. This is the best answer, even though it doesn’t mention the multiverse. It nonetheless presents the author’s central argument from paragraph 5. And by arguing against life being fine tuned, it argues against the cosmologists.
2. This is just a side point from the final paragraph. The real main point is in paragraph 5, when the author says “But there is no reason….”. “But” often introduces the author’s idea.
    
   If you took out the final sentence of the paragraph (this answer), the structure of the rest of the passage wouldn’t have to change at all. It’s nice for the cosmologists that the author agrees multiverses are likely, but their main point is that multiple combinations of physical laws are possible.
3. This is something the author argues is not conclusive. In the middle of paragraph 5 (starting with “but there is no reason….”) the author shows we can find alternate sets of laws consistent with life if we change more than one law at a time.
4. In paragraph 6 the author explicitly argues that this is wrong! Fine tuning = a universe with physical laws supporting life is improbable. In paragraph 5, the author argues the fine tuning theory is wrong. So what they’re saying in paragraph 6 is that fine tuning (improbability of life) is not what supports the idea of the multiverse.
5. This is just an analogy at the start, intended to make the passage easier to understand. The author’s don’t use it much throughout the passage though, and it isn’t the main point.