LSAT 153 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q14

LR Question 14 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Biologists are mistaken in thinking that the fossil record…

QUESTION TYPE: Identify the Conclusion

CONCLUSION: The fossil record does not provide direct evidence of the course of human evolution.

REASONING: Fossil interpretation is subjective and based on the scientists’ theories. One example is the identification of pelvises.

ANALYSIS: The key to these questions is to look for words that indicate what part of the argument is being expressed. Here, “For example” tells us that what follows is an example and not the conclusion or a premise. So we can rule out the pelvis bit.

The colon after “Fossils cannot be interpreted objectively” indicates that the rest of that sentence is explaining why not. This leaves us with two possible conclusions: “Fossils cannot be interpreted objectively” and “Biologists are mistaken…”. The inability to interpret fossils objectively is a premise that supports the idea that the fossil record does not provide direct evidence of the course of human evolution. We can deduce, then, that the latter is the conclusion.

___________

1. This is part of an example that is used for illustration. It is not the conclusion.
2. This might be implied by the argument, but it is not the conclusion of the argument. The conclusion will always be stated directly.
3. This is part of the example – not the conclusion.
4. CORRECT. The rest of the passage works as an argument for this conclusion – see analysis above.
5. This is part of the premise that supports the conclusion.

Recap: The question begins with “Biologists are mistaken in thinking that the fossil record”. It is a Identify The Conclusion question. Learn more about LSAT Identify questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.