LSAT 153 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q10

LR Question 10 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Giant ground sloths began disappearing from the Americas…

QUESTION TYPE: Paradox

CONCLUSION: The arrival of human beings shortly before the end of an ice age caused the extinction of giant ground sloths.

FACTS: Giant ground sloths started disappearing 10,000 years ago, around the end of the last ice age. Giant ground sloths are now extinct. Scientists originally thought that sloths failed to adapt to climate change.

ANALYSIS: If we are looking for something that will explain this change in belief, then we are likely going to be presented with evidence that implies human beings being the cause of extinction. In order to differentiate between the effects of climate change and human intervention, the proof must separate the effects of the two possible causes and show it was human beings specifically who are responsible for the extinction of the sloths..

___________

1. This goes against the scientists’ new belief, since hunting would be indicative of humans causing extinction.
2. We are not interested in other types of sloths. We only want to know about giant ground sloths, so this answer is irrelevant.
3. This supports the idea of climate change causing extinction, since the sloths would be less likely to be able to adapt to new climate conditions. We want proof that humans caused extinction.
4. This answer doesn’t show that human beings, rather than the end of the ice age, is responsible for these other disappearances as well.
5. CORRECT. If giant ground sloths survived the end of the ice age on isolated islands, but not human beings, then there is good reason to believe that the extinction was caused by humans rather than climate change.

Recap: The question begins with “Giant ground sloths began disappearing from the Americas”. It is a Explanation? question. Learn more about LSAT Paradox questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.