LSAT 153 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q4

LR Question 4 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: The coat patterns of large cat species correspond to the…

QUESTION TYPE: Paradox

Paradox: Large cats with spotted coats typically live in trees and forests, while those with plain coats live in open plains. But the cheetah, a spotted cat, lives in the plains.

ANALYSIS: To figure out why the cheetah has a unique coat, we must first think about why these large cats have the coats that they do. The stimulus mentions that the coats correspond to where these species live and hunt, so we can assume that the coat type plays some function for most large cats but is different for the cheetah.

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1. CORRECT. This answer gives us something directly related to the function of the coat and that distinguishes cheetahs from other large cats. Since different coats camouflage better in different environments, we can see why coats change based on habitat. If the cheetah only uses speed instead of stealth, then camouflage is unnecessary. Therefore, the cheetah’s coat is an exception because it isn’t required for the hunting pattern typical of other large cats.
2. This answer doesn’t give us information that is relevant about the coat of cheetahs.
3. This answer does not give us any information about what is unique about cheetahs. It might be the case that there are other cats with wide paws and semi retractable claws, but only cheetahs have a unique coat. We need information that tells us about cheetahs as opposed to all cats.
4. This answer only compares cheetahs to lions, instead of cheetahs to all other large cats. As a result, it doesn’t tell us what differentiates cheetahs from all other large cats, which would be required for explaining its unique coat.
5. There is no clear connection between being able to roar and the cheetah’s unique coat.

Recap: The question begins with “The coat patterns of large cat species correspond to the”. It is a Paradox question. Learn more about LSAT Paradox questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.