LSAT 154 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q23

LR Question 23 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: The effects of global warming on the polar ice caps have…

QUESTION TYPE: Paradox

Paradox: Some models say seawater temperature will rise to melt ice caps if the global temperature increases by 2 degrees. But these models also say that the ice caps would increase.

ANALYSIS: So we’re told that an increase in global temperature will lead to increased seawater temperature, which somehow leads to both melting (decreasing) ice caps and increasing ice cap volume.

How could that be? The correct answer choice would answer how ice caps could melt but still increase in volume.

___________

1. CORRECT. If more seawater evaporates, but then returns as ice, then the ice caps would ultimately increase in volume.
2. We don’t want to stabilize the ice caps; we already know that it’s changing in size. We just need to know why.
3. This is about melting, not how the ice cap volume could increase.
4. This is talking about how the temperature for freezing needs to be lower, so it certainly doesn’t give us any explanation why the volume is increasing.
5. Smaller variations between average temperatures doesn’t explain the increase in volume.

Recap: The question begins with “The effects of global warming on the polar ice caps have”. It is a Paradox question. Learn how to master LSAT Paradox questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.