LSAT Explanation PT 19, S4, Q16: Henry: Some scientists explain the dance

LSAT Question Stem

The point at issue between Henry and Winifred is whether 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Disagree question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage. Henry presents a premise that honeybees do not need a complicated dance mechanism to communicate the location of food sources since they can leave a scent trail. Based on this, Henry concludes that there must be another explanation for the honeybees' dance. Winifred counters this by stating that most animals have several ways of accomplishing critical tasks, and for honeybees, scent trails are a supplementary, not exclusive, means of communicating. The point of disagreement between Henry and Winifred is whether the honeybees' dance is a means of communicating the location of food sources.

Now, let's discuss the question type and what it's asking us to do. This is a Disagree question, which means we need to identify the point at issue between the two speakers. Let's go through each answer choice:

a) The passage does not discuss theories of animal behavior being established on the basis of evidence about only one species of animal. Neither Henry nor Winifred addresses this point.

b) While it might seem tempting, this answer choice is not the point of disagreement between Henry and Winifred. Henry believes there's another explanation for the dance, but he doesn't necessarily claim that there are multiple valid explanations. Winifred, on the other hand, doesn't explicitly state that there is more than one valid explanation for the dance, but rather that scent trails are supplementary.

c) This is the correct answer. Henry argues that the dance is not a means of communicating the location of food sources, while Winifred counters that scent trails are supplementary, implying that the dance could still serve this purpose. The point at issue between them is whether honeybees communicate the location of food sources through their dance.

d) The passage does not discuss whether the honeybee is the only species of bee capable of communicating navigational information to other hive members. Neither speaker addresses this point.

e) Both Henry and Winifred seem to agree that the honeybee's sense of smell plays a role in its foraging strategies (scent trails), so this is not the point at issue between them.

In conclusion, the point at issue between Henry and Winifred is whether honeybees communicate the location of food sources through their dance (Answer choice C).