LSAT Explanation PT 20, S4, Q13: Mature white pines intercept almost all
LSAT Question Stem
Which one of the following most logically concludes the argument?
Logical Reasoning Question Type
This is a Most Strongly supported question.
Correct Answer
The correct answer to this question is A.
LSAT Question Complete Explanation
This LSAT problem is a Most Strongly Supported (MSS) question, which means we need to find the answer choice that logically follows from the information provided in the passage.
Passage Summary:
The passage tells us that mature white pines block almost all sunlight, leaving little light for the forest floor. As a result, white pines cannot regenerate in their own shade. We need to determine what is likely to be true in a dense forest with a stand of only mature white pines.
To help understand this concept, think of the white pines as umbrellas on a sunny day. If there are too many umbrellas close together, they block sunlight from reaching the ground, making it difficult for new umbrellas to open and grow.
Now let's analyze the answer choices:
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer. Since younger white pines cannot grow under the shade of older white pines, it's logical to conclude that the trees in a dense stand of white pines must be of fairly similar ages. If there were significant age differences, the younger trees would not have been able to grow due to the lack of sunlight.
Answer choice (B): This choice is incorrect because the passage doesn't require the area to be completely cleared of trees for white pines to grow. White pines just need enough sunlight to grow, which could be possible even with some trees present.
Answer choice (C): The passage doesn't suggest that older white pines would deprive each other of sunlight to the point where some would die. It only states that they block sunlight from reaching the forest floor, making it difficult for new white pines to grow.
Answer choice (D): This choice is unsupported and incorrect because the passage doesn't provide any information about other tree species colonizing and replacing the stand of white pines. The passage only discusses the regeneration of white pines in their own shade.
Answer choice (E): The passage doesn't establish that white pines grow at a consistent rate, nor does it suggest that height differences should be attributed only to age. In fact, the passage implies that the trees are likely to be of similar ages if they are to survive together.