LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following would it be most useful to know in evaluating the argument? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is an Evaluate question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's summarize and analyze the argument in the passage. The passage states that monarch butterflies hibernate on trees in certain forests. Local environmental groups have organized tours to protect the butterflies' habitat against woodcutters, but the tourists trample most of the small shrubs that are necessary for the survival of monarch butterflies that fall off the trees. The conclusion is that the tour groups themselves are endangering the monarch butterfly population. The premises are the facts about the tours and the trampling of shrubs.

Now let's create an "Evaluate" question: "What proportion of hibernating monarch butterflies fall off the trees?"

The question type for this problem is Evaluate, which means we need to identify the most useful information to know in evaluating the argument.

Answer choice (a) discusses the amount of forest land suitable for monarch butterfly hibernation that is not currently used by monarch butterflies for hibernation. This information doesn't directly address the argument's focus on the impact of tour groups and trampled shrubs.

Answer choice (b) talks about the amount of wood cut each year by woodcutters in forests used by monarch butterflies for hibernation. While this provides information about the woodcutters, it doesn't directly help us evaluate the argument about the tour groups' impact on the butterflies.

Answer choice (c) concerns the amount of plant life trampled by the tourists that is not necessary to the survival of monarch butterflies. This information may be interesting, but it doesn't help us evaluate the argument's conclusion about the tour groups endangering the butterfly population.

Answer choice (d) discusses the proportion of trees cut down by the woodcutters each year in the forests used by monarch butterflies for hibernation. Again, this information is about the woodcutters and doesn't directly help us evaluate the argument about the tour groups' impact.

Answer choice (e) asks about the proportion of hibernating monarch butterflies that fall off the trees. This information directly addresses our "Evaluate" question and is crucial to determining the validity of the argument. If a significant proportion of butterflies fall off the trees, then the tour groups' actions could be endangering the population. On the other hand, if very few or no butterflies fall off the trees, the tour groups' actions may not be as harmful as the argument claims.

Therefore, the correct answer is (e).