LSAT Explanation PT 28, S3, Q3: Birds startled by potential predators generally
LSAT Question Stem
Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the anomalous behavior of the birds that fly into windowpanes?
Logical Reasoning Question Type
This is a Paradox question.
Correct Answer
The correct answer to this question is E.
LSAT Question Complete Explanation
The passage tells us that birds startled by potential predators generally try to take cover in nearby vegetation. However, many birds that feed at bird feeders placed in suburban gardens end up flying into windowpanes of nearby houses when startled. This is a paradox because we would expect the birds to fly towards the vegetation in the gardens, not away from it and into windowpanes. The question asks us to identify the statement that best helps explain this anomalous behavior.
Let's analyze each answer choice:
a) Predator attacks are as likely to occur at bird feeders surrounded by dense vegetation as they are at feeders surrounded by little or no vegetation.
- This answer choice does not help explain the birds' behavior of flying into windowpanes when startled. It only tells us that predator attacks can happen at any type of bird feeder, but it does not explain why the birds fly away from the vegetation and into windowpanes.
b) The bird feeders in some suburban gardens are placed at a considerable distance from the houses.
- This answer choice does not resolve the paradox either. It simply tells us that some bird feeders are placed far from houses, but it does not explain why the birds fly into windowpanes when they are startled.
c) Large birds are as likely as small birds to fly into windowpanes.
- This answer choice is irrelevant to the paradox. It only tells us that both large and small birds are likely to fly into windowpanes, but it does not explain why they do so when startled.
d) Most of the birds startled while feeding at bird feeders placed in suburban gardens are startled by loud noises rather than by predators.
- This answer choice does not help resolve the paradox. Even if the birds are startled by loud noises instead of predators, it still does not explain why they fly away from the vegetation and into windowpanes.
e) The windowpanes of many houses clearly reflect surrounding vegetation.
- This is the correct answer because it explains the birds' anomalous behavior. If the windowpanes reflect the surrounding vegetation, the birds might mistake the reflection for actual vegetation and fly towards it when startled, causing them to collide with the windowpanes.
In summary, the correct answer is E, as it provides a plausible explanation for the birds' behavior of flying into windowpanes when startled. The other answer choices either do not address the paradox or are irrelevant to the situation.