LSAT Explanation PT 43, S3, Q7: Very little is known about prehistoric

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the argumentation above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Principle question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage. The author is discussing prehistoric hominid cave dwellers and their daily activities. The argument's structure is as follows:

Premise: Very little is known about prehistoric hominid cave dwellers.

Premise: A recent study of skeletons has revealed that their fractures are similar to those sustained by rodeo riders.

Conclusion: It is likely that these cave dwellers engaged in activities similar to rodeo riders, such as chasing and tackling animals.

To make this information more accessible, let's use a simple example. Imagine we find two broken cups with similar cracks. If we know that one cup was broken by being dropped from a height, we might conclude that the other cup was also broken in a similar way, such as being dropped or knocked off a table.

Now, let's come up with an "Evaluate" question for this argument: "Is there any other possible cause for the similar fractures in the skeletons besides engaging in activities like rodeo riders?"

The question type for this problem is Principle, which means we need to find an answer choice that helps to justify or support the argumentation above.

a) This answer choice states that the primary source of clues about prehistoric hominids is their skeletal remains. While this may be true, it doesn't help to strengthen the argument that their activities were similar to rodeo riders. We need to focus on the causal link between the evidence and the conclusion.

b) This answer choice suggests that the most important aspect of prehistoric life to study is how food was obtained. However, this doesn't help to justify the argument that the cave dwellers engaged in activities like rodeo riders. The argument isn't focused on the importance of studying food-gathering; it's about the cause of the similar skeletal fractures.

c) This answer choice states that if direct evidence is available, then indirect evidence should not be sought. This doesn't help to strengthen the argument because it doesn't provide additional support for the causal relationship between the similar skeletal fractures and engaging in activities like rodeo riders.

d) This is the correct answer choice. It states that if there is a similarity between two effects (in this case, the similar skeletal fractures), then there is probably a similarity between their causes (the activities that caused the fractures). This principle helps to strengthen the argument by supporting the causal link between the evidence and the conclusion.

e) This answer choice suggests that the frequency of hazardous activities is proportional to the frequency of injuries resulting from those activities. However, this doesn't help to strengthen the argument because there's no information about how often the cave dwellers participated in these activities or how often they were injured. The focus should be on the cause of the similar fractures, not the frequency of activities or injuries.