LSAT Explanation PT 22, S4, Q14: When soil is plowed in the

LSAT Question Stem

The statements above, if true, most strongly support which one of the following statements about a field that will be plowed in the spring and in which pigweed seeds have been buried in the soil all winter? 

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 problem is a Most Strongly Supported question, which means we need to identify the answer choice that is most strongly supported by the information given in the passage.

Let's first analyze the passage. It explains that when soil is plowed in the spring, pigweed seeds that have been buried all winter are brought to the surface and redeposited just under the surface. This exposure to sunlight stimulates their receptors, which have become sensitive to sunlight during the months they were buried. This stimulation triggers germination. The passage concludes that without prolonged darkness followed by exposure to sunlight, the seeds do not germinate.

To make this clearer, let's use a simple example: imagine that pigweed seeds are like little solar-powered toys that need to be charged in the dark for a long time (winter) and then need a brief exposure to sunlight (plowing) to start working (germinate).

Now let's examine the answer choices:

Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. If the field is plowed only at night, the pigweed seeds won't be exposed to sunlight, which is required for germination. If the field is plowed during the day, the seeds will be exposed to sunlight and will germinate. So, fewer pigweed plants will grow in the field if it is plowed only at night than if it is plowed during the day.

Answer choice (B): Both examples in this answer choice do not expose the seeds to sunlight, so we cannot determine which would result in fewer pigweed plants. We also don't have enough information about other factors that could affect germination in these scenarios.

Answer choice (C): Similar to answer choice (B), both examples in this answer choice do not expose the seeds to sunlight, so we cannot determine which would result in fewer pigweed plants. Again, we don't have enough information about other factors that could affect germination.

Answer choice (D): The passage only provides us with two requirements for germination: prolonged darkness and exposure to sunlight. We cannot conclude that the seeds must be redeposited under the surface of the soil for germination. There is a possibility that the seeds might germinate on the surface. In Most Strongly Supported questions, we should only use the information given in the passage.

Answer choice (E): This answer choice tests our understanding of the part of the passage that talks about seeds being buried in the soil. The passage doesn't say that all pigweed seeds in the field have been buried all winter. It only says that pigweed seeds have been buried. So, if we find seeds already on the surface of the soil before the field is plowed, there's a chance that these seeds were never buried and haven't met the required conditions for germination. We should be cautious about qualifiers like "all."

In conclusion, the correct answer choice is (A), which states that fewer pigweed plants will grow in the field if it is plowed only at night than if it is plowed during the day.