LSAT Explanation PT 27, S1, Q4: In Yasukawa's month-long study of blackbirds,

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following, if true, indicates that the criticism of Yasukawa's research is based on a misunderstanding of it? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Misc question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is A. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the passage. Yasukawa conducted a month-long study of blackbirds and found that a higher percentage of smaller blackbirds survived compared to larger blackbirds. Yasukawa concluded that size is a determinant of a blackbird's chances of survival. However, critics argue that this conclusion is likely mistaken because smaller blackbirds are generally younger than larger ones.

Now, let's identify the question type and what it's asking us to do. This is a "weaken" question, which asks us to find the answer choice that weakens the criticism of Yasukawa's research.

Let's examine each answer choice:

a) Yasukawa compared the survival chances of two different species of blackbirds, a larger and a smaller species, rather than of different sizes of birds within one species.

This answer choice weakens the criticism by showing that Yasukawa was comparing two different species of blackbirds, not just different sizes within the same species. The critic's argument is based on the assumption that the smaller blackbirds are younger versions of the larger ones. If Yasukawa was comparing different species, then the critic's assumption is incorrect, and their argument is weakened.

b) Yasukawa examined blackbirds in their natural habitat rather than in captivity.

This answer choice doesn't address the criticism's assumption about the age of the smaller blackbirds. It is irrelevant whether the blackbirds were studied in their natural habitat or in captivity.

c) Yasukawa did not compare the survival chances of blackbirds with those of other kinds of birds.

This answer choice is also irrelevant to the criticism's assumption about the age of the smaller blackbirds. Comparing the survival chances of blackbirds to other kinds of birds doesn't address the issue of whether size or age is the determinant of survival chances.

d) Yasukawa noted that the larger blackbirds had more success in fights than did the smaller blackbirds.

This answer choice doesn't weaken the criticism because it doesn't address the assumption about the age of the smaller blackbirds. The fact that larger blackbirds had more success in fights doesn't show that the critic misunderstood Yasukawa's research.

e) Yasukawa noted that the larger blackbirds tended to have more firmly established social hierarchies than did the smaller blackbirds.

This answer choice is also irrelevant to the criticism's assumption about the age of the smaller blackbirds. The social hierarchies of the larger and smaller blackbirds don't address whether size or age is the determinant of survival chances.

The correct answer is A, as it weakens the criticism by showing that the critic's assumption about the age of the smaller blackbirds is incorrect, and therefore their argument is based on a misunderstanding of Yasukawa's research.