LSAT Explanation PT 29, S4, Q7: Conservationist: The population of a certain

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the conservationist's reasoning? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Principle question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first break down the argument in the passage. The conservationist makes the following claims:

Premise 1: The wildflower population is so small that it is headed for extinction.

Premise 2: The wildflower can cross-pollinate with a domesticated daisy, producing viable seeds and resulting in a significant population of wildflower-daisy hybrids.

Conclusion: The daisy should be introduced into the wildflower's range because hybridization is the only means of preventing total loss of the wildflower in its range.

The structure of the argument is based on the idea that introducing the daisy into the wildflower's range would help preserve the wildflower species, even though the resulting hybrid would be different from the original wildflower.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Would the benefits of preserving the wildflower species through hybridization outweigh any potential negative consequences of introducing the daisy into the wildflower's range?"

Now, let's analyze the answer choices:

a) This answer choice suggests that preserving a valued organism is better than accepting a less valuable substitute. However, this doesn't directly address the conservationist's reasoning about hybridization being the only means of preventing the wildflower's total loss.

b) This answer choice talks about preserving an organism in danger of extinction even if the surviving organisms are not vigorous. This doesn't relate to the conservationist's argument about hybridization as a means of preservation.

c) This is the correct answer. It states that it is better to change a type of organism that would otherwise be lost, even if the changes are radical, than to lose it entirely. This principle directly supports the conservationist's reasoning that hybridization is the only means of preventing total loss of the wildflower in its range.

d) This answer choice discusses destroying one of two competing types of organisms, which is not relevant to the conservationist's argument about hybridization as a means of preserving the wildflower species.

e) This answer choice talks about protecting an endangered organism even if it has negative effects on another organism. This isn't directly related to the conservationist's reasoning about hybridization as a means of preventing the wildflower's total loss.

In conclusion, answer choice C is the correct answer because it directly supports the conservationist's reasoning that hybridization is the only means of preventing total loss of the wildflower in its range.