LSAT Explanation PT 37, S4, Q11: Lydia: Red squirrels are known to

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following, if true, most undermines the force of Galina's attempted rebuttal of Lydia's argument? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Weaken question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

In this LSAT problem, we have an argument between Lydia and Galina about red squirrels consuming sap from sugar maple trees. Lydia argues that since sugar maple sap is essentially water with a small concentration of sugar, and water is easily available elsewhere, the squirrels must be after the sugar. Galina counters this by saying that the concentration of sugar in the sap is so low that a squirrel would need to drink an enormous amount of sap to get any significant amount of sugar, suggesting that it must be something other than sugar that the squirrels are after. The question type is Weaken, and we are asked to find the answer choice that most undermines Galina's attempted rebuttal of Lydia's argument.

Let's evaluate the argument with a simple question: "Do red squirrels consume sugar maple sap primarily for the sugar content or for some other reason?"

Now, let's analyze each answer choice:

a) Squirrels are known to like foods that have a high concentration of sugar.

- This answer choice doesn't directly address Galina's argument about the low concentration of sugar in the sap. It only tells us that squirrels like high sugar content foods, but it doesn't explain why they would consume the sap with a low sugar concentration.

b) Once a hole in a sugar maple trunk has provided one red squirrel with sap, other red squirrels will make additional holes in its trunk.

- This answer choice doesn't address the reason why red squirrels consume the sap in the first place. It only tells us that other red squirrels will make additional holes, but it doesn't explain if they are after the sugar or something else.

c) Trees other than sugar maples, whose sap contains a lower concentration of sugar than does sugar maple sap, are less frequently tapped by red squirrels.

- This answer choice is tempting because it suggests that red squirrels might prefer sugar maple sap due to its higher sugar concentration. However, it doesn't directly address Galina's argument about the low concentration of sugar in the sap and the enormous amount of sap a squirrel would need to drink to get a significant amount of sugar. There could be other reasons why red squirrels tap sugar maple trees more frequently than other trees.

d) Red squirrels leave the sugar maple sap that slowly oozes out of the holes in the tree's trunk until much of the water in the sap has evaporated.

- This is the correct answer. It directly undermines Galina's argument by showing that the squirrels don't have to drink an enormous amount of sap to get a significant amount of sugar. If they leave the sap until much of the water has evaporated, the sugar concentration in the remaining sap would be higher, making it more likely that they are after the sugar.

e) During the season when sap can be obtained from sugar maple trees, the weather often becomes cold enough to prevent sap from oozing out of the trees.

- This answer choice doesn't address the reason why red squirrels consume the sap. It only tells us about a condition that might prevent sap from oozing out of the trees, but it doesn't explain if they are after the sugar or something else.

In conclusion, the correct answer is choice D, as it most effectively undermines Galina's argument by showing that red squirrels don't have to drink an enormous amount of sap to get a significant amount of sugar, making it more likely that they are after the sugar.