LSAT Explanation PT 40, S1, Q10: Charlene: Environmental cleanup increasingly relies on
LSAT Question Stem
Olaf's reply suggests that he misinterprets Charlene's use of the term
Logical Reasoning Question Type
This is a Misc question.
Correct Answer
The correct answer to this question is B.
LSAT Question Complete Explanation
This Must Be True question presents a conversation between Charlene and Olaf, discussing the use of microorganisms in environmental cleanup and how temperature affects their activity. Charlene argues that utilizing these microorganisms has limitations because they become less active when the temperature in a given region drops below normal. Olaf counters by comparing the activity of microorganisms in two separate regions with drastically different temperatures (Arctic vs. subtropical) and notes that their activity is roughly equivalent.
To understand what Olaf misinterprets in Charlene's argument, we need to identify the differences between their arguments. Charlene discusses temperature variation within a single region, while Olaf compares the temperature of two separate regions. It seems that Olaf misunderstands the term "normal" in Charlene's argument, as he thinks it refers to a constant temperature across regions, instead of "normal for an individual region."
Now let's analyze the answer choices:
Answer choice (A): Olaf does not argue about whether environmental cleanup “relies” on microorganisms, but rather on how these microorganisms are affected by temperature variation. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. As explained earlier, Olaf misunderstands the term "normal" in Charlene's argument, thinking it refers to a constant temperature across regions, instead of "normal for an individual region."
Answer choice (C): Both Charlene and Olaf seem to understand “cleanup” to mean using microorganisms to metabolize pollutants. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (D): Olaf understands that Charlene uses “limitations” to mean that there are restrictions to the potential overall usefulness of using microorganisms for metabolizing pollutants, and then argues that these limitations do not exist. The misunderstanding is over the evidence Charlene uses to support her point about limitations (that temperature in a region falling below a normal level reduces microbial activity). This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): Both Charlene and Olaf agree on the meaning of the word “active” (as in, how quickly the microbes metabolize pollutants/eat oil), but differ about whether temperature can affect that activity. Charlene says that within a region temperature can have an effect; Olaf misunderstands her point and argues about temperature differences in separate regions. This answer choice is incorrect.