LSAT Explanation PT 45, S4, Q11: Between 1976 and 1985, chemical wastes
LSAT Question Stem
The answer to each of the following questions would be helpful in evaluating the representatives' claim EXCEPT:
Logical Reasoning Question Type
This is an Evaluate question.
Correct Answer
The correct answer to this question is C.
LSAT Question Complete Explanation
The argument in the passage is structured as follows: Premise 1 states that between 1976 and 1985, chemical wastes were dumped into Cod Bay. Premise 2 states that today, 3 percent of the bay's bluefin cod population have deformed fins, which has led to wary consumers stopping their purchase of the fish. The conclusion is that the representatives of Cod Bay's fishing industry claim that since the chemicals are known to cause genetic mutations, the deformity in the bluefin cod must have been caused by the presence of those chemicals in Cod Bay. The representatives are seeking financial reparations from the companies that dumped the chemicals.
Think of the situation as if the chemical wastes were like a pollutant poured into a pond with ducks, causing some ducks to have deformed wings. The representatives of the pond's duck caretakers claim that the pollutant is the cause of the deformity and are seeking compensation.
The question type for this problem is Evaluate the Argument Except, which means that we need to find the answer choice that does not help in evaluating the validity of the representatives' claim.
a) Knowing the incidence of deformed fins in bluefin cod that are not exposed to chemicals would help in evaluating the argument because it would help determine if the 3 percent deformity rate is normal or unusual. If it's close to the normal rate, the chemicals might not be responsible for the deformities. This answer choice passes the Variance Test, so it's not the correct answer.
b) Knowing the incidence of deformed fins in bluefin cod in Cod Bay before the chemical dumping began would also help evaluate the argument. If the rate was significantly lower before the dumping, it would strengthen the representatives' claim. This answer choice also passes the Variance Test, so it's not the correct answer.
c) This is the correct answer choice, as it does not help in evaluating the representatives' claim. The argument is about what caused the deformed fins and who is liable for the losses incurred from lost sales. This answer deals with an after-the-issue fact (health problems in people who ate the fish) and does not bear on the representatives' claim. This answer choice fails the Variance Test, so it's the correct answer.
d) Knowing if bluefin cod are prone to any naturally occurring diseases that can cause fin deformities would help evaluate the argument. If such diseases exist, it could mean that the deformities were caused by disease rather than the chemicals. This answer choice passes the Variance Test, so it's not the correct answer.
e) Knowing if there are gene-altering pollutants present in Cod Bay other than the chemical wastes that were dumped would help evaluate the argument. If there are other pollutants, it would call into question whether the dumped chemicals really caused the deformities. This answer choice passes the Variance Test, so it's not the correct answer.