Q21

[cyruswhittaker]

For this question, I was stuck between A and E, eventually choosing E.

I'm trying to show why A is the better answer, but I'm a little unclear. E doesn't appear right because of what it states: effective mechanism to prevent atmospheric gases, when only one gas, oxygen, is stated as bending competitively.

A, while correctly stating that the productivity is due to the C-4 process, only mentions maize, while in the first paragraph, and subsequent paragraphs, discuss the process in a more general context--for not just maize, but for these more productive plants in general.

So I guess I'm confused on A due to the scope. Both A and E seem to have a problem.

[bbirdwell]

A, while correctly stating that the productivity is due to the C-4 process, only mentions maize, while in the first paragraph, and subsequent paragraphs, discuss the process in a more general context--for not just maize, but for these more productive plants in general

I disagree. The mention of the few other plants is second to the passage's emphasis on maize. The entire first paragraph is about maize, and the stage for the entire explanation about C-4 is set with the statement: "biochemistry has revealed the mechanism underlying maize's impressive productivity."

(E) is wrong on several counts. First of all, only one mechanism is described and it is not described as "complex." You're right that the mechanism is mostly about oxygen and not "gases," but more to the point, oxygen is not "prevented from entering the leaves" -- it's just put in a different part of the leaf than the part that the rubisco is in.

You're doing your job if you get it down to these two choices.

[cyruswhittaker]

You're doing your job if you get it down to these two choices.

Yes but the problem is I keep getting it down to two choices...and then select the wrong one!!

But yes thank you for the explanation; it definately helps me to understand why E is not correct in this case.

[adarsh.murthy]

I in fact also got it down to two choices and chose the right one . I was stuck between A and B. I eliminated B because of the word "many"? Do you also agree that "many" makes this option wrong?

[mlbrandow]

I think even if we accept (wrongfully) that (E) has scientifically accurate information in it, and all of it is true about the passage, it misses the point.

The main point is the answer to the question at the end of the first paragraph--"But why are maize and a few other similar crops so much more bountiful than others?" (15-16)

Read those last few lines of the first paragraph, then reread (A).

Even if (E) were true (which it's not as bbirdwell stated), it would miss the point. It would still be lacking the context that (A) provides.

His point is that now we know why.

[james.h.meyers]

I in fact also got it down to two choices and chose the right one . I was stuck between A and B. I eliminated B because of the word "many"? Do you also agree that "many" makes this option wrong?

I don't think it's because of "many." On the lsat many just means some. I would say that it's because it misquotes the passage. I believe the passage does not state anything about the greater quantities of nutrients but rather the crops were successful because you could get greater quantities of the actual crop.

That said, I picked (A), and under timed conditions ended up crossing it out for (B). When I went back I realized my error.

[tommywallach]

Hey James,

I agree. I don't see anything about nutrients in there. : )

-t

[olaizola.mariana]

Is it true that "On the lsat many just means some?" Are we not supposed to read "many" as implying "more than a few?" What, if anything, is the relevant difference between these two?

[tommywallach]

No relevant difference. Many = some. Few = some. That's all.

-t