Q11

[lhermary]

Why isn't A right?

Thanks

[ohthatpatrick]

Even though (A) sounds very plausible, there is nothing in the passage to support it.

Lines 32-37 say that major eruptions only cause the temperature to drop by half a degree or less.

If you were thinking the discussion in the final paragraph goes against that, it does not. The final paragraph says that that small change could be amplified by local feedback loops to result in something more major.

That's why choice (C) is correct, as well. From the same pair of ideas, we get that major eruptions only cause a 1/2 degree drop or less, yet indirectly that small drop can cause big changes.

Let me know if that clarifies our proof for (C) and lack of proof for (A).

If you had some textual support for (A) that I didn't mention, please ask me about it.

[aznriceboi17]

Usually the LSAT is pretty clear in distinguishing between 'directly causing' and 'indirectly causing'. For choice A, which just says 'sometimes cause', do we assume that it means 'directly cause'? If we're allowed to interpret it as 'cause, directly or indirectly' (which to me seems like a reasonable interpretation), then it would be supported by the paragraph about the climatic feedback loop.

[ohthatpatrick]

I don't think I've ever (or at least often) seen LSAT spell out 'directly cause'. I think the use of the word 'cause' conveys 'directly cause'.

Here, the context of (C), which uses "do not directly cause" is a tip-off that "cause" by itself would be implied to be direct.

I totally get your linguistic paranoia, but if we used the verb "cause" to mean directly or indirectly, then every action was caused by the Big Bang (or whatever other philosophical/religious conundrum you want to posit as the First Cause).

Also, lines 32-36 also use "cause" and, if interpreted the same way as "cause" in (A), would contradict (A).

"Major explosions cause a smaller drop than expected - only half a degree centigrade or less."

LSAT couldn't expect us to read THAT use of "cause" one way (A)'s use of "cause" in a different way.

You also want to consider that the author's main point is pretty much that major volcanoes really AREN'T the climate-changer many people believe them to be. So even though some correct RC answers are "true, even though they go against the gist of the passage", it's still a safer bet when you're down-to-2 to reinforce the author's main ideas.

Hope this helps.

[asafezrati]

D is weird. Any thoughts on it?

[LeeJ891]

Why can't the DIRECT temp change of .5 degrees be considered causing unusually cold summers?