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In most of this forest, the expected outbreak of tree-eating tussock moths should not be countered. After all, the moth is beneficial where suppression of forest fires, for example, has left the forest unnaturally crowded with immature trees, and _ _ _

The conclusion of the argument is most strongly supported if which one of the following completes the passage?

(A) more than half of the forest is unnaturally crowded with immature trees

(B) mature trees are usually the first to be eaten by tussock moths

(C) usually, a higher proportion of mature trees than of immature ones are destroyed in forest fires

(D) the expected outbreak of tussock moths will almost certainly occur if no attempt is made to counter it

(E) there are no completely effective countermeasures against the moth

LSAT

Great question.
Conclusion: In MOST OF this forest, the expected outbreak of tree-eating tussock moths SHOULD NOT be countered
Because the moth is BENEFICIAL WHERE suppression of forest fires has left the forest unnaturally crowded with immature trees
Goal: add a reason to strengthen the conclusion.

(A) more than half of the forest is unnaturally crowded with immature trees
(A) is correct because it confirms the CONDITION in which moths are beneficial: "more than half [ie. MOST OF] of the forest is unnaturally crowded with immature trees". So moths are beneficial in most of the forest, then in most of the forest the expected outbreak of moths should not be countered. (A) correctly strengthens the conclusion.
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The argument suggests that in most of the forest, an expected outbreak of tree-eating tussock moths should not be countered. The premise provided is that the moth is beneficial where suppression of forest fires has led to an unnaturally crowded state of immature trees. The missing part of the sentence should provide a reason why the moth's presence would be beneficial in such a situation.

Let's analyze each option:

(A) more than half of the forest is unnaturally crowded with immature trees: If a majority of the forest has this condition, it strengthens the idea that the beneficial aspect of the moth (thinning crowded immature trees) would apply to a large portion of the forest, thus supporting the conclusion that the outbreak shouldn't be countered in most of it.

(B) mature trees are usually the first to be eaten by tussock moths: This would weaken the argument. If the moths primarily target mature trees, their presence would counteract the benefit of thinning immature trees and could harm the more established part of the forest.

(C) usually, a higher proportion of mature trees than of immature ones are destroyed in forest fires: This statement compares the impact of forest fires on different tree ages. While it provides context about forest fires (mentioned in the premise), it doesn't directly explain why tussock moths would be beneficial in an unnaturally crowded immature forest.

(D) the expected outbreak of tussock moths will almost certainly occur if no attempt is made to counter it: This statement addresses the likelihood of the outbreak but doesn't explain why it shouldn't be countered in the specified areas.

(E) there are no completely effective countermeasures against the moth: This might be a reason why countering the moth is impractical, but it doesn't explain why the moth would be beneficial in areas crowded with immature trees.

Option (A) directly links the condition mentioned in the premise (unnaturally crowded immature trees) to the scope of the conclusion (most of the forest). If a large portion of the forest suffers from this overgrowth of immature trees, then the moth's role in thinning them would be widely beneficial, thus supporting the decision not to counter the outbreak in most of the forest.
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