The cattle egret is a bird that lives around herds of cattle. The only

Question

The cattle egret is a bird that lives around herds of cattle. The only available explanation of the fact that the cattle egret follows cattle herds is that the egrets consume the insects stirred up from the grasses as the cattle herds graze.

Which one of the following, if true, would most seriously undermine the claim that the explanation given above is the only available one?

(A) Birds other than cattle egrets have been observed consuming insects stirred up by the movement of cattle.

(B) Cattle egrets are known to follow other slow-moving animals, such as rhinoceroses and buffalo.

(C) The presence of cattle dissuades many would-be predators of the cattle egret.

(D) Cattle egrets are not generally known to live outside the range of large, slow-moving animals.

(E) Forests are generally inhospitable to cattle egrets because of a lack of insects of the kind egrets can consume.

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

EXPLANATION FROM Fox LSAT

There’s cause and effect here. The purported cause is “egrets consume insects stirred up from the grasses as cattle herds graze,” and the purported effect is “that’s why egrets follow cattle.” We’re asked to “undermine” this cause-and-effect claim.

A little trick for weakening a cause and effect argument is, “How do you know the Martians aren’t responsible?” Because if the Martians  are  responsible, then that’s a terrific counterargument for whatever the cause was purported to be. Like this:

What if the egrets follow the cattle because the Martians are remote controlling the egrets, as a way to distract the cattle, so that the Martians can get at the cattle with their anal probes? So the egrets aren’t following the cattle for the bugs, they’re following the cattle because of the Martians!

Of course this is nonsensical, but that’s not the point. The point is if it were true, it would be a great weakener. This isn’t going to exactly be the answer—I’ve never seen the word anal, let alone anal probe on the LSAT—but it might help us see a  type  of answer that would work. Let’s see.

A) Huh? This wouldn’t have anything to do with the reason why egrets are following the cattle. This is way off.

B) This would actually strengthen the argument, because other gigantic herd beasts probably also kick up bugs for the egrets to eat.

C) This would do it. If this is true, then it provides a different reason for why the egrets are following the cattle. The egrets  themselves  are afraid of the Martians! Uh, I mean, “predators.” If it’s true that the egrets are being chased by Martian predators, and the Martian predators are afraid of cattle, then maybe the egrets are following the cattle for protection, rather than for bugs. Great answer. I love it.

D) Again, this would strengthen the argument.

E) Forests? Who gives a ****? Totally irrelevant, and our answer is C.

C is the answer because it provides a competing explanation, which casts doubt on the explanation that was provided.

Aks111 · Answer

Fact: Cattle egrets consume the insects stirred up from the grasses as the cattle herds graze.
Conclusion: Hence, the cattle egret lives around herds of cattle.

The Question requires us to weaken the argument. We can weaken the argument if we can conclude that the Cattle egrets live around cattle herds not for food but for a different reason.

(A) Birds other than cattle egrets have been observed consuming insects stirred up by the movement of cattle.
 --> So like other birds, the Cattle egrets consume the insects. Does not weaken the argument.
 
(B) Cattle egrets are known to follow other slow-moving animals, such as rhinoceroses and buffalo.
 --> Irrelevant.

(C) The presence of cattle dissuades many would-be predators of the cattle egret.
 --> This weakens the conclusion by providing an alternate reason why cattle egrets live near herds of cattle.
 
(D) Cattle egrets are not generally known to live outside the range of large, slow-moving animals.
 --> At best, this statement supports the argument.
 
(E) Forests are generally inhospitable to cattle egrets because of a lack of insects of the kind egrets can consume.
 --> This statement supports the conclusion by supporting the reason of why cattle egrets live around herds of cattle

100mitra · Answer

Correct Option C

Conclusion:  The cattle egret is a bird that lives around herds of cattle. 
 Explanation:  
The only available explanation of the fact 
that the cattle egret follows cattle herds is 
that the egrets consume the insects stirred up from the grasses as the cattle herd’s graze.

Assumption:  Cattle egret stays with herds of cattle only for consume of insects, no any other
 Argument:  Does Cattle egret stay with herds of cattle for only insects

Which one of the following, if true, would 
most seriously  undermine  the claim that 
 the explanation  given above is the only available one?
 Explanation : Cattle egret stay with herds for insects, no other any reason.

(A)  Birds other than cattle egrets  have been 
observed  consuming insects  stirred up by the movement of cattle.
 Wrong : compares cattle egrets to other birds and consuming insects

(B) Cattle egrets are known to follow  other slow-moving animals , 
such as rhinoceroses and buffalo.
 Strengthen:  yes, we know one of the reasons is slow moving animals’ cattle egret stay is food, this supports the explanation with other similar explanation

(C) The presence of cattle dissuades many would-be  predators  of the cattle egret.
Correct: slow moving animals like herds looks big a, and always stay in group, for predators such as fox etc to catch cattle egret while eating insects at ground level is easy, while herds may give safety to them from predators, this challenges the explanation that only insects as a source of food is not only the reason for cattle egret to stay with slow moving large animals like herds

(D) Cattle egrets are  not generally known to live outside the range  of large, slow-moving animals.
 Strengthen:  Supports the explanation in other similar reason, cattle egret stays with large slow-moving animals

(E)  Forests  are generally  inhospitable  to cattle egrets 
 because of a  lack of insects  of the kind egrets can consume.
 Strengthen:  other than herd’s graze is not compatible for cattle egrets, hence they prefer herd’s graze

VerbalBot · Answer

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The cattle egret is a bird that lives around herds of cattle. The only

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