Q5 - The star-nosed mole

[noah]

In this inference question we learn that moles have a special nose that detects electric fields, and that this allows them to hunt worms and insects.

So, we can infer (A) that worms and insects produce electric fields - otherwise how does the electric-field-detecting nose help moles hunt worms and insects? Since the stimulus refers obliquely to the general categories of "worms and insects" it's fine that (A) speaks about "both" species producing electric fields.

(B) is unsupported - perhaps the mole uses its poor sight to help its nose.

(C) is unsupported - we know nothing about whether the nose also smells stuff, and whether the mole uses that sense.

(D) is too extreme. Perhaps there's a mouse that uses its whiskers to detect electric fields.

(E) is tempting, but unsupported. You might have chosen this if you thought "well, the mole can't produce its own electric field because then it couldn't detect other fields." But why not? We have no idea how having an electric field affects ones ability to detect the field of another.


#officialexplanation

[t_wm]

When practicing I eliminate the five choices at first.
Isn't (A) too extreme?
Does the "both worms and insects" mean "all worms and insects" or "certain worms and insects"?
Thank you.

[jelgamal]

My answer key says correct answer is B
Im assuming tht's a mistake? Can someone confirm?

[noah]

My answer key says correct answer is B
Im assuming tht's a mistake? Can someone confirm?

confirmed. It's (A).

Is that a MLSAT book?

[jelgamal]

It is the lsac " 10 new actual official lsat prep tests"

[noah]

It is the lsac " 10 new actual official lsat prep tests"

LSAC makes an error!

[SumaiyaI824]

The stimulus says that the electric field produced by other animals allows moles to detect these other animals such as worms and insects. I assumed that worms and insects wouldn't create their own electric field because that would make them more susceptible to these kinds of threats. I initially chose E and I can see now how just because the stimulus says that other animals produce the electric shield doesn't mean that the moles don't also produce their own electric field. But I am still confused by A. Am I bringing up too many hypotheticals that we are supposed to ignore?

[JackyJ27]

I think the key point for (B) is that "for survival".
We don't know how the mole surviving based on their poor eyesight. Maybe they mate with other moles based on eyesight.

[smiller]

Exactly. The stimulus only indicates that their eyesight is of limited use when hunting.

[mswang7]

A. Hmm this seems probable since the argument states SNM detect electric fields produced by other animals such as (including) worms & insects
B. At all is too strong and we don't know this. We are only told there eyesight is poor
C. Same as B, we are actually told nothing about their sense of smell
D. We only have information on a single instance of a hunting animal. We don't know anything about animals that do not hunt so we cannot make this conclusion
E. This is unknown