PrepTest 143

Incorrect. There's no indication that female guppies don't also have spots that can pose an equal threat to them as to their male counterparts.

Incorrect. There's a minor shift between having more mating opportunities and having more offspring, but the bigger issue here is this answer has nothing to do with the predation that made up half of the stimulus.

Incorrect. This answer choice doesn't reflect the dual nature of those big spots—being a benefit at times and a downside at others. Additionally, in focusing on lifetime, this answer focuses on an element of the stimulus that isn't explicitly noted as a factor.

Incorrect. There's no indication that the spots are limited to male guppies, so this answer is incorrect.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen

Stimulus Summary:
Big spots help male guppies find a mate. Big spots help predators find a guppy.

Answer Anticipation:
The stimulus discusses two consequences of male guppies having large spots. First, those spots attract more mates. Second, those large spots make it easier for predators to find those guppies. For the latter, it specifically notes that in areas with predators, the guppies with small spots predominate among guppies who have reached maturity.

The reason this is important to note is that reaching maturity is necessary to procreating, so both the good and bad consequences have implications for mating. In one case, the large spots are a pro; in another, a con. The correct answer will likely generalize from this—something that's a benefit to mating in one situation is a detriment to it in another.

Answer Explanation:
Big spots, when no predators are around, attract more mates—they're helpful in procreation. Big spots, in areas with many predators, attract predators, resulting in a guppy having a higher chance of being eaten before reaching maturity—those spots are a hindrance to procreation. This answer reflects the good in some cases/bad in other nature of spots from the stimulus, so it's the correct answer.

Key Takeaway:
This generalization—something that can be good in some cases is bad in others—is one that shows up repeatedly on the LSAT, so be on the lookout for it!