WeakenDiff: Hard
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Because it takes a lot of grain to make a little bit of meat, and we are running out of food for a growing population, the author says eating meat is about to become morally wrong.
Conclusion: Eating meat will soon become an ethically indefensible practice.
Reasoning: Meat production is highly inefficient compared to grain production, and with rising populations and shrinking farmland, we can no longer afford to waste resources on meat.
Analysis: The argument relies on the assumption that the grain used for livestock could otherwise be used to feed humans directly. To weaken this, look for an answer that suggests the resources used for meat production are not actually in competition with human food needs. For example, if the grain fed to animals is unfit for human consumption, or if the land used for grazing cannot grow crops, the 'inefficiency' argument loses its moral weight. We want to find a fact that shows meat production doesn't necessarily take food out of people's mouths.
Conclusion: Eating meat will soon become an ethically indefensible practice.
Reasoning: Meat production is highly inefficient compared to grain production, and with rising populations and shrinking farmland, we can no longer afford to waste resources on meat.
Analysis: The argument relies on the assumption that the grain used for livestock could otherwise be used to feed humans directly. To weaken this, look for an answer that suggests the resources used for meat production are not actually in competition with human food needs. For example, if the grain fed to animals is unfit for human consumption, or if the land used for grazing cannot grow crops, the 'inefficiency' argument loses its moral weight. We want to find a fact that shows meat production doesn't necessarily take food out of people's mouths.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage21.Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken the ethicist's argument?
Correct Answer
B
By showing that cattle or sheep can often be raised on grass from pastureland unsuitable for crops, B undercuts the argument’s core efficiency premise. If meat can be produced without diverting human-edible grain or arable farmland, the moral condemnation based on grain-to-meat inefficiency no longer follows.
Upgrade Your Prep
Ready to go beyond free explanations?
LSAT Perfection is the #1 modern LSAT prep platform, trusted by thousands of students for comprehensive test strategies, advanced drilling, and full analytics on every PrepTest.
Detailed explanations for 59 PrepTests
Advanced drillset builder
Personalized analytics
Built-in Wrong Answer Journal