Question

Dried grass clippings mixed into garden soil gradually decompose, providing nutrients for beneficial soil bacteria. This results in better-than-average plant growth. Yet mixing fresh grass clippings into garden soil usually causes poorer-than-average plant growth. Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the difference in plant growth described above? (A) The number of beneficial soil bacteria increases whenever any kind of plant material is mixed into garden soil. (B) Nutrients released by dried grass clippings are immediately available to beneficial soil bacteria. (C) Some dried grass clippings retain nutrients originally derived from commercial lawn fertilizers, and thus provide additional enrichment to the soil. (D) Fresh grass clippings mixed into soil decompose rapidly, generating high levels of heat that kill beneficial soil bacteria. (E) When a mix of fresh and dried grass clippings is mixed into garden soil, plant growth often decreases.

Short answer

(D) Fresh grass clippings generate heat that kills beneficial bacteria.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Problem Statement

The key issue in this exercise is understanding why dried grass clippings lead to better-than-average plant growth, while fresh grass clippings cause poorer-than-average plant growth when both are mixed into garden soil.

Analyze the Given Options

Examine each option to see which one provides a plausible explanation for the difference in plant growth when dried versus fresh grass clippings are used.

Evaluate Option D

Option D states that fresh grass clippings decompose rapidly, generating high levels of heat, which kill beneficial soil bacteria. This option directly addresses why fresh clippings might cause poorer plant growth: the heat from decomposition may harm the bacteria necessary for healthy plant growth.

Consider the Relevance of Other Options

Options A, B, C, and E do not directly explain the negative effect of fresh clippings. They provide general information about the nutrients or bacteria but do not address the harmful effects specifically caused by fresh clippings.

Choose the Best Explanation

Based on the analysis, Option D is the only one that explains the detrimental impact of fresh grass clippings through the heat generated during decomposition.

Key concepts

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking in LSAT Logical Reasoning involves breaking down complex scenarios and understanding the underlying principles and differences. In the exercise about grass clippings and plant growth, we need to think critically about why dried clippings are beneficial while fresh clippings are not.

To apply critical thinking, follow these steps:

• Analyze the problem: determine what specific change occurs when dried versus fresh clippings are used.
• Consider all aspects: factor in decomposition rate, heat generation, nutrient release, and bacterial impacts.
• Eliminate distractions: remove any options that provide unrelated or generic benefits without addressing the harm (like Options A, B, C, and E).

Critical thinking is about asking the right questions and considering all angles before reaching a conclusion.

Problem Solving

Problem solving in logical reasoning requires evaluating various pieces of information to deduce the most effective solution. Here, the task is to find why fresh clippings harm plant growth while dried clippings do not. Start by reviewing each provided option: - Focus on how each option relates to the problem. - Compare how fresh and dried clippings differently affect soil conditions. Through this structured approach, choose Option D, which reveals that heat from decomposing fresh clippings harms beneficial bacteria, impairing plant growth.

Effective problem solving means understanding cause-and-effect, carefully dissecting potential solutions, and selecting the logical conclusion that directly addresses the problem at hand.

Logical Analysis

Logical analysis emphasizes understanding relationships and drawing conclusions based on evidence provided. In this exercise, you need to identify why dried and fresh clippings influence plant growth differently. Follow these guidelines: - Identify the cause-and-effect: assess how the decomposition process affects bacteria and consequently plant growth. - Consider logical consistency: determine which explanation aligns with observable outcomes. Option D fits this model, explicitly linking fresh clipping decomposition to harmful heat production. Logical analysis combines observation with evidence to find the most reasonable explanation.

This concept requires breaking complexities down into understandable components, examining the validity of each piece, and synthesizing them into a coherent conclusion.