How will the right answer fit in terms of support and conclusion?

Only the right answer will accurately complete the conclusion with what Paula and Ashley disagree about.

Highlight the main conclusion in the passage, if there is one:

Paula: they would inevitably discover gravity, electromagnetism, and other fundamental physical phenomena and then develop technologies such as radio communication.

Ashley: Using radio telescopes to search for intelligent life is a waste of time and money.

Paula: [SUPPORT], So [INTERMEDIATE CONCLUSION]. Furthermore, [SUPPORT]. [SUPPORT]. Thus [CONCLUSION].

Ashley: [BACKGROUND]. [SUPPORT]. [CONCLUSION].

Map the wording of the answers to the wording of the passage:

(A) …there are intelligent alien beings who have developed radio communication

Paula’s conclusion says this “would inevitably” happen, and Ashley says it’s “a waste of time and money”. The LSAT did us two huge favors here: they made the disagreement explicit (usually one side only implies disagreement), and they made (A) the right answer. I’d love to see you smash this and move on.

(B) …there are intelligent alien beings who have the same legal or political systems…

Paula never says anything “legal or political systems”.

(C) our technology is influenced by our cognitive makeup

Paula never says anything about “our cognitive makeup”.

(D) there is likely to be intelligent life on other planets

Ashley only says “using radio telescopes” won’t work, but doesn’t give an opinion on whether there are aliens out there at all.

(E) scientists should spend more time and money…

Paula never says anything about how scientists “should” or shouldn’t spend their time.

(A) is the correct answer.