LSAT 105 – Section 2 – Question 04

LSAT 105 - Section 2 - Question 04

February 1999

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT105 S2 Q04
+LR
+Exp
Weaken +Weak
Causal Reasoning +CausR
A
0%
167
B
86%
165
C
7%
162
D
2%
159
E
5%
155
123
138
153
 +Easier 145.978 +SubsectionMedium

An ingredient in marijuana known as THC has been found to inactivate herpesviruses in experiments. In previous experiments researchers found that inactivated herpesviruses can convert healthy cells into cancer cells. It can be concluded that the use of marijuana can cause cancer.

Summarize Argument: Phenomenon-Hypothesis
The author concludes that marijuana use can cause cancer. This is because the THC in marijuana has been found to inactivate herpesviruses in a study, and inactivated herpesviruses can convert healthy cells to cancer cells.

Notable Assumptions
In order for marijuana to cause cancer, the author must believe that the studies where inactive herpesviruses converted healthy cells to cancer cells must happen under normal biological circumstances in humans. The author must also believe that the cancer-causing effect of THC isn’t offset by some other factor in marijuana. That factor would have to entirely mitigate the conversion of healthy cells to cancer cells by inactive herpesviruses.

A
Several teams of scientists performed the various experiments and all of the teams had similar results.
This reinforces the study that the author cites. We need something to weaken the connection the author makes between marijuana and cancer.
B
The carcinogenic effect of THC could be neutralized by the other ingredients found in marijuana.
While THC alone converts healthy cells to cancer cells, other ingredients in marijuana offset this effect. Thus, marijuana doesn’t cause cancer for the reason the author describes.
C
When THC kills herpesviruses it weakens the immune system, and it might thus diminish the body’s ability to fight other viruses, including viruses linked to cancers.
If anything, this gives another rationale for why marijuana may cause cancer. We’re looking for something that weakens that connection.
D
If chemists modify the structure of THC, THC can be safely incorporated into medications to prevent herpes.
We care about the THC that actually appears in marijuana. We’re not interested in what chemists could potentially do to THC.
E
To lessen the undesirable side effects of chemotherapy, the use of marijuana has been recommended for cancer patients who are free of the herpesvirus.
This is a niche scenario that doesn’t weaken the connection between marijuana and cancer. We’re specifically interested in what THC does to people who do have herpesviruses.

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LSAT PrepTest 105 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Reading Comprehension

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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