LSAT 122 – Section 4 – Question 02

LSAT 122 - Section 4 - Question 02

June 2006

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT122 S4 Q02
+LR
Evaluate +Eval
Causal Reasoning +CausR
A
0%
155
B
96%
164
C
3%
156
D
1%
156
E
0%
153
120
127
138
 +Easiest 146.485 +SubsectionMedium

Eating garlic reduces the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood and so helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Evidence that eating garlic reduces these levels is that a group of patients taking a garlic tablet each day for four months showed a 12 percent reduction in cholesterol and a 17 percent reduction in triglycerides; over the same period, a group of similar patients taking a medically inert tablet showed only a 2 percent reduction in triglycerides and a 3 percent reduction in cholesterol.

Summarize Argument: Phenomenon-Hypothesis
The author hypothesizes that eating garlic reduces cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. As evidence, she cites a study showing that people who took a garlic tablet had a larger reduction in cholesterol and triglycerides than people who took a medically inert tablet.

Notable Assumptions
The author assumes that cholesterol and triglycerides levels in the blood are causally related to the risk of cardiovascular disease. She also assumes that the people who took the garlic tablet derived some benefit from the garlic rather than from the fact they knew they were taking a medication, which itself relies on the assumption the other group knew they were taking a medically inert tablet. Finally, the author assumes garlic and not some third factor caused the reduction in cholesterol and triglycerides levels.

A
whether the garlic tablets are readily available to the public
We don’t care if most people are able to easily access garlic tablets. We care about the link between garlic and a reduction in cholesterol and triglycerides levels in the blood.
B
what the diets of the two groups were during the period
If the two groups ate similar diets, that would strengthen the author’s argument by ruling out a possible cause of the reduction in cholesterol and triglycerides levels. If not, then perhaps the garlic-tablet group was eating something that lowered those levels.
C
what effect taking the garlic tablets each day for a period of less than four months had on the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides
Even if the effects of garlic don’t kick in until four months, those effects still exist and can contribute to a reduction in the risk of heart disease. The author never claims those effects have to be immediate.
D
whether large amounts of garlic are well tolerated by all patients
The author isn’t recommending garlic for all patients. She’s simply claiming a causal connection between garlic and lower cholesterol and triglycerides levels in the blood.
E
whether the manufacturer of the garlic tablets cites the study in its advertising
Irrelevant. Even if they cite the study, that study may still be accurate.

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LSAT PrepTest 122 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Reading Comprehension

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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