LSAT 134 – Section 3 – Question 17

LSAT 134 - Section 3 - Question 17

October 2011

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT134 S3 Q17
+LR
Strengthen +Streng
Causal Reasoning +CausR
Link Assumption +LinkA
A
17%
161
B
52%
167
C
13%
161
D
15%
160
E
2%
160
154
164
173
 +Hardest 146.872 +SubsectionMedium

Science writer: The deterioration of cognitive faculties associated with Alzheimer’s disease is evidently caused by the activities of microglia—the brain’s own immune cells. For one thing, this deterioration can be slowed by some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as acetylsalicylic acid. Furthermore, patients with Alzheimer’s are unable to eliminate the protein BA from the brain, where it accumulates and forms deposits. The microglia attack these protein deposits by releasing poisons that destroy surrounding healthy brain cells, thereby impairing the brain’s cognitive functions.

Summarize Argument
The author concludes that the deterioriation of mental faculties associated with Alzheimer’s is caused by microglia. This is based on the fact that this deterioriation can be slowed by acetylsalicylic acid. In addition, microglia attack certain protein deposits that build up in people with Alzheimer’s, and in the process the microglia damage healthy brain cells.

Notable Assumptions
The author assumes that acetylsalyclic acid’s slowing of deterioration involves slowing or otherwise affecting the activity of microglia.

A
The inability of Alzheimer’s patients to eliminate the protein BA from the brain is due to a deficiency in the brain’s immune system.
We already know that microglia attacks the protein BA, which hurts healthy brain cells. The origin of protein BA doesn’t add any relevant information, since we already have enough in the premises to understand the relationship between microglia and the protein BA.
B
Acetylsalicylic acid reduces the production of immune cells in the brain.
This strengthens by connecting the premise about acid to the conclusion. We know that microglia are the brain’s immune cells. If the acid can slow deterioriation, and it also reduces microglia, that suggests microglia might have a role to play in causing deterioration.
C
The activity of microglia results in a decrease in the buildup of protein deposits in the brain.
Even if microglia decreases the buildup of protein deposits, we already know how the microglia hurts healthy brain cells by attacking the protein BA. The missing part of the argument concerns the acetylsalylicic acid.
D
The protein BA directly interferes with the cognitive functions of the brain.
We know the microglia attack the protein BA. (D) therefore suggests microglia might have some protective effect on cognitive functions, which doesn’t strengthen the argument that microglia cause deterioration of those functions.
E
Immune reactions by microglia occur in certain diseases of the brain other than Alzheimer’s.
It’s not clear what “immune reactions by microglia” are or how they relate to damage to cognitive faculties.

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LSAT PrepTest 134 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Reading Comprehension

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