LSAT 106 – Section 1 – Question 04

LSAT 106 - Section 1 - Question 04

June 1999

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT106 S1 Q04
+LR
Strengthen +Streng
Conditional Reasoning +CondR
Rule-Application +RuleApp
Link Assumption +LinkA
A
6%
162
B
1%
155
C
91%
167
D
1%
163
E
1%
160
132
143
153
 +Medium 152.148 +SubsectionHarder

Dental researcher: Filling a cavity in a tooth is not a harmless procedure: it inevitably damages some of the healthy parts of the tooth. Cavities are harmful only if the decay reaches the nerves inside the tooth, and many cavities, if left untreated, never progress to that point. Therefore, dentists should not fill a cavity unless the nerves inside the tooth are in imminent danger from that cavity.

Summarize Argument
The author concludes that dentists shouldn’t fill cavities unless the nerves inside the tooth are in imminent danger from the cavity. This is because filling cavities damages healthy parts of the tooth, and cavities are only dangerous if the nerves are damaged.

Notable Assumptions
The author assumes that cavities don’t develop quickly from one state to another. Were a cavity to develop quickly from a seemingly benign state to a dangerous one, then a filling would’ve been beneficial. Alternately, she assumes dentists can assume which cavities will develop to a dangerous state. The author also assumes that it’s preferable to avoid guaranteed harm (filling a cavity) when the other option is potential harm (nerve damage).

A
Dentists should perform any procedure that is likely to be beneficial in the long term, but only if the procedure does not cause immediate damage.
We’re talking about what dentists shouldn’t do. Since most cavities don’t progress to a dangerous state, they shouldn’t perform fillings on the basis of decay that may happen in the future.
B
Dentists should help their patients to prevent cavities rather than waiting until cavities are present to begin treatment.
The author doesn’t say dentists should be more proactive. This is about when filling should be performed.
C
A condition that is only potentially harmful should not be treated using a method that is definitely harmful.
Fillings are a certain harm. Cavities are a potential harm. It’s better to see what happens with the cavity rather than causing certain harm with the filling.
D
A condition that is typically progressive should not be treated using methods that provide only temporary relief.
Irrelevant. Fillings don’t provide temporary relief.
E
A condition that is potentially harmful should not be left untreated unless it can be kept under constant surveillance.
The author says that cavities should be left untreated for the most part. This tells us the opposite.

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LSAT PrepTest 106 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Reading Comprehension

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