LSAT 116 – Section 3 – Question 23

LSAT 116 - Section 3 - Question 23

June 2004

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT116 S3 Q23
+LR
Main conclusion or main point +MC
Causal Reasoning +CausR
A
25%
162
B
53%
166
C
3%
154
D
15%
158
E
4%
156
152
162
173
 +Hardest 146.244 +SubsectionMedium

J.Y.’s explanation

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Each of many different human hormones can by itself raise the concentration of glucose in the blood. The reason for this is probably a metabolic quirk of the brain. To see this, consider that although most human cells can produce energy from fats and proteins, brain cells can use only glucose. Thus, if blood glucose levels fall too low, brain cells will rapidly starve, leading to unconsciousness and death.

Summarize Argument: Phenomenon-Hypothesis
The argument concludes that a metabolic quirk of the brain is likely to be the reason that many different human hormones can raise the concentration of glucose in the blood. To prove this, the argument cites the fact that the brain can only use glucose for energy, while most other cells can produce energy from fats and proteins. Because glucose is the brain’s exclusive energy source, low levels of glucose in the blood can be very dangerous for brain cells, potentially leading to unconsciousness and death.

Identify Conclusion
The conclusion tells us the reason why different human hormones can raise blood glucose on their own: “The reason for this is probably a metabolic quirk of the brain.”

A
Each of many different human hormones can by itself raise blood glucose levels.
This is the phenomenon that our conclusion sets out to explain. The argument does not provide support for this claim; we accept it upfront, which tells us that this is not the conclusion. The hypothesis that this phenomenon is caused by a metabolic quirk is the main conclusion.
B
The reason that many different hormones can each independently raise blood glucose levels is probably a metabolic quirk of the brain.
This is the claim that the rest of the argument works to prove, which makes it the main conclusion. This statement tells us the cause of the phenomenon introduced in the argument; the rest of the argument provides support for this causal reasoning.
C
Although most human cells can produce energy from fats and proteins, brain cells can produce energy only from glucose.
This claim supports the sub-conclusion that a low level of blood glucose is dangerous for the brain. This answer is a premise, not the main conclusion.
D
If blood glucose levels fall too low, then brain cells starve, resulting in loss of consciousness and death.
This is a sub-conclusion that helps support the main conclusion, which is that a metabolic quirk is the reason many different hormones can raise blood glucose levels. This answer tells us why it is so important for the body to be able to maintain healthy blood glucose levels.
E
The reason brain cells starve if deprived of glucose is that they can produce energy only from glucose.
This statement references the sub-conclusion, but adds causal reasoning into the sub-conclusion. This is not the main conclusion that the entire argument works to support.

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LSAT PrepTest 116 Explanations

Section 1 - Reading Comprehension

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Reading Comprehension

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