LSAT 124 – Section 3 – Question 09

LSAT 124 - Section 3 - Question 09

December 2007

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT124 S3 Q09
+LR
Weaken +Weak
Causal Reasoning +CausR
Net Effect +NetEff
A
0%
153
B
1%
157
C
0%
152
D
14%
158
E
84%
165
136
146
156
 +Medium 145.896 +SubsectionMedium

Tea made from camellia leaves is a popular beverage. However, studies show that regular drinkers of camellia tea usually suffer withdrawal symptoms if they discontinue drinking the tea. Furthermore, regular drinkers of camellia tea are more likely than people in general to develop kidney damage. Regular consumption of this tea, therefore, can result in a heightened risk of kidney damage.

Summarize Argument
The author concludes that regular consumption of camellia tea can lead to a heightened risk of kidney damage. She supports this claim by citing two studies: one showing that show camellia tea drinkers suffer withdrawal if they stop drinking the tea, and another showing that regular drinkers of camellia tea are more likely than most people to develop kidney damage.

Notable Assumptions
Based on a mere correlation between camellia tea drinking and kidney damage, the author concludes that the former causes the latter. This means she doesn’t believe the reverse is true (that people drink camellia tea because they have kidney damage, perhaps as a herbal remedy or as a substitute for kidney-damage beverages), nor that there’s some hidden third factor causing kidney damage and camellia tea drinking, or kidney damage in isolation.

A
Several other popular beverages contain the same addictive chemical that is found in camellia tea.
The author never says camellia tea is the only addictive beverage. We don’t care if other drinks are addictive, too.
B
Addictive chemicals are unlikely to cause kidney damage solely by virtue of their addictive qualities.
The author never said camellia tea is harmful because of its addictive qualities. The addictive qualities are simply why regular drinkers have a difficult time quitting.
C
Some people claim that regular consumption of camellia tea helps alleviate their stress.
This lists a benefit of camellia tea, but it doesn’t weaken the connection between regular drinking and kidney disease. We’re not trying to counterbalance the conclusion—we’re trying to weaken the connection.
D
Most people who regularly drink camellia tea do not develop kidney damage.
Even if most regular drinkers don’t develop kidney damage, camellia tea may still be linked to kidney damage. We already know regular drinkers are more susceptible to kidney damage than the general population.
E
Many people who regularly consume camellia tea also regularly consume other beverages suspected of causing kidney damage.
Camellia tea drinkers on the whole also drink other drinks, and those are also suspected of causing kidney damage. We don’t know which drink is actually responsible for kidney damage, so we can’t draw any conclusions about camellia tea.

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LSAT PrepTest 124 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Reading Comprehension

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