LSAT 126 – Section 4 – Question 03

LSAT 126 - Section 4 - Question 03

October 2008

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT126 S4 Q03
+LR
+Exp
Flaw or descriptive weakening +Flaw
Causal Reasoning +CausR
A
1%
157
B
0%
150
C
1%
154
D
98%
163
E
1%
151
120
127
137
 +Easiest 147.084 +SubsectionMedium

People with high blood pressure are generally more nervous and anxious than are people who do not have high blood pressure. This fact shows that this particular combination of personality traits—the so-called hypertensive personality—is likely to cause a person with these traits to develop high blood pressure.

A
fails to define the term “hypertensive personality”
The author does define the term — it’s the combination of nervousness and anxiety. In any case, failure to define a term is not a flaw.
B
presupposes that people have permanent personality traits
The author does not assume that people have permanent personality traits. If some personality traits are temporary, that wouldn’t undermine the author’s reasoning. Hypertensive personality can be temporary, but still have effects on high blood pressure.
C
simply restates the claim that there is a “hypertensive personality” without providing evidence to support that claim
We know there’s a correlation involving people who are more nervous/anxious. People who are more nervous/anxious have the “hypertensive personality.” The author doesn’t need to provide evidence that these traits exist.
D
takes a correlation between personality traits and high blood pressure as proof that the traits cause high blood pressure
The author assumes the correlation between the hypertensive personality traits and high blood pressure implies that those traits cause high blood pressure. This overlooks alternate explanations for the correlation.
E
focuses on nervousness and anxiety only, ignoring other personality traits that people with high blood pressure might have
There’s no reason the author needed to bring up other traits. The evidence concerns certain specific traits, and the conclusion concerns those same traits. There’s nothing wrong with leaving out discussion of other traits.

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LSAT PrepTest 126 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Reading Comprehension

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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