LSAT 140 – Section 1 – Question 03

LSAT 140 - Section 1 - Question 03

December 2013

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT140 S1 Q03
+LR
Flaw or descriptive weakening +Flaw
Causal Reasoning +CausR
Sampling +Smpl
Net Effect +NetEff
A
1%
152
B
0%
145
C
4%
157
D
89%
165
E
6%
158
130
141
152
 +Easier 148.137 +SubsectionMedium

Video of JY doing this

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Peter: Recent evidence suggests that moderate alcohol consumption has certain beneficial effects on health. In particular, alcohol creates an inhospitable environment in the human body for certain bacteria that can cause illness. Thus, alcohol consumption is, on balance, beneficial.

Summarize Argument
Peter concludes that the overall health effects of consuming alcohol are positive because a recent evidence suggests that moderate drinking can have certain health benefits.

Identify and Describe Flaw
Peter’s argument is flawed because his premise only shows that limited alcohol consumption has some health benefits, yet he draws a conclusion that all kinds of alcohol consumption have net-positive effects. There’s not enough evidence to show that all kinds of alcohol consumption produce these health benefits, nor is there evidence that the effects of alcohol consumption are, on balance, positive.

A
It takes for granted that people choose to consume alcohol because they believe it is beneficial to their health.
Peter makes no claim as to what people choose to do or why they choose to do it. Further, people’s beliefs are irrelevant to the claim that alcohol consumption is beneficial.
B
It draws a comparison based on popular belief rather than on scientific opinion.
Peter only cites “recent evidence”, never appealing to any popular belief.
C
It fails to consider methods of achieving the same beneficial effects that do not involve alcohol.
Peter’s conclusion is simply that alcohol consumption is beneficial, so it doesn’t matter if there are other methods that are too. His flaw is assuming that alcohol consumption in general has net-positive effects just because moderate drinking has certain limited benefits.
D
It draws a conclusion about alcohol consumption in general from a premise about moderate alcohol consumption.
This describes how Peter’s evidence is too limited for the conclusion he draws. The evidence only suggests that “moderate alcohol consumption” has certain benefits, yet his conclusion is about alcohol consumption in general.
E
It fails to consider that alcohol may have no effect on many bacteria that cause illness in human beings.
Peter actually does consider this since he acknowledges that the beneficial effects impact certain bacteria. The flaw is assuming that these benefits outweigh any potential negatives to heavier drinking.

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LSAT PrepTest 140 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Reading Comprehension

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