LSAT 145 – Section 2 – Question 14

LSAT 145 - Section 2 - Question 14

December 2015

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Target time: 1:36

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT145 S2 Q14
+LR
Flaw or descriptive weakening +Flaw
Conditional Reasoning +CondR
Causal Reasoning +CausR
A
71%
164
B
0%
143
C
12%
158
D
17%
161
E
0%
157
129
148
166
 +Medium 145.859 +SubsectionMedium

Live Commentary

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Activist: Medical conditions such as cancer and birth defects have been linked to pollutants in water. Organic pollutants such as dioxins, and inorganic pollutants such as mercury, are ingested by fish and move up the food chain to people, where they accumulate in tissue. Since most cancers and birth defects are incurable, we need to aim at their prevention. Clearly, the only effective way to reduce significantly their overall incidence is to halt industries known to produce these pollutants, given that such industries are unlikely to comply adequately with strict environmental regulations.

Summarize Argument
The author concludes that the only effective way to reduce significantly the incidence of most cancers/birth defects is to stop industries that are known to produce certain organic pollutants that have been linked to those conditions. The author supports this conclusion by asserting that most cancers/birth defects are incurable, so we need to aim at preventing them. In addition, industries that produce pollutants are not likely to comply with strict environmental regulations.

Identify and Describe Flaw
The author assumes there’s no other significant cause of cancer and birth defects besides the pollutants. This overlooks the possibility that something else, such as people’s diets, might cause a significant number of cancers/birth defects. If so, then we might be able to reduce significantly the incidence of those conditions without stopping the industries.

A
fails to consider the possibility that a significant number of occurrences of cancer and birth defects may be caused by preventable factors other than industrial pollutants
If this possibility is true, then we might be able to significantly reduce cancers/birth defects through means that target those other factors. We wouldn’t necessarily have to stop the industries that produce organic pollutants.
B
does not consider the possibility that pollutants can cause harm to nonhuman species as well as to human beings
This possibility doesn’t undermine the argument. The author’s concerned about harm to humans; if the pollutants also hurt nonhumans, the author could find that additional reason we need to stop the industries that make those pollutants.
C
takes for granted that certain effects can be produced independently by several different causes
The author doesn’t take this for granted. The author OVERLOOKS the possibility that certain effects (cancer/birth defects) can be produced by several different factors.
D
fails to consider whether industries may voluntarily decrease their output of pollutants
The author does consider this — she states as a premise that the industries are unlikely to comply adequately with regulations.
E
fails to consider the possibility that chemicals now classified as pollutants have some beneficial effects not yet discovered
The author’s conclusion doesn’t recommend stopping use of the pollutants. All the conclusion says is that the only way to significantly reduce cancers/birth defects is to halt the industries. Whether there are benefits to the pollutants doesn’t affect the author’s reasoning.

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LSAT PrepTest 145 Explanations

Section 1 - Reading Comprehension

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Reading Comprehension

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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