LSAT 15 – Section 2 – Question 03

LSAT 15 - Section 2 - Question 03

June 1995

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT15 S2 Q03
+LR
Strengthen +Streng
A
1%
154
B
9%
161
C
0%
169
D
1%
150
E
89%
164
120
127
145
 +Easiest 144.118 +SubsectionEasier
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We know this is a strengthening question because of the question stem: Which one of the following, if true, most supports the argument above?

The first thing the stimulus does is give us a correlation; there is a certain strain of bacteria that is found in the stomachs of specifically ulcer patients. Further strengthening this correlation, a researcher with no ulcer history accidently ingested the bacteria and developed an ulcer. Talk about a workplace hazard! From these two correlations the author draws the conclusion that the bacteria strain causes the ulcers. A fair hypothesis to make, but we have to remember that correlation only implies causation, it does not guarantee it.

This stimulus has a very common structure for weakening/strengthening causal hypothesis questions. Correlation, more correlation, hypothesis of causation. Our job is to strengthen the hypothesis that it is the bacteria that are causing the ulcers. An answer choice may do that by eliminating an alternative hypothesis, providing an experiment whose results agree with the hypothesis, or one of many other ways. Let’s see what we end up with in the answer choices:

Answer Choice (A) Always stay anchored in the conclusion. The conclusion we want to support is about the causal relation between the bacteria and ulcers. This answer gives us a correlation between the bacteria and kidney disease. Interesting maybe, but definitely not relevant to our argument. A is incorrect.

Answer Choice (B) Good for the researcher, but not meaningful for us. Similar to A, this answer brings in other health issues to distract us. If we clearly understood the conclusion we are supposed to support, we should quickly see that this information isn’t helpful. B is incorrect.

Answer Choice (C) If this were a weakening question this answer choice might have promise, though the absence of evidence isn’t necessarily evidence of an absence. This is a strengthening question however, so this answer is terrible. C is incorrect.

Answer Choice (D) We’re all happy for the researcher (though if the recognized expert is ingesting dangerous bacteria, I don’t want to see what the non-experts are up to!), but his credentials don’t have any bearing on the author’s argument. D is incorrect.

Correct Answer Choice (E) E strengthens our argument by providing an experiment. It might have thrown you off that the experiment didn’t show people with bacteria having the ulcers, but we’ve already been told that correlation exists. What this answer does is give us an experiment strengthening the correlation by showing that where the ulcers aren’t present neither are the bacteria. From what we were told in the stimulus, maybe most people had this bacteria and only some developed ulcers. This study casts doubt on that possibility, and by strengthening the correlation, strengthens our causal hypothesis. E is correct.

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LSAT PrepTest 15 Explanations

Section 1 - Reading Comprehension

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logic Games

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