LSAT 156 – Section 2 – Question 24

LSAT 156 - Section 2 - Question 24

July 2020

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT156 S2 Q24
+LR
Except +Exc
Weaken +Weak
A
55%
162
B
12%
151
C
15%
152
D
9%
155
E
9%
152
147
157
166
 +Harder 145.275 +SubsectionEasier

Researcher: Several chemical compounds found in soybeans are effective agents for cancer prevention in humans. These include isoflavones and phytosterols, which also occur in other plants but are especially concentrated in soybeans. In rats and larger mammals such as cheetahs and sheep, isoflavones have been shown to inhibit the production of estrogen, and estrogen is known to promote certain types of cancer. Phytosterols may slow cholesterol absorption and thus have anticancer effects.

Summarize Argument: Phenomenon-Hypothesis
A Researcher hypothesizes that several chemical compounds, particularly isoflavones, and phytosterols, found in soybeans effectively protect humans from cancer. This is because isoflavones inhibit estrogen production, which is linked to certain cancers.

Notable Assumptions
The Researcher assumes that no other factors will outweigh the anti-cancer impacts of isoflavones and phytosterols.
The Researcher also assumes that the animal studies used to introduce a premise are applicable to humans.

A
The soybean derivatives used in most studies are the products of specialized processing techniques and are not yet widely available to consumers.
This does not impact the reasoning of the argument at all. The fact that soybean derivatives used in *most* of the studies have these qualities is wholly irrelevant.
B
While phytosterols, which occur in high concentrations in soybeans, have been shown to decrease cholesterol absorption in the body, new evidence suggests that this decrease is not large enough to reduce susceptibility to cancer.
This directly weakens the argument because it weakens the Researcher’s second premise. This casts doubt on the argument that these compounds are effective anticancer agents.
C
A study of people with high levels of blood cholesterol showed no significant reduction in cholesterol levels after switching to a soybean-rich diet.
This challenges the link between eating soybeans and lowering cholesterol levels, thereby reducing cancer risk.
D
Consumption of soybean products might lower blood cholesterol in animals, but a study of people whose major source of protein is soybeans rather than animal products showed blood cholesterol levels no lower than normal.
This weakens the argument because it calls out one of the Researcher’s key assumptions: that the animal study she relied on *was* applicable to humans.
E
Preliminary studies have not shown isoflavones to have a significant effect on estrogen levels in humans.
If this is true, it weakens the reasoning between the first premise and the main conclusion. If isoflavones do not reduce estrogen levels in humans as they do in animals, the argument for their role in cancer prevention is weakened.

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LSAT PrepTest 156 Explanations

Section 1 - Reading Comprehension

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Reading Comprehension

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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