Logical reasoning PrepTest 104 · Section 1 · Question 19

Question prompt

Pollen and other allergens Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: E

The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.

Argument or Facts

Facts

Valid or Flawed

NA

Question Type

Must Be True Questions

Stimulus Summary

Pollen/allergens cause nose cells to release histamine, which causes inflammation and allergy symptoms
Antihistamines block histamine and cause other things, like drowsiness
Histamine plays no role in colds

Answer Anticipation

This Must be True question presents quite a bit of information about the causes and effects of histamines and antihistamines, so we should be sure to understand all of those various relationships, as we’ve outlined in our Summary.
Outside of that, it’s hard to anticipate anything here. The final line about histamines playing “no role” in colds or their symptoms might end up bringing in antihistamines, since we know that antihistamines block them. However, instead of spending a lot of time on anticipating an answer, we should spend that time on analyzing answer choices, so let’s head down ASAP.

Answer choices

  1. A
    Pollen and other allergens Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    Pollen/allergens cause the release of histamine, and histamine isn’t related to colds, but that doesn’t mean that a separate effect of pollen/allergens is that they cause colds.

  2. B
    Colds are more difficult Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    There’s no discussion of how to treat colds. While we know a way to treat allergies (with antihistamines), that doesn’t mean there isn’t a method to treat that’s even easier than taking a drowse-inducing histamine.

  3. C
    Antihistamines, when taken alone, Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    Since histamines don’t play a role in cold symptoms, antihistamines can’t treat colds by blocking them. However, that doesn’t mean that some of the “other effects” of antihistamines are effective in treating congestion caused by colds.

  4. D
    The sleeplessness that sometimes Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    While antihistamines cause drowsiness, there’s no indication that this combats the sleeplessness that allergies provide. Maybe they make you exhausted but unable to sleep!

  5. E
    Any effect antihistamines may Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E matches the stem
    Histamines are unrelated to cold symptoms, so if antihistamines reduce cold symptoms, it can’t be through their anti-histamine properties, as this answer states. Since this answer is supported by the last line of the stimulus, it’s the correct answer.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 14%
  2. B 2%
  3. C 23%
  4. D 5%
  5. E Credited 57%

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