Logical reasoning PrepTest 112 · Section 1 · Question 18

Question prompt

Moderate exercise lowers the Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: D

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

Argument or Facts

Argument

Valid or Flawed

Flawed

Question Type

Strengthen with Sufficient Premise Questions

Stimulus Summary

Lower blood cholesterol → Lower risk of arteries hardening → Lowers risk of arterial blockage from blood clots
Data reported correct: Moderate exercise → Lower blood cholesterol levels
Therefore - Moderate exercise → Lowers risk of arterial blockage from blood clots

Answer Anticipation

This argument features a long chain of causal/conditional statements - these statements, unlike most, are both causal and conditional, so we can treat them as such! They also chain together nicely, with the language of the stimulus building the concepts straight into the chain.
It appears as if the premises connect the terms in the conclusion - moderate exercise leads to lower blood cholesterol levels, which in turn lowers the risk of hardened arteries, lowering the risk of arterial blockage from blood clots. That connects moderate exercise to lowered risk of arterial blockage from blood clots, as the conclusion states!
However, there is one wrench thrown in the works - the conditional attached to that final premise. Moderate exercise being linked to lowered blood cholesterol levels is only true if the data reported in a recent study are correct. If that data isn’t correct, then the argument falls apart. Since the only flaw in this argument is reliance on data that is uncertain, we should look for an answer establishing that the data reported in the recent study are correct.
A quick note on this. On LSAT questions, we’re supposed to treat the premises as true. This question can feel like we’re not doing that in questioning whether the data are correct. However, the premise is that the data shows a certain connection - we’re not questioning that. Rather, we’re questioning whether the data is correct. It’s a subtle difference, but one that shows up from time to time on the LSAT. And it usually shows up in this form - a conditional premise (or conclusion) that conditions itself on an analysis, viewpoint, or data being correct.

Answer choices

  1. A
    The recent study investigated Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    While this answer establishes that the study was designed in a way that could speak to the connection the argument relies on it for, it doesn’t establish that the data from it is correct, so we don’t know that the required connection exists, and thus the conclusion is still uncertain.
  2. B
    Blockage of the arteries Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    The argument is about lowering the risk of certain health events, not preventing them entirely.
  3. C
    Lowering blood cholesterol levels Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    This answer is already established in the stimulus - it’s the first two connections raised in the premises. As such, it doesn’t add anything to the argument.
  4. D
    The data reported in Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D matches the stem
    A chain connecting the concepts in the conclusion - and thus justifying it - can be made from the premises of this argument...if the data that supports one of those connections is correct. This answer establishes that it is, thus justifying the conclusion.
  5. E
    Hardening of the arteries Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    This connection is already established in the premises - it’s just the “flip” of how it’s stated in that second premise. But if lowering something reduces risk, then increasing it necessarily increases risk. This is why it’s important to note that the statements in the stimulus are both causal and conditional - conditional statements can’t be flipped like this, but causal statements can.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 13%
  2. B 5%
  3. C 32%
  4. D Credited 38%
  5. E 12%

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Discussion

  • This is just cheap. How is it D? 2 replies

    Started by Ryan_B

  • Help 4 replies

    Started by Theresaturner

  • Why D? 3 replies

    Started by farnoushsalimian

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