Logical reasoning PrepTest 141 · Section 4 · Question 6

Incorrect. The size of the class of drugs is irrelevant to whether patients should take a drug from within that class.

Incorrect. The fact remains that they are, so the reasoning behind it is out of scope.

Incorrect. The argument is about what patients should do to address a problem, expense doesn't factor into it. Additionally, even if cost is relevant, this question will only let us know if the new drug is more expensive—not if it's significantly more expensive.

Incorrect. How long a medication has been used isn't relevant to whether or not it (or another drug in concert with it) should continue to be used—medicine's not an area where you should stick with tradition just because it's tradition.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Argument Evaluation

Stimulus Summary:
A drug that treats immune diseases causes bone loss, so patients on it take another drug to help preserve bone. A new drug helps grow new bone, so it should be taken with the other bone drug.

Answer Anticipation:
When one change is made, other unexpected things can happen. We know that the one drug helps to preserve bone, and the new drug helps to grow new bone. However, there's no information about what happens when the two drugs are taken together—are there any other changes that happen? Do they work well together, or does one prevent the other from working? Without knowing information about how the drugs interact, we can't reach the conclusion that they should be taken together.

Answer Explanation:
This answer choice will provide information that addresses a relevant consideration not dealt with in the stimulus—do these drugs still work when taken together? If one of the drugs prevents the other from working, then it shouldn't be used; if they work fine together, then the recommendation in the conclusion could stand.

Key Takeaway:
Two things that work independently may not work when taken together. Whenever the LSAT tries to make a recommendation that combines two things, make sure that there are premises showing how they interact.