PrepTest 129

Incorrect. As long as the Physician's country's ulcer rate is lower than that of the other countries, it doesn't matter to the argument if one of them is higher than the other—especially since their rate of ulcer medication is not compared to each other, just the Physician's country.

Incorrect. If anything, this answer weakens the argument by raising a reason to believe that their ulcer rates and ulcer medication rates wouldn't be related in the same manner as the other countries. If the Physician's country has residents who are less likely to seek treatment for an ailment because of their stoicism than the residents of the other two countries, then the relationship between medication rates and ulcer rates would be different and thus the comparison in the stimulus falls apart. (Note that this answer doesn't actually state that the other countries don't similarly have stoic residents, so this answer might be wrong even in a Weaken question.)

Incorrect. Other countries are out of scope of the argument since the conclusion is about the comparison between the Physician's country and the other two.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen

Stimulus Summary:
All countries: Same causes of ulcers
Differences: The Physician's country has fewer prescriptions for ulcer medication
Conclusion: The Physician's country has fewer ulcers per capita

Answer Anticipation:
This argument has two features that are common on the LSAT. The first is a comparison—in this case, between the Physician's country and two other comparable countries. The second is using one measurement as a proxy for another—which, again, is a comparison, stating that one thing should have similar levels as another.

The proxy measurement is of prescriptions—the Physician uses that as a proxy for measuring the ulcer rate. In doing so, she's assuming that the connection between ulcer rates and prescription rates are similar between the countries. If the residents of one country are more or less likely than the residents of another to get medication even when they have an ulcer for any reason, that calls the argument into question. For example, if the Physician's country has more expensive healthcare, then people might be less likely to go get treatment for their ulcers. Since this question is asking us to strengthen the argument, the correct answer should either note that the countries are similar in their rate of prescription ulcer medication compared to the ulcer rate, or rule out a reason that the Physician's country would be different with respect to the likelihood someone with an ulcer would get medication for it.

Answer Explanation:
This answer establishes a relevant similarity between the Physician's country and the other two countries that increases the likelihood that the relationship between ulcer medication and ulcers in the three countries is similar. If that's true, then using the medication rates as a proxy for ulcer rates in this comparison is stronger.

Key Takeaway:
How comparative arguments work with Strengthen and Weaken questions has some subtlety to it. Here, the argument reached a conclusion that the Physician's country was different from the other two countries, but it was based on the countries having a similar relationship between prescriptions for ulcer medications and ulcers. The correct answer highlighted a relevant similarity between those countries, but it can be hard to anticipate whether we were looking for a similarity or difference. However, in arguments that do feature comparisons, the correct answer will likely also allow for a comparison to be drawn, and you can start to analyze the impact of similarities and differences as you find them in the answer choices.

Broader picture, though, you can use this rule of thumb (though, as noted, it can break down):

In a Strengthen question, arguments based on similarities are strengthened by more similarities, and arguments based on differences are strengthened by more differences. (In other words, arguments are strengthened by the same.)In a Weaken question, arguments based on similarities are weakened by differences, and arguments based on differences are weakened by similarities. (In other words, arguments are weakened by the opposite.)

Incorrect. The stimulus notes that the actual prescription rate is lower, not that the reported number of prescriptions are lower, so the reporting structure is out of scope. Even if that weren't the case, this answer would highlight a relevant difference between the Physician's country and the other two that would call the ability to compare them over prescriptions and ulcer rates into question.