PrepTest 112

[lcid:3544] Prep Test 112 LSAT — Logical Reasoning — S1 Logical reasoning

Question prompt

Most antidepressant drugs cause Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: C

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

Antidepressants --most--> Cause weight gain
Dieting can prevent some weight gain but unlikely all of it

Answer Anticipation

The language in the stimulus here is of moderate strength. Most antidepressants cause weight gain; dieting can reduce the gain. However, the last statement is a little less than certain (“unlikely”), but strong in what it says is unlikely - some of the weight gain can’t be prevented.
In other words, it’s likely that some people who are taking antidepressants will gain weight. Let’s look for an answer reflecting that.

Answer choices

  1. A
    A physician should not Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    The stimulus doesn’t provide a means to judge whether the benefits of the antidepressants outweigh the downsides of weight gain for overweight patients, so there’s no way to support this “should” answer.
  2. B
    People who are trying Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    Similar to (A), there’s no information in the stimulus that would allow us to do a cost-benefit analysis of the upsides and downsides of antidepressants, so there’s no way to support what someone “should” do. Even if trying to lose weight, it may be more important to address a mental health issue.
  3. C
    At least some patients Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C matches the stem
    The stimulus notes that most antidepressants cause weight gain, and it’s unlikely that all of it can be avoided through dieting. Thus, it’s very strongly supported that at least some patients will gain weight while taking antidepressants, and this is the correct answer.
  4. D
    The weight gain experienced Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    The stimulus notes that the antidepressants “cause” weight gain, so it’s supported that the weight gain can be attributed to the drugs, not a lack of dieting.
  5. E
    All patients taking antidepressant Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    Another answer that talks about what “should” be done when there’s no principle established that would allow that recommendation to be made. It’s possible that, while diet can help with the weight gain, it decreases the efficacy of the antidepressants!

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