LSAT 152 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q13

LR Question 13 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Columnist: Banning performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) from …

QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption

CONCLUSION: PEDs should be allowed under medical supervision.

REASONING: Bans won’t stop athletes from using them, and it’s not risky when there’s supervision.

ANALYSIS: The reason athletes are using PEDs is because they provide a big competitive advantage. So unsafe use provides a big advantage.

If they’re supervised, they’ll be safe.

But wait? How do safe doses affect the advantage? If safe levels provide very little advantage, then athletes will still prefer to do them unsafely and the policy won’t eliminate health risks.

So the argument depends on the idea that safe use doesn’t put you at a disadvantage.

___________

1. Public perception is irrelevant.
2. While fairness is a relevant consideration in general, this specific argument is about safety.
3. The athletes’ beliefs don’t matter.
4. The availability of a doctor isn’t relevant to the point being made.
5. CORRECT. If unsafe use gave a much bigger advantage, athletes would still choose it, undermining the policy.
   Negation: Using PEDs at unsafe levels creates a big advantage over using them at safe levels.