LR Question 16 Explanation
QUESTION TEXT: In an effort to boost milk production, some dairy farmers …
QUESTION TYPE: Most Strongly Supported
FACTS:
- Some dairy farmers are treating cows with a genetically engineered hormone called BST.
- Consumer groups have opposed the use of BST.
- BST-treated cows produce milk with the same nutritional value as milk from untreated cows.
- Treated cows run a greater risk of infection.
- Treated cows are more likely to be given antibiotics.
- The antibiotics may show up in milk.
- These antibiotics, at high levels, may be harmful to humans.
- The milk of treated and untreated cows is screened regularly for antibiotics.
ANALYSIS: Lots of facts here. Make sure you’ve got them all straightened out, and then look at the answers. Remember that it’s hard to prephrase for Most Strongly Supported questions; you have to come in and consider which answer is best.
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- We don’t know all the reasons consumer groups oppose the use of BST, so it’s hard to say that there are no legitimate reasons.
- We can’t conclude this. We know that both are screened for antibiotics, but there may be other hazards in milk from treated cows that is absent from untreated cows’ milk.
- This definitely doesn’t follow. We’re explicitly told that BST is used in an effort to boost dairy production, and aren’t given a reason to doubt that.
- CORRECT. We’re told that treated cows are more likely to be given antibiotics, which can be harmful to humans if it shows up in the milk. The milk must be screened, therefore, in order to be sure that it’s safe.
- Similar to B, we don’t know that there aren’t other problems with BST milk. We’re only told about one.
Recap: The question begins with “In an effort to boost milk production, some dairy farmers “. It is a Most Strongly Supported question. Learn more about LSAT MSS questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.
More Resources for Most Strongly Supported Questions
- Intro Course lesson: This intro course lesson covers Most Strongly Supported questions.
- Mastery Seminar lesson: This LR Mastery seminar lesson covers most strongly supported questions.
Some of many counters to D: What if the milk is from a farm that is known to never use antibiotics? What if the milk is sourced from a country/state where it’s illegal to use antibiotics?
What breaks choice D for me is the “only if.” I understand why D is the best, but there are so many believable alternatives that I can’t believe D is supported.
Great question! It’s totally fair, and a good indicator, to be wary of strong language like “only if”. But in this case, I think D is still supported once we zero in on what the stimulus actually says and how MSS questions work.
So, the stimulus says:
1. BST treated cows are more likely to need antibiotics.
2. High levels of antibiotics may be harmful to humans.
3. Milk is regularly screened for antibiotics in both types of cows.
The only potential harm discussed is the possibility of high antibiotic levels, and the only safeguard mentioned is screening. That makes it reasonable to infer that the safety of BST-treated milk for humans depends on successful screening (hence the “only if”).
As for farms/countries where antibiotics are never used or banned, those are hypothetical scenarios that are possible, but MSS doesn’t ask for airtight truth in every imaginable world. The point of MSS is to ask what’s most supported by the information given. And within the stimulus, there’s no mention of such places. So D doesn’t have to rule out those hypotheticals. It just needs to be the best-supported inference from THIS specific argument.
“Only if” would’ve been problematic in a MBT question, because in MBT questions the answer obviously has to be 100% true all of the time. But in MSS, D holds up. Hope that helps! Let me know if you have further questions.
Hi! I was going to write this response:
– I agree with everything except “The only potential harm…successful screening.” If we go with this logic, then B could also be the answer. We said B is wrong because “there may be other hazards [outside of antibiotics].” But your explanation says “we don’t need to care about other safety factors, since the prompt only discusses antibiotic screening.” Then, applying this to B, the only factor for safety is screening, making other safety factors irrelevant.
However, I realized I was mistaking necessary for sufficient; You said “BST-treated milk for humans depends on successful screening,” NOT “depends only on.”
Honestly, still don’t really like D, but your response helped me realize why B was even more wrong. Thanks.