LSAT 155 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q2

LR Question 2 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Brian: I used to eat cheeseburgers from fast-food restaurants…

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Reasoning

CONCLUSION: Eating bread and meat in the same meal is unhealthy.

REASONING: Brian stopped eating cheeseburgers from fast food restaurants every day, and instead switched to lean meats, fruits and vegetables. He now feels better and his cholesterol is lower.

ANALYSIS: Brian says that his newfound health is due to no longer eating meat and bread together. But can we really say that? We don’t know that the worst part of fast food cheeseburgers is the mix of bread and meat. In cutting out the cheeseburgers, he also eliminated a lot of unhealthy factors and switched them to very healthy foods. We can’t pinpoint the mix of bread and meat as the one cause of better health.

___________

1. Brian never appeals to the authority of a self-appointed agent.
2. Brian’s conclusion isn’t a restatement of a premise. He has evidence that he (incorrectly) believes proves his conclusion.
3. He isn’t treating a necessary condition as a sufficient condition. He’s assuming that one change out of many was the sole cause of the effect that occurred.
4. CORRECT. When Brian stopped eating cheeseburgers every day, a lot of things in his diet would be changed, not just that he stopped mixing bread with meat. He can’t assume that the result was solely due to that change.
5. This is not what happens here. In fact, it’s more the opposite. This error is like saying “most people benefit from eating more protein, so my son who’s been vegan for 30 years would certainly benefit from eating a steak”.

Recap: The question begins with “Brian: I used to eat cheeseburgers from fast-food restaurants”. It is a Flawed Reasoning question. Learn more about LSAT Flaw questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.