LSAT 105 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q20

LR Question 20 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Some people have been promoting a new herbal mixture as…

QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption – Exception

CONCLUSION: The cold sufferer thinks the remedy won’t work.

REASONING: If it worked, surely almost everyone would use it and get better. But many people have colds and don’t use it.

ANALYSIS: There could be other reasons why people with colds don’t take the mixture. Maybe it tastes bad. Maybe other mixtures are more effective. Maybe no one knows about it. Maybe it’s rare. Etc.

The argument is assuming that none of those things are true.

___________

1. Maybe the people who aren’t getting better simply can’t access the medicine.
2. Right. The mixture might work to cure colds, but people rightfully avoid it because of the side effects.
3. CORRECT. The future doesn’t matter. The conclusion is only about whether the mixture cures colds people currently have.
4. If people don’t know about the cure then they might not take it for that reason. (And not because it wouldn’t work.)
5. If there are more pleasant remedies that are also effective, then people might take those instead. So the Goldensead mixture still could work, but people don’t take it because a better product exists.

Recap: The question begins with “Some people have been promoting a new herbal mixture as”. It is a Necessary Assumption question. Learn more about LSAT Necessary questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.