LSAT 25, Logical Reasoning I, Q17, LSATHacks

LR Question 17 Explanation, by LSATHacks

QUESTION TEXT: Nicotine has long been known to cause heart attacks and high blood…

QUESTION TYPE: Paradox – Exception

PARADOX: Nicotine causes heart attacks and high blood pressure. Smokers are more likely to have problems than non-smokers who get their nicotine from chewing tobacco.

ANALYSIS: There are many possible wrong answers. There can be something protective about chewing tobacco, or something extra that makes cigarettes bad.

Two of the answer choices (A and C) are interesting because they show how outside knowledge can be appropriately used on the LSAT.

In general, you can use outside knowledge as long as they don’t contradict the stimulus, and as long as they’re things that everyone would agree on.

___________

1. Everyone knows that exercise can help prevent heart problems. You’re allowed to use outside knowledge if it doesn’t contradict the stimulus.
2. This shows that chewing tobacco has hidden protective measures that cigarettes don’t.
3. Same as A. Everyone knows that healthy diets can help prevent heart disease.
4. CORRECT. We’re talking about heart attacks and blood pressure, not cancer. This is irrelevant.
5. This shows that there are other factors that make cigarettes worse, apart from nicotine.

Recap: The question begins with “Nicotine has long been known to cause heart attacks and high blood”. It is a Paradox question. Learn how to master LSAT Paradox questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.

Hi, I'm Graeme Blake

Founder of LSAThacks; I scored a 177 on the LSAT.

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