LSAT 3 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q21

LR Question 21 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: The public is well aware that high blood cholesterol levels…

QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption

CONCLUSION: The conclusion of the study supports the Japanese idea that Western diets protect against cerebral hemorrhage better than non-Western diets.

REASONING: Diets with higher cholesterol offer better protection against cerebral hemorrhage. Cholesterol helps repair cell walls.

ANALYSIS: This plays on our unstated assumptions : we assume that the Western diet causes higher cholesterol than non-Western diets. But the stimulus doesn’t actually say that. In fact, it tells us nothing at all about Western diets or non-Western diets.

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1. It isn’t necessary that Western diets are healthier overall. It only matters whether they are better at preventing cerebral hemorrhage.
2. CORRECT. Higher blood cholesterol is the only factor we know of that prevents cerebral hemorrhage. If Western diets don’t cause higher blood cholesterol, then we have no evidence that they prevent hemorrhaging.
3. It’s only necessary that they help prevent the weakening of artery walls. They don’t have to make it impossible.
4. Not necessary. The Japanese weren’t saying that high cholesterol was better overall. They only claimed it was better at preventing cerebral hemorrhage.
5. We associate cholesterol with blood pressure, but there is no link mentioned in the stimulus. Blood pressure isn’t even mentioned. This is totally off topic.

Recap: The question begins with “The public is well aware that high blood cholesterol levels”. It is a Necessary Assumption question. Learn how to master LSAT Necessary questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.