LR Question 22 Explanation, by LSATHacks
QUESTION TEXT: In humans, ingested protein is broken down…
QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption
CONCLUSION: Sugar plays a role in mood elevation.
REASONING: Sugar ➞ insulin ➞ removal of all amino acids except tryptophan ➞ tryptophan enters brain ➞ serotonin
ANALYSIS: This argument plays on the common knowledge that serotonin has something to do with being in a good mood. It’s easy to forget that this argument doesn’t actually tell us anything about what serotonin does.
The argument assumes that serotonin helps elevate the mood.
___________
- This isn’t necessary. It’s only necessary that serotonin elevates mood.
- This is like A, and it isn’t necessary. The argument would be ok if not consuming sugar was simply neutral for mood.
- It doesn’t matter if there are other ways to produce serotonin. It’s only necessary that tryptophan is one way to produce serotonin.
- CORRECT. If this isn’t true then it’s not clear why sugar would elevate mood.
- We don’t have a clue about this. There could be something else about protein that elevates mood, even if the amino acids in it block out tryptophan.
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