LSAT 115 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q1

LR Question 1 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: A study comparing infant care revealed that the…

QUESTION TYPE: Weaken

CONCLUSION: Babies should receive less stimulation.

REASONING: Babies who receive less stimulation sleep better, which is important for a baby’s development.

ANALYSIS: Any disadvantage from reducing stimulation will weaken the argument. So will any benefit from stimulation itself. The argument assumes more sleep leads to better development, but ignores what babies might lose if they get less stimulation.

If stimulation contributes to intellectual or emotional development, then cutting it back could harm the child even if it increases sleep. A strong answer will show that stimulation has positive developmental effects that outweigh the benefits of extra sleep.

___________

1. Therefore there is no risk to muscular coordination from reducing stimulation. This strengthens the argument.
2. This shows the sleep advantage is even greater for babies who receive less stimulation.
3. Babies develop rapidly. Their reaction to stimulation at three years old is not very relevant.
4. This eliminates another possible disadvantage from lack of stimulus, strengthening the argument.
5. CORRECT. This gives us a reason that reducing stimulation will reduce development. This is particularly important since increased development was the reason given for reducing stimulus.

Recap: The question begins with “A study comparing infant care revealed that the”. It is a Weaken question. Learn how to master LSAT Weaken questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.