LSAT 4, Logical Reasoning I, Q4, LSATHacks

LR Question 4 Explanation, by LSATHacks

QUESTION TEXT: A survey was recently conducted among ferry passengers…

QUESTION TYPE: Weaken

CONCLUSION: People would be better off not taking seasickness medication.

REASONING: People on a boat trip who took the medication tended to be seasick more than people who didn’t take the medication.

ANALYSIS: I never get seasick personally so I never take seasickness pills. Who does take seasickness pills? Usually it would be people who get seasick often.

___________

1. This doesn’t tell us people will be more or less likely to be seasick if they have taken a pill.
2. This gives us reason to think the clinical trials may have been biased, and it strengthens the argument.
3. This shows the survey sample was not biased: it strengthens the argument.
4. CORRECT. This shows the medication helped, even though the people who took it were more likely to feel seasick. Similarly, people who take Advil are more likely to have a headache: that’s why they take a pill, to get rid of their problem!
5. This shows that the survey was biased, and that even more people who took the medication got seasick. This strengthens the argument.

Recap: The question begins with “A survey was recently conducted among ferry passengers”. It is a Weaken question. Learn more about LSAT Weaken questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.

Hi, I'm Graeme Blake

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

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