LSAT 153 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q5

LR Question 5 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: One theory concerning the importance of vitamin C…

QUESTION TYPE: Most Strongly Supported

FACTS:

1. Vitamin C is important for producing and maintaining collagen.
2. Collagen is a protein in bones and connective tissue.
3. Because of facts 1 and 2, some doctors believe that vitamin C can help treat symptoms of common illnesses.

ANALYSIS: The key in this question will be figuring out the link between fact 3 and facts 1 and 2. Why do these two facts lead some doctors to believe that vitamin C could alleviate symptoms of common illnesses?

It must be something the vitamin C does. We are told that vitamin C is crucial in the production and function of collagen. So we can predict that the doctors are using vitamin C to treat collagen deficiencies or similar problems. And because collagen is found almost exclusively in bone and connective tissue, we can deduce that these problems exist in those areas.

___________

1. CORRECT. Vitamin C is important for collagen, which almost exclusively exists in bones and connective tissue. So if some doctors think vitamin C can treat symptoms of some illnesses, they must think there are some illnesses that affect those areas.
2. We know that vitamin C plays a crucial role, but none of the information suggests that any doctors think it is the only substance that produces or maintains collagen.
3. This answer is a bit backwards. Vitamin C is important for collagen, which appears in these areas of the body, but as far as we know this is a one-way cause and effect. The passage never refers to the body’s ability to use any vitamins.
4. We know that some doctors believe that vitamin C can be a useful treatment, but “most effective” is stretching it further than we have reason to believe. The argument never addresses the efficacy of other treatments.
5. This answer takes a logical misstep. Vitamin C is important for collagen, but this doesn’t mean that vitamin C only works with collagen. There may be other functions.

Recap: The question begins with “One theory concerning the importance of vitamin C”. It is a Most Strongly Supported question. Learn how to master LSAT MSS questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.