/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 18 In order to control the deer pop... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

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In order to control the deer population, a biologist has proposed injecting female deer during breeding season with 10 milligrams of a hormone that would suppress fertility. Critics have charged that the proposal poses health risks to people who might eat the meat of treated deer and thereby ingest unsafe quantities of the hormone. The biologist has responded to these critics by pointing out that humans can ingest up to \(10 \mathrm{mil}-\) ligrams of the hormone a day without any adverse effects, and since no one would eat even one entire deer a day, the treatment would be safe. The biologist's response to critics of the proposal is based on which one of the following assumptions? (A) People would be notified of the time when deer in their area were to be treated with the hormone. (B) The hormone that would be injected into the deer is chemically similar to hormones used in human contraceptives. (C) Hunting season for deer could be scheduled so that it would not coincide with breeding season. (D) The hormone in question does not occur naturally in the female deer that would be injected. (E) Most people do not consider deer meat to be part of their daily diet and eat it only on rare occasions.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The biologist assumes (E) that the hormone intake will remain low because people eat deer meat rarely.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Question

The question asks about the biologist's assumption in claiming that the hormone treatment is safe for humans who consume the deer meat. We need to identify the assumption the biologist makes in their argument.
02

Identifying Key Parts of the Argument

The biologist claims humans can ingest up to 10 milligrams of the hormone daily without harm, and since no one would eat an entire deer in a day, there is no risk. This suggests the argument is focused on the amount of hormone consumed by a person relative to a healthy limit.
03

Analyzing Each Choice

Each option needs to be evaluated to determine what assumption underlies the biologist’s argument: - **(A)** Notification about treatment relates to awareness, not consumption. - **(B)** Similarity to contraceptive hormones is irrelevant to safe consumption. - **(C)** Scheduling hunting does not address consumption safety. - **(D)** Naturally occurring hormone assumption doesn’t affect the safety claim. - **(E)** Assumption about deer meat being rarely eaten addresses the biologist’s point about consumption quantity.
04

Selecting the Best Option

Option (E) is the best choice because it assumes that people generally do not consume deer meat in large quantities, supporting the biologist's claim that eating treated deer is safe since hormone intake remains below harmful levels.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

LSAT exam preparation
Preparing for the LSAT can feel daunting, but breaking it down into manageable steps can make it easier. Logical Reasoning sections are a key component of the test and require a focused approach to mastering. Start by familiarizing yourself with the test format and question types.
Develop a study schedule that allocates regular time for practice with Logical Reasoning questions, as continual exposure helps improve speed and accuracy.
  • Use official LSAT practice tests to get a feel for real questions and time constraints.
  • Analyze your practice test results to identify specific areas where you need improvement.
  • Focus on understanding the logic behind questions, not just memorizing answers.
Remember, practice enhances not just your knowledge, but also your confidence. Stay consistent, and don't hesitate to seek resources like study groups or LSAT prep courses to guide your learning.
Argument analysis
Argument analysis is a critical skill in the Logical Reasoning section of the LSAT. This involves identifying the structure of an argument, understanding its components, and recognizing what the argument attempts to prove.
Start by locating the conclusion and the premises that support it. The conclusion is the main point that the argument is trying to establish, while premises are the reasons given to back up that conclusion.
  • Look for indicator words such as 'therefore' or 'because' to help spot conclusions and premises.
  • Evaluate the strength of the evidence provided and how well it supports the conclusion.
  • Consider any hidden assumptions the argument may rely on.
Improving your argument analysis skills will enable you to dissect arguments quickly and answer questions more effectively.
Critical reasoning
Critical reasoning is about thinking logically and systematically. It's crucial for evaluating arguments not just based on what is stated, but also on what is implied or assumed. When engaging with an argument, critically assess the validity of the conclusions drawn from the premises.
Ask yourself questions like:
  • Is the argument internally consistent?
  • Do the premises logically support the conclusion?
  • Are there any logical fallacies or irrelevant information?
By developing your critical reasoning skills, you become adept at recognizing strong vs. weak arguments and can easily identify flaws that lead to incorrect conclusions.
Logical assumptions
In tackling LSAT Logical Reasoning questions, understanding logical assumptions is pivotal. Assumptions are unstated premises that the argument requires to hold true for the conclusion to be valid.
Often, an argument will seem reasonable, yet contain assumed information not directly included in the premises.
  • To identify assumptions, look for gaps between the premises and the conclusion.
  • Consider what must be true for the argument to work.
  • Practice by asking if the argument would still stand even if a certain assumption were false.
By mastering the art of identifying logical assumptions, you can enhance your ability to spot weaknesses in arguments and select the most accurate answers.

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Certain items-those with that hard-to-define quality called exclusivity-have the odd property, when they become available for sale, of selling rapidly even though they are extremely expensive. In fact, trying to sell such an item fast by asking too low a price is a serious error, since it calls into question the very thing-exclusivity - that is supposed to be the item's chief appeal. Therefore, given that a price that will prove to be right is virtually impossible for the seller to gauge in advance, the seller should make sure that any error in the initial asking price is in the direction of setting the price too high. The argument recommends a certain pricing strategy on the grounds that (A) this strategy lacks a counterproductive feature of the rejected alternative (B) this strategy has all of the advantages of the rejected alternative, but fewer of its disadvantages (C) experience has proven this strategy to be superior, even though the reasons for this superiority elude analysis (D) this strategy does not rely on prospective buyers \(^*\) estimates of value (E) the error associated with this strategy, unlike the error associated with the rejected alternative, is likely to go unnoticed

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