#21 - The public is well aware that high blood cholesterol

[Arindom]

Hi,

The conclusion says that Western diets better protect against cerebral hemorrhage than do non- Western diets. One of the premises even says that people with low blood cholesterol are at an increased risk of cerebral hemorrhage. So, I picked ans. choice E. Could you explain why this is incorrect and why ans choice B is correct?

Thank you.

- Arindom

[Claire Horan]

Hi Arindom,

You are right that E restates a premise in the argument itself. How then can it be the wrong answer? Here's the key. The question stem asks, "The argument is based on which one of the following assumptions?" Be careful--LSAT uses the word assumption with a very specific meaning. An assumption is an implicit premise of an argument. An assumption is, put another way, the statement that would fill the gap. If you reread the argument, you see the leap from talking about how low cholesterol levels lead to cerebral hemorrhaging to suddenly talking about non-Western and Western diets. The correct answer will be the implicit assumption that closes the gap. The answer will connect non-Western diets to low cholesterol because that's the only way we can bridge the gap between diets and cerebral hemorrhaging.

I hope that's helpful! Just remember, an assumption will not be something that is stated explicitly in the argument.

-Claire
PowerScore LSAT and GRE Instructor

[Arindom]

Thank you, Claire. Got it!

- Arindom

[wapet1]

Hi Arindom,

You are right that E restates a premise in the argument itself. How then can it be the wrong answer? Here's the key. The question stem asks, "The argument is based on which one of the following assumptions?" Be careful--LSAT uses the word assumption with a very specific meaning. An assumption is an implicit premise of an argument. An assumption is, put another way, the statement that would fill the gap. If you reread the argument, you see the leap from talking about how low cholesterol levels lead to cerebral hemorrhaging to suddenly talking about non-Western and Western diets. The correct answer will be the implicit assumption that closes the gap. The answer will connect non-Western diets to low cholesterol because that's the only way we can bridge the gap between diets and cerebral hemorrhaging.

I hope that's helpful! Just remember, an assumption will not be something that is stated explicitly in the argument.

-Claire
PowerScore LSAT and GRE Instructor

another reason that rule out answer choice E is b.c it is talking about a “low blood presure” while the stimulus is talking about the blood cholesterol level. Is my approach right?

[Claire Horan]

Hi Wapet1,

Yes, you are right! Good eye!