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- Mon Feb 27, 2017 4:52 pm
#33168
Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=13636)
The correct answer choice is (E)
As mentioned in the section overview, this question marks the very first appearance of an Evaluate the Argument question in an LSAT Reading Comprehension section. Since it is an Evaluate question, the correct answer choice will provide the inquiry most helpful in determining the presence of CJD. The correct answer choice will likely deal with either the presence of prions or that of an accompanying symptom.
Answer choice (A): The passage mentions nothing about how a blow to the skull might affect the likelihood of the presence of CJD, so there is no reason to believe that the answer to this question would be helpful to a physician attempting to make such a determination. As such, it cannot be the right answer to this Evaluate question.
Answer choice (B): Chronic insomnia is mentioned as a symptom of CJD, but noting that a patient does or does not experience occasional insomnia—not "chronic," as the passage states—would not help a doctor make a determination of its cause (whether CJD or not). Further, insomnia is never directly linked to the action of prions, so this would have no bearing on the link between CJD and prions.
Answer choice (C): Neither radiation nor genetic damage is mentioned as having any association with CJD; in fact, CJD is caused by prions, which, the passage provides, can have little or even no genetic material. Regardless, since the passage offers no reason to believe that the answer to this question would be helpful to a physician making the relevant determination, this choice should be eliminated.
Answer choice (D): The author does not mention whether a family history of brain disease would have any effect on the likelihood of the presence of CJD, so this cannot be the answer to this Evaluate question.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. In the middle of the third paragraph, the author discusses the fact that CJD leads to plaque that results in abnormal, threadlike structures. Thus, the answer to this question would clearly be relevant, confirming this to be the correct answer choice.
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=13636)
The correct answer choice is (E)
As mentioned in the section overview, this question marks the very first appearance of an Evaluate the Argument question in an LSAT Reading Comprehension section. Since it is an Evaluate question, the correct answer choice will provide the inquiry most helpful in determining the presence of CJD. The correct answer choice will likely deal with either the presence of prions or that of an accompanying symptom.
Answer choice (A): The passage mentions nothing about how a blow to the skull might affect the likelihood of the presence of CJD, so there is no reason to believe that the answer to this question would be helpful to a physician attempting to make such a determination. As such, it cannot be the right answer to this Evaluate question.
Answer choice (B): Chronic insomnia is mentioned as a symptom of CJD, but noting that a patient does or does not experience occasional insomnia—not "chronic," as the passage states—would not help a doctor make a determination of its cause (whether CJD or not). Further, insomnia is never directly linked to the action of prions, so this would have no bearing on the link between CJD and prions.
Answer choice (C): Neither radiation nor genetic damage is mentioned as having any association with CJD; in fact, CJD is caused by prions, which, the passage provides, can have little or even no genetic material. Regardless, since the passage offers no reason to believe that the answer to this question would be helpful to a physician making the relevant determination, this choice should be eliminated.
Answer choice (D): The author does not mention whether a family history of brain disease would have any effect on the likelihood of the presence of CJD, so this cannot be the answer to this Evaluate question.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. In the middle of the third paragraph, the author discusses the fact that CJD leads to plaque that results in abnormal, threadlike structures. Thus, the answer to this question would clearly be relevant, confirming this to be the correct answer choice.