- Mon Feb 27, 2017 4:53 pm
#33170
Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=13636)
The correct answer choice is (B)
Answer choice (A): Although it is accurate to say that the mechanism by which prions reproduce themselves is not yet completely understood, the author does not confirm the first part of this answer choice, which does not express the main point of the passage; it should thus be ruled out of contention in response to this Main Point question.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. As discussed above, the author’s main point is to discuss prions, a new kind of pathogen made up, surprisingly, of protein rather than standard DNA or RNA associated with the four previously known infection-causing agents.
Answer choice (C): In the last paragraph, the author mentions that similar protein malformation might take place in other conditions, but does not go so far as to assert that this applies to “most” other neurological conditions. Since this choice doesn’t even pass the Fact Test, it cannot be the correct answer choice to this Main Point question.
Answer choice (D): At the beginning of the last paragraph, the author says that the scientific community was skeptical regarding the link between prions and CJD, but then goes on to say that subsequent research has supported the notion that prions are a new class of pathogen. Since this choice discusses the skepticism about that link in the present tense, with the implication that it continues, this answer is not supported by the information in the passage and should be ruled out of contention.
Answer choice (E): The passage does describe the prions’ general approach to reproduction, and the author mentions that they lack nucleic acid, but this is not the main point of the passage, so it cannot be the correct response to this Main Point question.
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=13636)
The correct answer choice is (B)
Answer choice (A): Although it is accurate to say that the mechanism by which prions reproduce themselves is not yet completely understood, the author does not confirm the first part of this answer choice, which does not express the main point of the passage; it should thus be ruled out of contention in response to this Main Point question.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. As discussed above, the author’s main point is to discuss prions, a new kind of pathogen made up, surprisingly, of protein rather than standard DNA or RNA associated with the four previously known infection-causing agents.
Answer choice (C): In the last paragraph, the author mentions that similar protein malformation might take place in other conditions, but does not go so far as to assert that this applies to “most” other neurological conditions. Since this choice doesn’t even pass the Fact Test, it cannot be the correct answer choice to this Main Point question.
Answer choice (D): At the beginning of the last paragraph, the author says that the scientific community was skeptical regarding the link between prions and CJD, but then goes on to say that subsequent research has supported the notion that prions are a new class of pathogen. Since this choice discusses the skepticism about that link in the present tense, with the implication that it continues, this answer is not supported by the information in the passage and should be ruled out of contention.
Answer choice (E): The passage does describe the prions’ general approach to reproduction, and the author mentions that they lack nucleic acid, but this is not the main point of the passage, so it cannot be the correct response to this Main Point question.