Logical Reasoning

PT106 · S2 · Q21 The point at issue between Wirth

A free, expert breakdown of this official LSAT Logical Reasoning question.

  • Save & drill this skill — build targeted practice sets from questions like this one

  • Video walkthroughs — watch every question solved step by step

  • 81 official LSATs — as questions, timed sections & full-length tests

Start practicing free

Wirth: All efforts to identify a gene responsible for predisposing people to manic-depression have failed.

Where's the Disagreement

Does C disagree with W's first claim? Is C saying that ? No. He says "I do not dispute your evidence".

Does C disagree with W's second claim? Is C saying that ? No, he's saying that researchers might now be thinking there's a manic-depression cluster of genes.

Does C disagree with W's final claim? Yes, C says that he disputes W's conclusion. W concluded that C is saying, And this is because there's a cluster of genes that interact in complex ways to create a vulnerability to manic-depression.

Goal

The point at issue is whether or not a genetic predisposition to manic-depression would be found in only one gene vs. could be found in the interactions between a set of genes.

21.

The point at issue between Wirth and Chang is whether

  1. efforts to identify a gene

    Nobody Agrees

    Wirth never discusses any efforts to identify a set of genes responsible for manic-depression. He only says that efforts to identify a (single) gene have all failed.

    15% picked this

  2. it is likely that researchers

    No Support for Either

    Neither person discusses the likelihood of certain discoveries / breakthroughs.

    3% picked this

  3. nearly all researchers now agree

    Both Agree

    This is part of the "I do not dispute your evidence".

    4% picked this

  4. Correct

    current research supports the claim

    Why this is right

    W agrees, and C disagrees. The "current research" part of the answer is certainly an unnerving surprise, but W says, "If these researchers are right", referring to nearly all researchers. And C says "many of the researchers you refer to". In a broader sense, W is saying, "Welp ... they can't find a manic-depression gene. That means no one is genetically predisposed to manic-depression." And C is saying, "Yes, they can't find a a manic-depression gene. But their evidence suggests that people CAN be genetically predisposed to manic-depression, because they're finding a set of genes that interacts to create a predisposition.

    Skill tested: Agree/Disagree · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    76% picked this

  5. the efforts made to find

    No Support for Either: thorough

    Neither person discusses how thorough these efforts were. If anything, it feels like W is giving off the impression that there have been lots of efforts, and C said "I do not dispute that".

    1% picked this

Continue the review in LSAT Lab

Save this question, watch the video walkthrough, and drill similar questions in your LSAT Lab account.

Save and practice this skill
LSAT Lab

Turn this review into a targeted study plan.

Save this question, drill more like it, watch the video walkthrough, and track your progress in your LSAT Lab account.

Start practicing free