Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT108 S3 Q17 Explanation

Radial keratotomy (RK), a surgery

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

TopicsParadox

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Stimulus

Radial keratotomy (RK), a surgery that is designed to reshape the cornea so that light focuses correctly on the retina, is supposed to make eyeglasses or contact lenses that correct for nearsightedness unnecessary. Yet a study of patients who have still need to wear glasses or contact lenses.

What this question is testing

Paradox

Your task

Break the argument into its conclusion and evidence, then do exactly what the question stem asks with that structure.

Common trap

Answers that sound relevant to the topic but don't connect to the argument's actual reasoning.

Winning move

Predict what a right answer must do, then test each choice against the conclusion-evidence gap.

Reading along? Open the full official question in LawHub — we show a fragment here and keep the reasoning in our own words.

The question
17.

Each of the following, if true, would help to resolve the apparent discrepancy in the

Answer choices

  1. Trap5% picked this

    As the eye heals from an operation to correct nearsightedness, it may in fact overcorrect, causing the

  2. Trap5% picked this

    The more severe a patient's nearsightedness, the less effective the corneal reshaping of RK will be

  3. Trap2% picked this

    Occasionally an RK patient's eyes may heal differently, causing a difference in the two eyes' visual acuity that can be

  4. Trap1% picked this

    RK patients who originally suffered from only mild nearsightedness may, if the cornea does not heal evenly, develop an

  5. Correct88% picked this

    Those who choose to undergo RK tend to be as nearsighted before this operation as those who choose

    Why this is right

    Answer E is correct.

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

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