Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT109 S3 Q11 Explanation

Some people claim that the

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

TopicsNecessary Assumption

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Stimulus

Some people claim that the reason herbs are not prescribed as drugs by licensed physicians is that the medical effectiveness of herbs is seriously in doubt. No drug can be offered for sale, however, unless it has regulatory-agency approval for medicinal use in specific illnesses or conditions. It costs about $200 million cannot be. Therefore, under the current system licensed physicians cannot recommend the medicinal use of herbs.

What this question is testing

Necessary Assumption

Your task

Find the assumption the argument requires in order for its conclusion to hold.

Common trap

Answers that would help the argument but aren't strictly required (sufficient, not necessary).

Winning move

Negate each choice — the right one breaks the argument when negated.

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

The question
11.

The argument depends on the assumption

Answer choices

  1. Trap3% picked this

    the medical ineffectiveness of many herbs as treatments for specific illnesses or conditions

  2. Trap4% picked this

    the only time a substance is properly used as a drug is when it is prescribed as a

  3. Correct90% picked this

    a licensed physician cannot recommend the medicinal use of an herb unless that herb is offered for

    Why this is right

    Answer C is correct.

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

  4. Trap2% picked this

    some other substances, besides herbs, are not available as drugs because the illnesses they could effectively treat are too uncommon to allow those substances

  5. Trap1% picked this

    the cost of medical care would be substantially reduced if faster ways of obtaining regulatory-agency approval for new

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