Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT11 S4 Q9 Explanation

That long‐term cigarette smoking

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

TopicsFlaw

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Stimulus

That long‐term cigarette smoking can lead to health problems including cancer and lung disease is a scientifically well‐established fact. Contrary to what many people seem to believe, however, it is not necessary to deny this fact in order to reject the view that tobacco companies should be held either morally or legally believes that candy eaters who get cavities should be able to sue candy manufacturers.

What this question is testing

Flaw

Your task

Describe the reasoning error the argument actually commits.

Common trap

Answers that name a real logical flaw the argument doesn't actually make.

Winning move

Articulate the gap in the reasoning yourself, then match it to the choice that describes that 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
9.

The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the

Answer choices

  1. Trap8% picked this

    fails to establish that the connection between tooth decay and candy eating is as scientifically well documented as that between smoking and

  2. Trap4% picked this

    depends on the obviously false assumption that everyone who gets cavities does so only as a result of

  3. Trap0% picked this

    leaves undefined such critical qualifying terms as “excessive”

  4. Trap0% picked this

    attributes certain beliefs to “many people” without identifying the people who allegedly

  5. Correct87% picked this

    fails to address the striking differences in the nature of the threat to health posed by tooth decay on the one hand and cancer

    Why this is right

    Answer E is correct.

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

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