Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT111 S1 Q5 Explanation

Proponent: Irradiation of food by gamma

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

TopicsMethod

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Stimulus

Proponent: Irradiation of food by gamma rays would keep it from spoiling before it reaches the consumer in food stores. The process leaves no radiation behind, and vitamin losses are comparable to those that occur in cooking, so there is no reason to reject irradiation on the grounds of which in contaminated poultry have caused serious illness to consumers.

Opponent: The irradiation process has no effect on the bacteria that cause botulism, a very serious form of food poisoning, while those that cause bad odors that would warn consumers of botulism are killed. Moreover, Salmonella and the bacteria in poultry by using a safe chemical dip.

What this question is testing

Method

Your task

Describe how the argument proceeds — the technique it uses to reach its conclusion.

Common trap

Answers that describe a method the argument doesn't actually use.

Winning move

Track the role each statement plays, then match that to the choice describing the same moves.

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

The question
5.

The opponent’s argument proceeds

Answer choices

  1. Trap2% picked this

    isolating an ambiguity in a crucial term in the

  2. Trap3% picked this

    showing that claims made in the proponent’s argument result in

  3. Trap9% picked this

    establishing that undesirable consequences result from the adoption of either one of

  4. Trap1% picked this

    shifting perspective from safety with respect to consumers to safety with

  5. Correct84% picked this

    pointing out an alternative way of obtaining an advantage claimed by the proponent without risking

    Why this is right

    Answer E is correct.

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

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