In 1980 health officials began

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

TopicsParadox

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Stimulus

In 1980 health officials began to publicize the adverse effects of prolonged exposure to the sun, and since then the number of people who sunbathe for extended periods of time has decreased considerably each year. Nevertheless, in 1982 there was a dramatic rise in newly reported cases of in people who have had prolonged exposure to the sun.

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

12.

Which one of the following, if true, helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy in

Answer choices

Trap3% picked this
Before 1980 a considerable number of the people who developed melanoma as a result of prolonged exposure to the sun were
3%
Trap8% picked this
Before 1980, when most people had not yet begun to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, sunbathing was
8%
Trap4% picked this
In 1982 scientists reported that the body’s need for exposure to sunlight in order to produce vitamin D, which helps prevent the growth of
4%
Correct82% picked this
In 1982 medical researchers perfected a diagnostic technique that allowed them to detect the presence of melanoma much earlier
Why this is right
Answer D is correct.
Skill tested: Paradox · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.
82%
Trap3% picked this
Since 1980, those people who have continued to sunbathe for extended periods of time have used sunblocks that effectively screen out the
3%

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