Logical Reasoning

PT130 · S1 · Q5 Doctor: While a few alternative

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

  • Save & drill this skill — build targeted practice sets from questions like this one

  • Video walkthroughs — watch every question solved step by step

  • 81 official LSATs — as questions, timed sections & full-length tests

Start practicing free

Doctor: While a few alternative medicines have dangerous side effects, some, such as many herbs, have been proven safe to consume.

Opposing Point

A few alternative medicines have dangerous side effects.

Premise

Some [alternative medicines], such as many herbs, have been proven safe to consume.

Intermediate Conclusion

Their patients will not be harmed, and might be helped, by the use of these products.

Main Conclusion

Advocates of these herbs as remedies for serious illnesses should always be allowed to prescribe them.

Evaluate

This argument considers some of the impacts of allowing some alternative medicines to be prescribed to patients for serious illnesses. But the argument fails to consider all possible negative consequences. The right answer should provide a negative consequence of allowing such remedies to be prescribed.

5.

Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the doctor's argument?

  1. Correct

    Many practitioners and patients neglect

    Why this is right

    This Provides a new negative consequences of allowing some alternative medicines to be prescribed for serious illnesses.

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

    60% picked this

  2. Many herbal remedies are marketed

    Too Weak

    This might speak to the need for better control of how these remedies are marketed, but misleading claims of effectiveness are not the same as harming patients.

    9% picked this

  3. Some patients may have allergic

    Too Weak

    This fails to suggest that the rate of allergic reactions to alternative medicines is any greater than the rate of allergic reactions to traditional medicines.

    15% picked this

  4. The vast majority of purveyors

    Out of Scope

    The motivations of those who advocate for certain herbal remedies has no impact on whether those remedies are safe for patients, even if they're ineffective.

    5% picked this

  5. Any pain relief or other

    Strengthens

    This suggests that many herbs provide pain relief and other benefits. Even though the benefit is entirely derived from the patients' belief in the remedy, the patient is still benefiting nonetheless.

    11% picked this

Continue the review in LSAT Lab

Save this question, watch the video walkthrough, and drill similar questions in your LSAT Lab account.

Save and practice this skill
LSAT Lab

Turn this review into a targeted study plan.

Save this question, drill more like it, watch the video walkthrough, and track your progress in your LSAT Lab account.

Start practicing free