Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT142 S1 Q9 Explanation

Many calcium supplements contain

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

TopicsParadox

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Stimulus

Many calcium supplements contain lead, a potentially dangerous substance even in small amounts. The body can safely store in bones trace amounts of lead from food, but high levels of lead in the blood are a major public health concern, associated with anemia and nerve damage. Despite this, many lead are preferable to no calcium supplements at all.

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
9.

Which one of the following, if true, would most help to resolve the apparent discrepancy in

Answer choices

  1. Trap1% picked this

    Some fruits and vegetables contain trace amounts of lead derived from the soil in which

  2. Trap2% picked this

    It is difficult to ensure that one has completely eliminated trace amounts of lead

  3. Trap1% picked this

    Lead is only one of the common public health concerns that are associated with anemia

  4. Trap5% picked this

    A high-calcium diet decreases the amount of lead that the body is able

  5. Correct92% picked this

    When calcium intake is insufficient, the body draws calcium from bones, releasing stored lead

    Why this is right

    Answer E is correct.

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

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