Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Medium

PT5 S3 Q20 Explanation

A certain viral infection is

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

TopicsParadox

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Stimulus

A certain viral infection is widespread among children, and about 30 percent of children infected with the virus develop middle ear infections. Antibiotics, although effective in treating bacterial infections, have no effect on the virus. Yet when middle ear infections in with antibiotics, the ear infections often clear up.

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
20.

Which one of the following most helps to explain the success of the

Answer choices

  1. Trap12% picked this

    Although some types of antibiotics fail to clear up certain infections, other types of antibiotics might provide effective

  2. Correct77% picked this

    Children infected with the virus are particularly susceptible to bacteria that infect

    Why this is right

    Answer B is correct.

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

  3. Trap6% picked this

    Many children who develop middle ear infections are not infected with

  4. Trap4% picked this

    Most viral infections are more difficult to treat than are most

  5. Trap1% picked this

    Among children not infected with the virus, fewer than 30 percent develop

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