LSAT Explanation PT 30, S4, Q10: Twelve healthy volunteers with the Apo-A-IV-1

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the information above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Most Strongly supported question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the passage. The study involved two groups of healthy volunteers: one group with the Apo-A-IV-1 gene and another with the Apo-A-IV-2 gene. Both groups consumed a standard diet supplemented daily by a high-cholesterol food. After three weeks, the blood cholesterol levels of the subjects with the Apo-A-IV-1 gene rose 20 percent, while the blood cholesterol levels of those with the Apo-A-IV-2 gene remained unchanged. We also know that a high level of cholesterol in the blood is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

Now let's examine the question type, which is Most Strongly Supported (MSS). This type of question asks us to identify the answer choice that is most strongly supported by the information provided in the passage. It's important to note that the correct answer doesn't have to be proven by the passage, but it should receive the most support from the passage compared to the other answer choices.

Now let's evaluate the answer choices:

a) This answer choice is not supported by the passage. We don't have any information about the percentage of the population carrying a gene that lowers cholesterol levels.

b) This answer choice is also unsupported. The passage doesn't provide information about the effectiveness of a low-cholesterol diet in reducing the risk of heart disease for those at risk.

c) This answer choice is too specific and unsupported by the passage. We don't know if the bodies of those who have the Apo-A-IV-2 gene excrete cholesterol when blood cholesterol reaches a certain level. The passage doesn't discuss excretion as a factor in the different cholesterol levels observed.

d) This answer choice is incorrect because it's the opposite of what the passage suggests. The presence of the Apo-A-IV-1 gene is associated with a higher risk of heart disease, not a lower risk, as the blood cholesterol levels of those with this gene rose when consuming a high-cholesterol diet.

e) This is the correct answer. The presence of the Apo-A-IV-2 gene may inhibit the elevation of blood cholesterol because the blood cholesterol levels of those with this gene remained unchanged despite consuming a high-cholesterol diet. The use of "may" in the answer choice indicates that it's not committing to a causal relationship, but it's the answer that receives the most support from the passage compared to the other choices.