Exam LSAT Section 1 Logical Reasoning topic 1 question 285 discussion

Actual exam question from Test Prep's LSAT Section 1 Logical Reasoning

Question #: 285
Topic #: 1

[All LSAT Section 1 Logical Reasoning Questions]

A smoker trying to quit is more likely to succeed if his or her doctor greatly exaggerates the dangers of smoking. Similar strategies can be used to break other habits. But since such strategies involve deception, individuals cannot easily adopt them unless a doctor or some other third party provides the warning.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

A. People tend to believe whatever doctors tell them.
B. Most of the techniques that help people quit smoking can also help people break other habits.
C. The more the relevant danger is exaggerated, the more likely one is to break one's habit.
D. People generally do not find it easy to deceive themselves.
E. A doctor is justified in deceiving a patient whenever doing so is likely to make the patient healthier.

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: D 🗳️
Next were out for an assumption, so lets paraphrase this short argument and see if we can spot the missing link. Were told that it will be easier for a smoker to quit if the dangers of smoking are exaggerated by his or her doctor. But since this involves deception, the author states that individuals need a doctor or some third party to pull this off. Since the author argues that doctors or others are necessary to pull off the deception, he must believe that one cant successfully deceive oneself. Scanning the choices for something along these lines, D. stands out. Applying the Denial Test, if people can easily deceive themselves, then why are doctors or third parties necessary to provide the warning? If we deny D., the argument falls apart, which confirms that D. is an assumption necessary to the argument.

by [deleted] at March 9, 2025, 1:39 p.m.

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