Q18

[jpchris3]

Hi,

Can you explain why C isn't correct?

Thanks!

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

The question asks us to identify a statement about brevetoxin that the author would be most likely to agree with. It is very difficult to anticipate the correct answer on a question like this, but a good understanding of the "scale" (the central positions maintained in the passage, the proponents of each of those positions, and the critical evidence offered in support of those positions) will go along way to helping us move through some of the answer choices quickly.

In lines 45-47 the author points out that brevetoxin was not present in the dolphin's environment when the dolphin die-off began as part of the general refutation of the research team's explanation that it was brevetoxin that caused the dolphin die-off. So the author would agree with answer choice (E).

Incorrect Answers

(A) is contradicted in the passage. The author says the effects of brevetoxin are unknown (lines 47-48).
(B) is unsupported. The author does not discuss conditions under which brevetoxin is more likely form.
(C) is contradicted in the passage. The author says the effects of brevetoxin are unknown (lines 47-48).
(D) is contradicted in the passage. The author says that brevetoxin may have been a contributing factor, although not the primary cause of the dolphin die-off (lines 56-57).

[cleoz490]

Thanks for the explanation! I am confused by choice C as well. My thought process of choosing C is that inline 50-52, it says that PCB poisoning is known to impair the functioning of the immune system and liver. Then the author presents an alternative hypothesis to account for "these facts". I thought "these facts" represent impaired immune system and liver. The person then said that "brevetoxin may have been a contributing factor". So I thought the author thinks that even though the effects of brevetoxin is unknown, but it may hurt the immune system and liver anyways. (I know the author did not say this explicitly, but since this is an inference, I thought I could make this inference from "a contributing factor"). Could someone help me to see what's wrong with my thought process?