LSAT Explanation PT 27, S4, Q16: Nutrition education in schools once promoted

LSAT Question Stem

Each of the following, if true, provides support for the critique above EXCEPT: 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Strengthen question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The argument has the following structure:

Premise: Nutrition education in schools once promoted daily consumption of food from each of the "four food groups": milk, meat, fruit and vegetables, and breads and cereals.

Conclusion: This recommendation was, however, dangerous to health.

The question type here is Strengthen EXCEPT. So, we need to find the answer choice that does NOT provide support for the critique of the nutrition education.

Now let's evaluate each answer choice:

a) The division into four groups gave the impression that an equal amount of each should be consumed, but milk and meat tend to contain fats that promote heart disease and cancer and should be eaten in lesser amounts.

- This choice strengthens the argument because it provides a reason why the recommendation was dangerous to health: promoting equal consumption of all food groups could lead to overconsumption of unhealthy fats.

b) The omission of fish, which contains beneficial oils, from the names of groups in the list gave the erroneous impression that it is less healthy as a food than is red meat.

- This choice also strengthens the argument, as it shows that the recommendation misled people into thinking that fish, a healthy food source, is less healthy than red meat. This could lead to a less healthy diet and support the conclusion that the recommendation was dangerous to health.

c) A healthy diet should include the consumption of several different fruits and vegetables daily, but the recommendation was often interpreted as satisfied by the consumption of a single serving of a fruit or vegetable.

- This choice strengthens the argument by pointing out that the recommendation might have led people to consume fewer fruits and vegetables than needed for a healthy diet, which supports the conclusion that the recommendation was dangerous to health.

d) The recommendation that some food from the fruit and vegetable group be consumed daily constituted a reminder not to neglect this group, which provides needed vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

- This choice does not strengthen the argument, as it actually highlights a positive aspect of the recommendation. It reminds people to consume fruits and vegetables, which are essential for a healthy diet. This choice does not support the conclusion that the recommendation was dangerous to health.

e) Encouraging the daily consumption of some product from each of the four food groups gave the impression that eating in that manner is sufficient for a healthy diet, but eating in that manner is consistent with the overconsumption of sweets and fats.

- This choice strengthens the argument by showing that the recommendation could lead to overconsumption of unhealthy foods, which supports the conclusion that the recommendation was dangerous to health.

So, the correct answer is D, as it does not provide support for the critique of the nutrition education.