LSAT Explanation PT 33, S3, Q24: Dietician: "The French Paradox" refers to

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following statements, if true, most seriously undermines the conclusion of the dietician's argument? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Weaken question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is B. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is Weaken, and our task is to find the answer choice that most seriously undermines the conclusion of the dietician's argument.

Let's first break down the passage and identify the premises and conclusion. The argument's structure is as follows:

Premise 1: The French Paradox refers to the low incidence of heart disease in France despite a high-fat diet.

Premise 2: The most likely explanation is that the French consume a high quantity of red wine, which mitigates the ill effects of the fat they eat.

Conclusion: North Americans should drink more red wine if they want to be healthier without cutting fat intake.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Would increasing red wine consumption in North Americans have any negative health effects?"

Now, let's analyze each answer choice:

a) French men consume as much red wine as French women do, yet French men have a higher rate of heart disease than do French women.

This answer choice does not undermine the conclusion, as it doesn't provide any information about the relationship between red wine consumption and overall health. The conclusion is still possible even if French men have a higher rate of heart disease than French women.

b) A greater intake of red wine among North Americans would likely lead to a higher incidence of liver problems and other illnesses.

This is the correct answer choice. It directly undermines the conclusion by showing that increasing red wine consumption in North Americans may not actually lead to better overall health due to the potential for liver problems and other illnesses.

c) Not all French people have a diet that includes large amounts of fat and a high quantity of red wine.

This answer choice doesn't weaken the conclusion, as it only points out exceptions to the general trend discussed in the passage. The argument is still valid even if not all French people follow the high-fat, high-red wine diet.

d) All evidence suggests that the healthiest way to decrease the chance of heart disease is to exercise and keep a diet low in fat.

This answer choice does not weaken the conclusion, as it only presents an alternative method for decreasing the chance of heart disease. The conclusion is about becoming healthier without cutting fat intake, so the fact that there might be a healthier way to live doesn't undermine the relationship presented in the conclusion.

e) Many other regions have much lower rates of heart disease than France, though their populations consume even less red wine than do North Americans.

This answer choice doesn't undermine the conclusion, as the passage is focused on the French Paradox and the relationship between high-fat diets and red wine consumption. The fact that other regions have lower rates of heart disease without consuming red wine doesn't necessarily weaken the conclusion about North Americans benefiting from increased red wine consumption.

In conclusion, the correct answer choice is (B), as it most seriously undermines the conclusion of the dietician's argument by showing that increasing red wine consumption in North Americans may not lead to better overall health due to the potential for liver problems and other illnesses.