LSAT Explanation PT 40, S1, Q23: The fact that people who exercise

LSAT Question Stem

The reasoning in which one of the following arguments is most similar to that in the argument above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Parallel question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is A. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is Parallel Reasoning, which means we need to find an answer choice that has a similar logical structure to the argument in the passage.

The passage argues that the correlation between vigorous exercise and lower incidence of illness does not prove that vigorous exercise prevents illness because one's preexisting state of health also influences whether they exercise vigorously. In other words, the passage suggests that the reverse cause-and-effect scenario (being healthy helps us exercise) is just as likely as the original claim (exercise makes us healthy).

Now, let's analyze the answer choices:

Answer choice (A): This choice is correct. It argues that the correlation between reading and verbal skills does not establish that reading causes verbal skills because the reverse causal scenario (having strong verbal skills can encourage reading) is just as likely. The logical structure of this argument is similar to that of the passage.

Answer choice (B): This choice speculates that a third factor (the talent for perceiving abstract patterns) is responsible for both musical and mathematical skills, instead of suggesting a reverse cause-and-effect scenario. Therefore, it doesn't match the logical structure of the passage.

Answer choice (C): This choice argues that how we choose to dress cannot always be explained by personal preferences since we are often influenced by how others dress. This line of reasoning has no match in the passage.

Answer choice (D): This choice begins by implying that the correlation between height and basketball ability does not prove that height makes us good at basketball. However, it doesn't suggest a reverse cause-and-effect relationship, as the passage does. Instead, it only observes that taller children tend to play basketball more frequently, which reaffirms the hypothesis that height provides an advantage in basketball. This choice is not parallel to the passage's reasoning.

Answer choice (E): This choice does not suggest a reverse cause-and-effect relationship; it merely rejects the hypothesis that two similar occurrences share the same common cause. This choice is not parallel to the passage's reasoning.

In conclusion, answer choice (A) has a similar logical structure to the argument in the passage and is the correct answer.