LSAT Explanation PT 42, S4, Q20: A recent study suggests that consuming

LSAT Question Stem

The critics' argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is A. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first break down the argument and label each part as either a premise or a conclusion. The main conclusion of the critics' argument is that "drinking three glasses of wine daily would not benefit health overall." The premises supporting this conclusion are: (1) a recent study suggests that consuming three glasses of wine daily substantially decreases the risk of stroke, (2) binge drinkers are the people most likely to drink three glasses of wine in one day, and (3) binge drinkers are more likely to die from sudden heart attacks than other drinkers.

The structure of the argument is as follows:

Premise 1: Consuming three glasses of wine daily decreases the risk of stroke.

Premise 2: Binge drinkers are most likely to drink three glasses of wine in one day.

Premise 3: Binge drinkers are more likely to die from sudden heart attacks than other drinkers.

Conclusion: Drinking three glasses of wine daily would not benefit health overall.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Are the health effects of binge drinking the same as the health effects of drinking three glasses of wine daily?"

Now, let's analyze the answer choices. The question type is a Flaw question, asking us to identify the flaw in the critics' argument.

a) This answer choice correctly points out that the critics' argument inappropriately attributes the consequences of binge drinking to persons whose regular consumption of wine is three glasses a day. The critics assume that the health effects of binge drinking (once a week or less, but three or more drinks when they do drink) are the same as the health effects of drinking three glasses of wine daily, which is not necessarily true. This is the correct answer.

b) The argument does not confuse the risk of sudden alcohol-induced heart attacks with other health risks. It specifically discusses the risk of stroke and the risk of sudden heart attack. This answer choice is incorrect.

c) The argument does not presume that there is no significant difference between wine and other alcoholic beverages in terms of health benefits and risks. It focuses solely on wine and does not mention other alcoholic beverages. This answer choice is incorrect.

d) The argument does address the reduction in risk of stroke conferred by the level of consumption in the recent study. It acknowledges that consuming three glasses of wine daily decreases the risk of stroke but argues that this benefit is negated by the increased risk of sudden heart attack. This answer choice is incorrect.

e) The argument does not overlook the difference between strokes that result in death and less severe strokes. It simply discusses the risk of stroke in general terms, and this distinction is not relevant to the flaw in the argument. This answer choice is incorrect.

In summary, the correct answer is A because the critics' argument inappropriately attributes the consequences of binge drinking to persons whose regular consumption of wine is three glasses a day, assuming that the health effects of binge drinking are the same as the health effects of drinking three glasses of wine daily.