ParadoxDiff: Easy
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Calcium pills often contain lead, which is dangerous in the blood but okay in the bones. Even so, doctors think some people should take them rather than skip calcium entirely.
Reasoning: Lead is toxic in the bloodstream but safe in bones, yet doctors recommend lead-containing calcium supplements over no supplements for certain individuals.
Analysis: The conflict here lies in the medical recommendation to consume a known toxin. To resolve this paradox, we need a reason why the benefit of the calcium outweighs the risk of the lead, or why the lead in these supplements doesn't pose the expected threat. Look for an answer that explains a specific health trade-off or a mechanism that prevents the lead from entering the bloodstream. The correct choice will likely highlight that the danger of calcium deficiency is worse than the danger of the trace lead.
Reasoning: Lead is toxic in the bloodstream but safe in bones, yet doctors recommend lead-containing calcium supplements over no supplements for certain individuals.
Analysis: The conflict here lies in the medical recommendation to consume a known toxin. To resolve this paradox, we need a reason why the benefit of the calcium outweighs the risk of the lead, or why the lead in these supplements doesn't pose the expected threat. Look for an answer that explains a specific health trade-off or a mechanism that prevents the lead from entering the bloodstream. The correct choice will likely highlight that the danger of calcium deficiency is worse than the danger of the trace lead.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage9.Which one of the following, if true, would most help to resolve the apparent discrepancy in the information above?
Correct Answer
E
E resolves the discrepancy by giving a causal mechanism: when calcium intake is too low, the body leaches calcium from bones and releases stored lead into the bloodstream. Calcium supplements can prevent that process, so for some people they reduce harmful blood lead, making them preferable to no supplements despite containing trace lead.
Upgrade Your Prep
Ready to go beyond free explanations?
LSAT Perfection is the #1 modern LSAT prep platform, trusted by thousands of students for comprehensive test strategies, advanced drilling, and full analytics on every PrepTest.
Detailed explanations for 59 PrepTests
Advanced drillset builder
Personalized analytics
Built-in Wrong Answer Journal