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- Mon Feb 27, 2017 4:53 pm
#33169
Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=13636)
The correct answer choice is (A)
Since this is a Global Reference question, there is not much prephrasing to be done; the correct answer choice will be the one that passes the Fact Test, and can thus be confirmed by the information provided in the stimulus.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. At the beginning of the last paragraph, the author provides that after initial skepticism from the scientific community, subsequent research has confirmed that prions are indeed an additional pathogen to be added to the list of four infection-causing agents that scientists had believed to be previously complete. This confirms the notion presented in this answer choice that a reconsideration of traditional beliefs was necessary to understand the cause of CJD.
Answer choice (B): CJD is caused by prions, which occur naturally, and then malform and reproduce. The author does not mention whether the disease is contagious (let alone how much so) so this choice is not supported by the passage, fails the Fact Test, and cannot be the right answer to this question.
Answer choice (C): The author does not discuss CJD prevention, nor whether it might be most efficiently achieved by preventing particular genetic abnormalities, so this choice should be ruled out of contention.
Answer choice (D): At the end of the third paragraph, the author says that wide variations exist in both incubation times and the aggressiveness of the disease, directly contradicting (and thus ruling out) this answer choice.
Answer choice (E): Although the author does mention that prions were initially received with skepticism from the scientific community, the passage also provides that recent research has led to broader acceptance. Since it is not the case that the prion theory of infection has weak support in the scientific community, this cannot be the right answer choice.
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=13636)
The correct answer choice is (A)
Since this is a Global Reference question, there is not much prephrasing to be done; the correct answer choice will be the one that passes the Fact Test, and can thus be confirmed by the information provided in the stimulus.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. At the beginning of the last paragraph, the author provides that after initial skepticism from the scientific community, subsequent research has confirmed that prions are indeed an additional pathogen to be added to the list of four infection-causing agents that scientists had believed to be previously complete. This confirms the notion presented in this answer choice that a reconsideration of traditional beliefs was necessary to understand the cause of CJD.
Answer choice (B): CJD is caused by prions, which occur naturally, and then malform and reproduce. The author does not mention whether the disease is contagious (let alone how much so) so this choice is not supported by the passage, fails the Fact Test, and cannot be the right answer to this question.
Answer choice (C): The author does not discuss CJD prevention, nor whether it might be most efficiently achieved by preventing particular genetic abnormalities, so this choice should be ruled out of contention.
Answer choice (D): At the end of the third paragraph, the author says that wide variations exist in both incubation times and the aggressiveness of the disease, directly contradicting (and thus ruling out) this answer choice.
Answer choice (E): Although the author does mention that prions were initially received with skepticism from the scientific community, the passage also provides that recent research has led to broader acceptance. Since it is not the case that the prion theory of infection has weak support in the scientific community, this cannot be the right answer choice.