Q24

[marcus.v.p.]

Hey, ya'll. What is the most efficient process for answering this question?

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

The most efficient way to work through a question like this is to make sure you're leaving the passage with the information you need: the scale (important content), and the passage map (purpose of that content).

When you're working through the answers, look for places where an answer choice deviates from the purpose you've identified for each section of the passage. Answer choice (A) perfectly describes the purpose of the contents of the passage: the first paragraph represents the introduction of the scientific anomaly and the explanation, the second paragraph represents an implication of the explanation, the third paragraph represents a discussion of the two examples illustrating the implication, and the final paragraph represents the discussion of exceptions.

Incorrect Answers
(B) has many things incorrect, but the most glaring is the final paragraph--this is not the implication, but the exceptions to the implication.
(C) has many things incorrect, but again has the final paragraph wrong--this is not the implication, but the exceptions to the implication.
(D) is very similar to (A), but incorrectly describes the second paragraph as an implication of the anomaly, when instead it is an implication of the explanation (which the answer choice also failed to discuss).
(E) forgot the second paragraph! Where's the implication of the explanation?

[deedubbew]

How is the last paragraph an exception to the implication. I understood the implication to mean "virulence is a function of mode of transportation." Not that that the implication is that vector based virulence is more potent than direct transmission. The final paragraph seems to be in line with the former implication.

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

You have the implication correct, "virulence is a function of mode of transportation." (lines 19-22) However, you haven't quite taken in fully the meaning of that statement. The two examples given are rhinoviruses (with low levels of virulence) and vector transmitted pathogens (with high levels of virulence). So the implication is that vector transmitted pathogens are more virulent than non-vector transmitted pathogens and this is restated in lines 44-46.

The final paragraph then serves as an exception to the implication since it introduces two examples (diphtheria and tuberculosis) that are non-vector transmitted pathogens and yet are highly virulent.

Hope that helps!