December 2013 LSAT Section 1 Question 9

Records from 1850 to 1900 show that in a certain region, babies' birth weights each year varied with the success of t...

kyleprzy10 on May 4, 2020

A vs C

I got the answer correct (A), but isn't there truth to C? He is saying that from PAST records, there seems to be a correlation and then generally concludes, in what I feel is the present tense, that this correlation still applies to every mother and baby. I feel as if the argument does both A and C. I could use some clarification because I am clearly missing something. Thanks!

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SamA on May 7, 2020

Hello @kyleprzy10,

I see what you mean, but the author never says that there is still a correlation between crop yields and birth weight in that particular region. Rather, the author uses this past correlation to create a cause and effect argument. This is the part that persists into the present day, not the correlation itself. It is entirely possible that the region in question now relies on importing food, and birth weight has nothing to do with its own crop yield. This is just an example to show that the correlation does not need to exist anymore, and the author can still draw a general conclusion based on the past.

Anthony-Wurst on July 17, 2021

This was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks to the questioner and the teacher.