June 2011 LSAT Section 1 Question 7

The cause of the epidemic that devastated Athens in 430 B.C. can finally be identified. Accounts of the epidemic ment...

Nativeguy on July 25, 2023

Why not B

Why couldn't the answer be B. Maybe the host, died then the next day the outbreak occurs. Or maybe it was not there at the time but previously was two weeks ago, and the virus is just now manifesting. Take for example the covid-19 virus, say it came from a family animal pet dog while on vacation to Australia, where the virus contracted to other people, but then when they family left with there dog people did not start experiencing symptom's till 1 week later. the Dog and family are back in the U.S, no where near but the virus is now in Australia Would this example not reflect answer choice C ??

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Emil-Kunkin on August 1, 2023

B is indeed the correct answer. While the situation you're describing sure is possible, it doesn't show that c doesn't weaken. Showing that the vector of a disease was not present in an outbreak absolutely weakens the idea that the outbreak was caused by that specific disease. While it doesn't completely kill the idea as you noted, we don't need to completely kill the argument to weaken it, we only need to make it less likely. Moreover, there's no real way for B to weaken the argument.