Several cosmetics firms are committed to the active development, validation, and adoption of new product-safety tests...

Mehran November 22, 2013

This is an Argument Completion question, which is a form of Must Be True question.

Remember that Must Be True questions are one of the few question on the LSAT that have a check system. The correct answer will be 100% supported by the passage. Here we are presented with a set of facts.

We know that some cosmetics firms are committed to the active development, validation, and adoption of new product-safety tests that use cultures of human cells. They argue that the new tests serve to reduce the need for tests on live animals.

(A) is incorrect because it is not 100% supported by the passage. We have not been given any information on whether or not there is pressure on cosmetics firms to cease conducting experiments that use live animals. There is also no mention of groups of social activists.

(B) is incorrect because it is not 100% supported by the passage. We have not been given any information on consumers and their purchasing habits. Thus, we cannot say that the passage most strongly supports this answer choice, since it has not given us any information on it.

(C) is incorrect because it is not 100% supported by the passage. The passage has not given us any information on the impact of product-safety tests that use cultures of human cells on product development costs. There is also no mention of financial consultants.

(D) is incorrect because it is not 100% supported by the passage. We have not been given any info on how MANY tests of products will be needed whether with cell cultures or with live animals.

(E) is the CORRECT answer. We are told that several cosmetics firms are committed to the active development, validation, and adoption of new products-safety tests that use cultures of human cells because they argue that these new tests serve to reduce the need for tests on live animals. This information directly supports that, "Managers of the cosmetics firms believe that it is better for their firms not to perform tests on live animals if there is an acceptable alternative way determining product safety." Therefore, (E) is directly supported by the information in the passage.

Hope that helped! Let us know if you have any other questions.

johndoe November 19, 2015

But (E) mentions managers and the stimulus does not mention managers.

Mehran November 20, 2015

Thank you for your question, @johndoe. To clarify, this question is a rare sub-type of Must Be True questions--Argument Completion Questions. Notice that the stimulus consists of a series of facts. The question stem is asking us to select the answer choice which appropriately (logically) completes the information set forth in the stimulus. Thus, the answer choice--although textually supported by the information in the stimulus--may include terms that go beyond those found in the stimulus.

Here, for example, the correct answer choice (E) includes mention of "managers," even though the stimulus does not. Yet the statement in (E) is supported by the facts set out in the stimulus, making this answer choice the conclusion "most strongly supported" by the statements in the stimulus.

Check out or review the Argument Completion lecture / example in the LSATMax app, and then let us know if you have any additional questions.

NativeJustice May 1, 2018

@mehran,
There is a mistake in the system about the question. This question is not shown up as a question completion question.

I'm logged in my a cell phone app version, and it shows as the question is asking the most supported answer

Mehran May 2, 2018

@NativeJustice can you please send us a screenshot of what you are seeing?

And please use our chat support or email for technical issues moving forward.

These boards are for content-related questions only.

Thanks in advance for your cooperation!

Reina November 27, 2019

I can see why the answer is E, but I initially chose D because when I saw "fewer tests" I thought that corresponded to where it says "reduce the need for tests" in the passage...can you explain why my thought process is wrong here?

Gabriela-Diaz April 4, 2020

I also chose D for Reina's reason. The passage says""reduce need for testing on live animals"
Is my thought process wrong because even if reduces testing on animals it is not certain it will reduce overall tests as human culture cells testing can increase and raise amount, so we don't know if fewer tests of products will be needed as stated in D ? Thanks