Q19 - Pollen and other allergens can

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

Tough question. And the fact that you were tempted by answer choice (A) does seem to indicate a misread of the last statement. We know that histamines play no role in the processes by which cold produce their symptoms, but that doesn't mean that histamines play no role in causing colds! A slight but important difference.

This question asks us to infer from the series of facts stated in the stimulus.

(A) cannot be inferred from the stimulus. We're given information as to what causes symptoms of colds, but not what causes colds themselves.
(B) is out of scope. The difficulty by which these conditions are treated is not related to us in the information.
(C) could be false. It could be the case that antihistamines are effective at treating congestion caused by colds.
(D) is a bit tempting because we know that antihistamines make you drowsy, but that's not the same thing as treating sleeplessness. Also, we don't even know that sleeplessness sometimes accompanies allergies!
(E) must be true. We can infer this from the last sentence. If histamines play no role in the processes by which colds produce their symptoms, then antihistamines that treat those symptoms would not be doing so by blocking the action of histamines.

[jionggangtu]

If C is wrong, then you assumed antihistamines may be able to treat cold symptoms. where do we get this assumption from the argument?

[jionggangtu]

can anyone explain in more details why C is wrong?

I have difficulty eliminating it.

Thanks.

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

Answer choice (C) is tempting, but it doesn't have to be true given the statements in the stimulus. We know that antihistamines won't do anything about symptoms of cold by blocking the action of histamine - histamine does not play a role in the process by which colds produce their symptoms.

But the statements do say that antihistamines have other effects, including drowsiness. Maybe the drowsiness makes you get more rest and thereby reduces your congestion. Or maybe one of those other effects might be able to help with the congestion caused by a cold.

Does that answer your question?

[jionggangtu]

yes, thank you so much.

[agersh144]

Can we logically connect this?

I know they say don't diagram unless its absolutely necessary but here I think it helps me visualize

Conclusion says: Histamines > no role (effect) in cold-producing symptoms
Contrapositive: If effect in cold producing symptoms > Not histimnes

If E says: Any effect of antihistamines (i.e. that which blocks histimies or not histimine) > doesn't reduce cold symptoms by block histamines

I realize it might be an equivocation to call antihistimine no histimine but often on LR if they are close enough we can make them work...thoughts on trying to map out the logic?

I suppose this can be done without it, i'm just going for practice trying to improve my diagramming skills so any feedback would be appreciated, thanks!

[gliev001]

I was between (C) and (E), and ultimately chose (C) because of some unknown reason.

I don't think this was mentioned but (A) is wrong because it mentions pollen and other allergens. Pollen and Allergens release histamines, which is later said to not cause colds. SO, Pollen and Allergens may cause colds, but without the role of histamine, we just don't know.

In retrospect, (C) is wrong because we don't know if Anti-histamines are ineffective against congestion caused by colds.

(E) is a must-be true because it says any effect that anti-histamines MAY have is not from it blocking the action of histamine. So it may or may not be effective, but if it is, it's certainly not from blocking histamine - which we know plays no role in the process by which colds produce their symptoms.

I'm sure I could've explained (E) better, but that's my take on it.