Q10 - Toning shoes - walking shoes with

[Laura Damone]

Question Type:
Explain a Result

Stimulus Breakdown:
No argument on these questions, so we just need the facts:
Toning shoes are popular with fitness enthusiasts.
Research shows the major leg muscles of people walking in toning shoes get no more exercise than those walking in regular walking shoes.
But, many people's major leg muscles get stronger after switching to toning shoes.

Answer Anticipation:
First, we need to understand the discrepancy: How come people get stronger major leg muscles after switching to toning shoes in spite of the fact that walking in toning shoes don't work your muscles more? Well, maybe these people aren't walking. They're fitness enthusiasts…maybe they're doing more intense exercise like running which could work your musles more.

Correct answer:
C

Answer choice analysis:
(A) Not relevant. We're only worried about the major leg muscles.

(B) So what? That doesn’t help explain why the muscles are getting stronger.

(C) Interesting…so the shoes don't work your muscles more, but you exercise more as a result of wearing the shoes. This would explain why switching to the shoes is correlated with a strengthening of the major leg muscles. Bingo!

(D) Not relevant. Injuries and muscle strengthening aren't related.

(E) Not relevant. The marketability of the shoes doesn't tell us anything about their performance.

Takeaway/Pattern:
Explain a Result questions don't have an argument core; they have a discrepancy. Break down that discrepancy before moving into the answer choices. I like to use this template: "How come X happens (insert unexpected result), in spite of Y (insert fact that would make us think otherwise)." Once you break down the discrepancy, you can try to prephrase an answer, but don't get tunnel vision! There are multiple ways to resolve any LSAT discrepancy, so, if you prephrase one resolution, as we did, but it doesn't show up in the answers, that's OK! Work wrong-to-right, giving each answer equal consideration, even if it doesn't match your prephrase.

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