Logical Reasoning · Paradox

PrepTest 102 · Section 4 · Question 13

Phase 1 (your first ~400 questions): read the guidance, then answer. No clock.

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type

Paradox

The one idea it tests

One kind has an edge in quantity and is otherwise identical, yet it stays rare; the fix is an edge for the other kind that the quantity count ignores.

The basic logic

The Handshake Test: the right answer must shake hands with both facts. Fact 1: kind A wins on amount in hard times and ties in good times. Fact 2: kind A is still uncommon. Look for a hidden advantage for kind B, ideally in the very hard times when A wins on amount, such as better quality.

Tiny words that decide it

“nevertheless”
“average”
“aside from”
“rare”

Playground logic

Stands with their own ice maker sell more cups on hot days when the ice truck is late (patty), and tie otherwise, so they sell more cups on average. Yet almost nobody builds one. Priya's handshake: on those late-ice days, the other stands switch to big fancy slushies that earn more and bring customers back.

Step 2 · The kid story

The Lemonade Stand Mystery

On Maple Street, kids run lemonade stands every summer. A few stands have their own little ice maker. The rest wait for the ice truck. Some summers the ice truck is often late, and on those days the ice-maker stands sell more cups. In other summers, everyone sells about the same. 'So ice-maker stands sell more cups on average,' said Marcus. 'And otherwise they are the same stands. So why does nobody have one?' Kevin guessed dinosaurs. Lulu checked her clipboard. 'When the truck is late, the other stands do not just sit there. They make frozen-fruit slushies instead: fewer cups, but bigger, pricier, and so good that people come back all week.' Priya nodded. 'So cups are not the whole story. The other stands win on what each cup is worth.'

Step 3 · Try the model question

Lemonade stands with their own ice maker do not depend on the ice truck. When the truck is late, these stands sell more cups than stands without one; otherwise sales are about equal. So ice-maker stands sell more cups on average, and in other ways the stands are alike. Yet ice-maker stands remain uncommon.

Which one, if true, best explains this puzzling situation?

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Umbrella Factory Hearing

Two umbrella makers faced Judge Okafor. 'My folding umbrellas never need repair parts,' said the first. 'In years when parts are scarce, I ship more umbrellas than my rival. Other years, we ship the same. Otherwise our umbrellas are identical. Yet I have almost no share of the market. Something is rigged!' Mr. Whitfield, for the rival, stood. 'Nothing is rigged. In scarce-parts years, my client ships fewer umbrellas, but each one is sturdier and lasts three times as long. Stores prefer them.' The judge nodded. 'So your edge in quantity is real, and so is his edge in quality. Both facts survive, and the puzzle is solved. Case dismissed.'

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 102, Section 4, Question 13 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Write the two facts that clash: one kind has a higher average count and is otherwise the same, yet it stays uncommon. Run the Handshake Test on each choice: it must keep both facts true and make the rarity make sense. Favor an answer giving the other kind a hidden edge the count misses. Drop answers that treat both kinds the same, repeat a premise, or talk about conditions affecting everyone.