Logical Reasoning · Flaw
PrepTest 103 · Section 2 · Question 1
Phase 1 (your first ~400 questions): read the guidance, then answer. No clock.
Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first
- “countered”
- “because”
- “should be”
Playground logic
Tommy turned in his book report a day late, and the rule says late reports lose points. Instead of arguing the report was on time, Tommy says he should get full credit because he was so tired and sad. The patty is all feelings; nothing in it touches the top bun's real question: was it late or not?
Step 2 · The kid story
The Very Sad Book Report
Ms. Rivera's rule is clear: book reports are due Friday at the bell, and anything later loses ten points. Tommy's report showed up Monday morning, a little crumpled. 'Tommy, this is late,' said Ms. Rivera. Tommy put on his saddest face. 'But I had a really hard weekend. Biscuit was sick, Grandpa was visiting, and I was SO tired. I deserve full points.' Lulu, at the next desk, raised her clipboard. 'Excuse me. The question is whether it came in after Friday. You did not say it came in on time. You only said you feel bad.' Marcus whispered, 'That is a pretty good sad face, though.' Priya sipped her juice box. 'A sad face is not a reason. It is a feeling wearing a reason costume.'
Step 3 · Try the model question
Class rule: reports handed in after Friday lose ten points. Tommy's report came in on Monday. Tommy argues that he should keep all his points because he had a hard, tiring weekend with a sick dog.
Tommy's reply is weak as an answer to the rule because it
Step 4 · The courtroom tale
The Case of the Late Pie
At the county fair court, the rule was plain: pies entered after noon cannot win a ribbon. Baker Mel's pie arrived at 12:40. Mr. Whitfield, snapping his suspenders, rose for the fair. 'Your Honor, the clock says 12:40. Noon came first.' Mel's lawyer stood up, voice trembling. 'Your Honor, Mel baked all night. Mel's oven is old. Mel's grandmother taught her this recipe. Surely she deserves the blue ribbon.' Judge Patel sighed. 'Counsel, that is a touching story. But you have not said one word about whether the pie came in before noon. Feelings are not a clock.' Mr. Whitfield sat down and did not even need to object.
Step 5 · Work the real question
Open PrepTest 103, Section 2, Question 1 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.
Your answer
How to apply it
First, name the exact point of the first side's contention: what rule or fact are they saying holds? Next, read the reply and ask, does any sentence of it speak to that point? If the reply only offers reasons to feel sorry for someone, the flaw is that it swaps the issue for sympathy. Pick the choice that says the reply tugs at emotions instead of answering the real question. Skip choices describing moves the reply never makes.