Logical Reasoning · Principle

PrepTest 109 · Section 1 · Question 21

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

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type

Principle (justify)

The one idea it tests

The argument says a tactic should be avoided because it does not deal with the actual point. The principle must turn that reason into the rule.

The basic logic

Find the premise feature (the tactic fails to address the real argument) and the conclusion (avoid it). The right principle says: tactics with that feature should be avoided. Click Test it like a magic key.

Tiny words that decide it

“should”
“avoided”
“instead”
“do not”

Playground logic

Board game club: stalling should be banned (top bun) because stalling does not try to win on the board; it tries to make the other kid quit (patty). The magic key: any move that does not play the game on the board should be avoided.

Step 2 · The kid story

The Slow-Tile Trick

At board game club, Marcus has a new trick. When he is losing at tile-building, he counts his tiles very, very slowly. Sometimes he hums. Sometimes he asks, "Are you sure you're allowed to play here? You seem kind of new." Nadia groaned. Priya stood up with her juice box and her method. "Marcus, that move should go. It does not try to win the game on the board. It just tries to make Nadia feel she does not belong at the table." Marcus shrugged. "So what?" Lulu flipped her clipboard. "So we need a club rule: any trick that does not play the actual game should be avoided. Then Priya's reason clicks right into a ban." Biscuit barked in agreement, or maybe at a squirrel.

Step 3 · Try the model question

Stalling tricks should be kept out of board game club. They do not try to beat the other player on the board. Instead, they try to make the other player feel unwelcome at the table.

Which principle, if accepted, best supports this reasoning?

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Case of the Noisy Spelling Bee

Judge Hart frowned at the bee organizer. "You want to ban coughing loudly while a rival speller spells?" Mr. Whitfield stood. "Indeed, Your Honor. That cough does not test spelling at all. It just tries to rattle the other child." The opposing lawyer smirked. "So? Lots of things rattle children." Mr. Whitfield smiled. "Then here is the rule that justifies the ban: any contest move that does not engage the actual contest should be avoided. Coughing fits. So it goes." Judge Hart nodded. "With that rule in hand, your reason leads straight to your conclusion. Ban granted."

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 109, Section 1, Question 21 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Spot the conclusion: some tactic should be avoided. Spot the reason: it does not deal with the real point, and instead does something else. Build your magic key before reading: tactics that fail to deal with the real point should be avoided. Click Test each choice by adding it to the reason and asking whether the 'should avoid' conclusion now follows. Explanations of why the tactic happens do not click. Keep the one that does.