Logical Reasoning · Weaken

PrepTest 110 · Section 2 · Question 12

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

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type

Weaken

The one idea it tests

When a conclusion about an inner ability rests on what people say, show their words may be unreliable for another reason.

The basic logic

The evidence is what certain people report. The conclusion says those reports reveal something special about how they experience the world. Weaken it by giving a different reason the reports come out strange, such as a broad trouble with using words.

Tiny words that decide it

“claim”
“shows”
“however”

Playground logic

Kevin says he runs 'a mile' every recess (patty). Marcus concludes Kevin is a super runner (top bun). The secret sauce: Kevin's words match what he really did. If Kevin mixes up measuring words in general, the evidence pops.

Step 2 · The kid story

Kevin's Mile

Kevin announces at lunch, 'I ran a mile at recess. I run a mile every recess. Also, the T. rex could run a mile, probably.' Marcus slaps the table. 'Detective conclusion: Kevin is a super runner! Nobody else in fourth grade runs a mile at recess.' Priya pulls out her juice box and thinks. 'Kevin, how far is your house from the bus stop?' 'A mile.' 'How long is your pencil?' 'Um, a mile?' 'And the pizza you ate yesterday?' 'A mile of pineapple pizza!' Priya turns to Marcus. 'Kevin calls everything a mile. He mixes up all his measuring words. So when he says he ran a mile, that tells us about his words, not his legs.' Marcus slowly lowers his magnifying glass.

Step 3 · Try the model question

Kevin says he runs a mile every recess. No other fourth grader says this. So Kevin must be an unusually strong runner.

Suppose one choice below is true. Which does the most damage to Marcus's argument?

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Witness Who Heard Thunder

A witness testified that the neighbor's lawnmower 'roared like thunder,' and the prosecutor argued the mower must break the noise limit. Mr. Whitfield rose. 'Your Honor, may I ask the witness a few questions? Sir, how would you describe a ticking clock?' 'Like thunder.' 'A whisper?' 'Thunder.' 'Your morning cereal?' 'Thunder, mostly.' Mr. Whitfield turned to the bench. 'This witness uses the same big word for everything. His description tells us about his vocabulary, not about the mower.' The judge made a note: decibel meter, please.

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 110, Section 2, Question 12 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Notice that the evidence is what a group of people say about their experience, and the conclusion is about what is actually happening inside them. Ask what else could make their reports sound that way. Look for the choice that gives the group a general problem that would produce odd reports anyway, so their words stop being good evidence.