Logical Reasoning · Point at Issue

PrepTest 110 · Section 3 · Question 7

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

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type

Point at Issue

The one idea it tests

Two speakers agree something helps at first but disagree about whether it helps over the long haul.

The basic logic

Fill two clipboards: what does speaker one commit to, and what does speaker two commit to? The answer must be a claim one says yes to and the other says no to. Watch for concessions: if the second speaker grants a short-term gain, the fight is about the long term.

Tiny words that decide it

“but”
“at first”
“eventually”
“long term”

Playground logic

Frankie says Free Recess Friday will keep the class happy for good. Sharon says it helps at first, but a chain of changes will make things worse later. Their clipboards clash on one line only: will it still help months from now?

Step 2 · The kid story

Free Recess Friday

Ms. Rivera announced Free Recess Friday: an extra half hour outside every week. Frankie cheered. "This will make our class happier for the rest of the year! Extra fresh air every single week." Sharon folded her arms. "Hold on. Sure, the first few Fridays will be great. But that half hour has to come from somewhere. Soon they'll squeeze art class shorter. Then the art projects won't get finished, and the art show gets cancelled. By spring, everyone will be grumpier than now." Lulu held up two clipboards. On Frankie's she wrote: "Happy for good." On Sharon's: "Happy at first, grumpy later." Priya nodded. "They both agree it starts well. They fight about how it ends."

Step 3 · Try the model question

Frankie: Free Recess Friday will keep our class happier all year, since we get extra fresh air every week. Sharon: No way. It might help at first. But the time will be taken from art class, projects will go unfinished, and the art show will be cancelled. By spring the class will be grumpier than ever.

Frankie and Sharon disagree over which one of the following?

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Case of the Free Parking

Two council members argued before a fictional judge about a new rule: free parking downtown. Councilor Bloom said, "Free parking will bring shoppers back and help downtown shops for years." Councilor Pike replied, "At first, yes. But free spots will fill with all-day commuters. Shoppers will circle and give up. Then shops will lose customers and close." The judge turned to Mr. Whitfield, the court's adviser. He snapped his suspenders. "Your Honor, both agree the first weeks look good. Councilor Pike says so plainly. The true dispute is whether downtown shops benefit over the long haul." The judge nodded. "Then that is the question we will decide."

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 110, Section 3, Question 7 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Write each speaker's main claim on a separate clipboard. Note anything the second speaker concedes, since conceded points are not in dispute. Then test each choice: the first speaker must take a clear stand on it, and the second must take the opposite stand. Cross off choices only one speaker addresses and choices both would accept. Pay close attention to time words that mark short run versus long run.