Logical Reasoning · Paradox

PrepTest 111 · 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

Paradox

The one idea it tests

Sometimes the obvious fix is skipped because pushing the fix makes the problem worse.

The basic logic

Side one: a habit is causing a problem. Side two: the expert does not tell the person to change the habit. Find a fact that lets both shake hands, such as: telling the person to do more of it backfires. The answer must explain why the advice was withheld while the cause is still real.

Tiny words that decide it

“however”
“contributes”
“not advised”

Playground logic

Kevin's low spelling scores come partly from too little practice. Yet Ms. Rivera does not tell him to practice more. Handshake: pressuring Kevin to practice makes him so nervous that his practice falls apart.

Step 2 · The kid story

Kevin and the Missing Spelling Push

Kevin keeps getting low marks on spelling quizzes. Ms. Rivera checks his practice log: just five minutes a week. "That is part of the problem," she tells Grandpa at pickup. Grandpa waits for the big speech: practice more! It never comes. Marcus is shocked. "She found the cause and did nothing? That's like finding the cookie thief and inviting him to lunch!" Priya thinks. "Maybe she knows something. Remember last spring? When grown-ups told Kevin to practice more, he got so worried about practicing that he could not focus on any word at all. He just drew dinosaurs." Lulu nods. "So nagging makes the practice worse. That explains both: the short practice hurts, and the push would hurt more." The two sides shake hands.

Step 3 · Try the model question

Kevin's spelling scores are low, and Ms. Rivera determined that his very short practice time is part of the reason. Even so, Ms. Rivera did not tell Kevin to practice more.

Suppose one of these is true. Which best explains the apparent conflict above?

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Quiet Coach

A gymnastics parent sued a coach. "You admitted my daughter's wobbly landings come from too little stretching. Yet you never told her to stretch more!" Mr. Whitfield, for the coach, called a team doctor. "Your Honor, this gymnast stiffens up whenever she is told to stretch more. The worry tightens every muscle, and the stretches stop working." Judge Plum leaned back. "So the short stretching is a real cause, and the order to stretch more would make it worse." "Exactly, Your Honor. Both facts stand, and they shake hands." Case dismissed.

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 111, Section 1, Question 21 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

State the two sides plainly: a habit contributes to a problem, yet the natural advice is not given. Look for an answer that makes the advice harmful or useless for this person, so skipping it makes sense while the cause stays real. Reject answers about other people, answers that only praise the habit, and facts that leave the withheld advice unexplained. Use the Handshake Test on each finalist.