Logical Reasoning · Inference (Most Strongly Supported)

PrepTest 116 · Section 3 · Question 9

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

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type

Inference (Most Strongly Supported)

The one idea it tests

A speaker who grants the other side's point but still refuses its proposal is committed to living with the cost of that refusal.

The basic logic

Map both speakers. In the second turn, circle what is conceded and what is still refused. Then ask what those two pieces together commit the speaker to. The supported view is the quiet top bun: the downside the speaker admitted is a price worth paying.

Tiny words that decide it

“concede”
“but”
“still”

Playground logic

Kevin says the second graders deserve a committee seat because their snack tastes differ. Priya grants that their tastes differ (a concession) but says they can't handle the budget (her patty). Put those together and her unspoken top bun appears: whatever gets lost by leaving them off, the class has to live with it.

Step 2 · The kid story

The Snack Committee Seat

Ms. Rivera's class picks the snacks for the whole school, and Kevin is fired up. "It's not fair to make choices for kids who get no say," he announces. "Second graders like different snacks than we do, so they need a seat on the committee!" Priya sips her juice box. "You're right that their tastes are different. Lulu would pick apple slices, and I'd pick pretzels. But the committee has to stretch forty dollars across a whole month. Second graders plan only as far as recess, and they think one giant cake solves everything. We can't hand them that job." Lulu frowns at her clipboard, then slowly nods. Kevin flops into his chair. "Okay, Priya. So where does that leave the second graders?" Priya smiles. "Think about what I just admitted."

Step 3 · Try the model question

Kevin: Leaving kids out of choices that affect them is unfair. Second graders' snack tastes differ from ours, so they should get a committee seat. Priya: True, their tastes differ. But second graders can't stretch a monthly budget and plan only until recess, so we can't give them the committee job.

Priya's remarks would best back up which claim?

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Case of the Junior Orchestra

In a fictional town hall, a drummer argues that the junior players deserve a say in choosing the concert songs. "Their tastes differ from ours," she says. "Shutting them out is unfair." Mr. Whitfield snaps his suspenders. "Granted, Your Honor. Their tastes do differ. But they can't yet read the hard scores, and they'd pick only the songs they hummed this morning. We can't give them the choosing." The judge leans forward. "So the concert will miss some music the juniors love?" "Yes," says Mr. Whitfield. "I admitted that cost on purpose. My argument says it is a cost we must carry." The judge nods. "Concede the downside, keep the refusal, accept the price. Noted."

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 116, Section 3, Question 9 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Label the first speaker's proposal and reason. In the second speaker's turn, underline the concession and the refusal separately. Ask what someone who holds both must also believe. Usually it is that the admitted downside has to be tolerated. Pick the choice that follows from both pieces together. Reject choices that defend the first speaker, bring in facts neither speaker mentioned, or stretch to sweeping claims.