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Logical Reasoning · Flaw

PrepTest 119 · Section 3 · Question 2

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

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type
Flaw
The one idea it tests
Rejecting an idea because it was rightly turned down before, as if the situation could never change.
The basic logic
The speaker says: this was refused in the past, and refusing was correct then, so refuse again. The missing piece is that new reasons may have shown up since the last time. Old 'no' answers do not settle today's question.
Tiny words that decide it
  • “each time”
  • “nothing new”
  • “so”

Playground logic

Marcus says the class should not get a pet because Ms. Rivera was right to say no twice before. His patty is old history; his top bun is 'no again.' His secret sauce is that nothing has changed, but a brand-new pet club might be a fresh reason.

Step 2 · The kid story

The Class Pet Vote, Round Three

Nadia stood up in class. 'We should get a class hamster. It will teach us to be responsible.' Marcus jumped up. 'Ha! Kids asked for a hamster in second grade. Kids asked again in third grade. Both times Ms. Rivera said no, and she was right, because nobody wanted to clean the cage. This is the same old idea. So I vote no.' Priya raised her hand politely. 'Marcus, back then nobody signed up to clean. This year twelve of us started a Pet Helpers Club, and we made a cleaning chart.' Marcus opened his mouth, then closed it. Ms. Rivera smiled. 'An old idea can come back with new reasons, Marcus. We should look at those before deciding.' Biscuit, visiting for show and tell, barked in agreement.

Step 3 · Try the model question

Marcus: Students asked for a class hamster two years ago, and they asked once more last year. Both times our teacher was right to refuse. Since this idea is nothing new, we should refuse it again.

Marcus's reasoning goes wrong because it

Choices

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Lemonade Stand Permit

Mr. Whitfield faced the judge. 'Your Honor, the neighborhood board has refused a lemonade stand permit for this corner twice. They say the refusals were correct, so the answer is no forever.' The board's lawyer nodded. 'The idea is old. Old ideas get old answers.' Mr. Whitfield held up a map. 'Two years ago, this corner had no sidewalk. Last year, there was road work. This spring, the city built a wide sidewalk and a shady bench. The old reasons are gone, and there may be new reasons to say yes.' The judge tapped her pen. 'Being right before does not make you right now. Bring me today's facts, counselor.'

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 119, Section 3, Question 2 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Find the conclusion first: the speaker rejects a proposal. Then find the evidence: past refusals that were correct at the time. Ask what the speaker assumes: that nothing important has changed since. Look for the answer that names this gap, the possibility of new reasons or new conditions. Skip choices that accuse the speaker of moves they never make, like personal attacks or claims about things never mentioned.