Logical Reasoning · Principle

PrepTest 122 · Section 2 · Question 3

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

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type

Principle (apply a definition)

The one idea it tests

Match a case to a definition with two parts: skip the small fixed duty, chase the big risky payoff.

The basic logic

The definition says a certain kind of worker ignores minor tasks that have set times and instead goes after work that could pay off big, even if it might fail. The right example must show both parts: setting aside a routine scheduled duty, and choosing something with high stakes.

Tiny words that decide it

“instead”
“even if”
“both parts”

Playground logic

Aunt Rosa says a smart seller skips the small chores that come with set times and chases the big chance that could pay off or flop. When Tommy skips wiping the sign at three o'clock to talk to the parade organizer about a giant order, he fits both halves of the rule.

Step 2 · The kid story

Aunt Rosa's Smart Seller Rule

Aunt Rosa helped the kids run a cookie stand. She taught them her rule. "Most sellers spend the day on little jobs with fixed times. Wipe the sign at noon. Count napkins at two. A smart seller knows when to skip those little jobs and chase the big chance, the one that could bring in a ton of sales, even if it might flop." At three o'clock it was Tommy's turn to wipe the sign. Just then, the parade organizer walked by. Tommy dropped the rag and ran over. "Would the parade want two hundred cookies?" It might work. It might not. Lulu checked her clipboard. "Skipped a little timed job? Yes. Chased a big chance that could flop? Yes. That's Aunt Rosa's smart seller."

Step 3 · Try the model question

Aunt Rosa: Most sellers fill their day with small jobs that come with fixed times. Smart sellers skip those jobs and put their energy into chances that could bring huge sales, even if those chances could also flop badly.

Which one of the following best illustrates a smart seller in Aunt Rosa's sense?

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Case of the Missing Bake Inspector

In a made-up county fair court, a judge asked why the pie maker missed her two o'clock oven check. Mr. Whitfield stood. "Your Honor, the fair rules praise the bold baker: one who sets aside small duties with set times to chase a big prize, even if it might fail." He pointed to the ribbon board. "At two o'clock the national pie judge walked in. My client skipped the routine oven check and ran to enter her strangest pie, a pickle and peach tart. It could have won big. It could have flopped." The judge smiled. "Small timed duty skipped, big risky chance taken. That is exactly the rule."

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 122, Section 2, Question 3 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Break the definition into its parts before reading the choices. Write them as checkboxes: a small task with a fixed time is set aside, and the person instead chases something with a big possible payoff and real risk. Check each choice against every box. Cross off choices that follow the schedule, that skip something important for something minor, or that have no high-stakes payoff at all.