PrepTest 122 · Section 2 · Question 4 (Strengthen (EXCEPT))

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type

Strengthen EXCEPT

The one idea it tests

Four choices help the causal story; find the one that does not.

The basic logic

The argument sees kids act a certain way right after an experience and concludes the experience teaches them a belief that the behavior is fine. Helpers show the experience changes the belief, rule out other causes, or link the belief to the behavior. The odd one out says nothing about what the experience does.

Tiny words that decide it

“EXCEPT”
“causes”
“belief”

Playground logic

Lulu sees second graders climb tables right after lunch near the fifth graders, and concludes that sitting there teaches them climbing is okay. Most facts that back that cause help. But learning that some kids who never sat there also think climbing is okay does nothing for the story about the lunch seats.

Step 2 · The kid story

The Table Climbers

After the cafeteria changed its seating, Lulu's second-grade class ate right next to the fifth graders. The fifth graders sat on top of the tables, not on the benches. Lulu watched her classmates. Right after lunch, they climbed on the classroom tables more than before. Lulu wrote on her clipboard: "Sitting near the fifth graders teaches us that climbing tables is okay." Priya read it. "Good start. What would help? Showing kids grow more okay with climbing right after those lunches. Showing that kids who eat in the other room don't climb more. Showing that kids who think climbing is fine do climb more." Marcus said, "Some kids who never ate there think climbing is okay!" Priya shrugged. "That's true, but it doesn't help your lunch theory at all."

Step 3 · Try the model question

Lulu: Right after eating lunch next to the fifth graders, who sit on the tables, my classmates climb on our classroom tables more than before. So eating near the fifth graders teaches my classmates that climbing on tables is okay.

Suppose each choice is true. All of them back up Lulu's argument EXCEPT:

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Case of the Honking Drivers

In an imaginary traffic court, the prosecutor claimed that riding with Uncle Leo taught teen drivers that honking is polite. "Right after a ride with him, teens honk more!" Mr. Whitfield listed what would help the claim: teens who ride with other uncles do not honk more; teens rate honking as more polite right after Leo's rides; teens honk more once told that honking is polite. Then the defense lawyer stood up. "Some teens who never rode with Leo think honking is polite!" The judge sighed. "That may be so, counselor, but it tells me nothing about what Leo's rides do."

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 122, Section 2, Question 4 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Find the conclusion: an experience causes a belief, which shows up as behavior. List what would help: the belief rises after the experience, other experiences do not cause the rise, the belief leads to the behavior. Four choices will do one of those jobs. Look for the one about people who never had the experience, or that otherwise says nothing about what the experience does.