PrepTest 126 · Section 4 · Question 21 (Principle)

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type

Principle

The one idea it tests

Match a rule to a case. Every piece of the rule's if-part must be present, and the then-part must happen.

The basic logic

The rule has three gears: you have evidence an act helps others, you do the act in order to help them, and the help works. The right case shows all three. Cases missing evidence, with a different motive, or with no success, are out.

Tiny words that decide it

“if”
“and”
“then”
“generally”

Playground logic

Priya read that soft voices calm nervous puppies, spoke softly to help Biscuit's puppy friend, and the puppy calmed down. That is evidence, the right aim, and success: all three gears turn, so the case fits the rule.

Step 2 · The kid story

Three Gears for Helping

Ms. Rivera wrote a rule on the board: If you have evidence an act will help others, and you do it to help them, you will usually succeed. "Find me a story that shows it," she said. Kevin tried first. "I fed the class fish because I was hungry and it was snack time." "Your aim was snack time, not the fish," said Lulu, checking her clipboard. Owen tried. "I watered Grandpa's tomatoes because I guessed they were thirsty." "A guess isn't evidence," said Lulu. Then Priya spoke. "The shelter sign said nervous puppies calm down when you speak softly. So I spoke softly to the shaky puppy, to help him. He stopped shaking and licked my hand." Lulu checked three boxes. "Evidence. Aim. Success. That's the one."

Step 3 · Try the model question

Rule: If you have good reason to think a deed will help others, and you do that deed in order to help them, you will usually succeed in helping them.

Which case best fits the rule above?

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Lighthouse Keeper's Lamp

In a made-up seaside town, a lighthouse keeper was asked why she switched to a brighter lamp. "Your Honor," said Mr. Whitfield, her lawyer, "the keeper read a ship captains' report showing brighter lamps help boats avoid rocks. She changed the lamp to protect the boats. Since then, not one boat has hit the rocks." The other lawyer objected. "Maybe she just liked the color." Mr. Whitfield shook his head. "Her log says, in her own hand, 'for the sailors.' Evidence, aim, success. All three." The judge nodded. "That is exactly how good helping is supposed to work. The case fits the rule."

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 126, Section 4, Question 21 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Break the principle into its parts: what the person must know, why they must act, and what must result. Then check each choice for all parts, one at a time. Cross off any case where the actor lacks real evidence, acts for some other reason, or where the outcome is missing or bad. The right case ticks every box. Do not reward a case for sounding nice if one gear is missing.