Logical Reasoning · Point at Issue

PrepTest 136 · Section 2 · Question 20

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

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type

Point at Issue

The one idea it tests

Find the one claim that one speaker must accept and the other must reject.

The basic logic

Speaker one says doing your duty is not enough; a good act also needs the right motive. Speaker two says motives can't be controlled, so doing your duty is the only requirement. The clash is over whether a bad motive can block an act from being good.

Tiny words that decide it

“unless”
“only”
“not”
“therefore”

Playground logic

Frankie says a chore earns a gold star only if you do it cheerfully. Sharon says nobody controls their mood, so doing the chore is the only thing needed. Clipboard one checks 'a grumpy chore can't earn a star'; clipboard two crosses it out.

Step 2 · The kid story

Gold Stars and Grumpy Faces

Ms. Rivera's class had a chore chart. Frankie announced the rules as she saw them. "Some chores you must do no matter what, like feeding Mr. Whiskers. But just doing a chore doesn't earn a gold star. No chore earns a star unless you do it cheerfully." Sharon folded her arms. "Nobody can control how they feel. You can't just decide to be cheerful. So the only thing a chore needs to earn a star is getting done." Priya pulled out two clipboards. "Frankie, does a grumpy chore get a star?" "Never." "Sharon?" "If it got done, yes." Priya smiled. "Found it." Mr. Whiskers, freshly fed, did not care either way.

Step 3 · Try the model question

Frankie: Some chores must be done no matter what. But doing a chore does not by itself earn a gold star. No chore earns a star unless it is done cheerfully. Sharon: People can't control how they feel. So the only thing a chore needs in order to earn a star is to get done.

On which claim must Frankie and Sharon take opposite sides?

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Case of the Sulky Volunteer

The judge squinted at the two lawyers. "The question is whether Mr. Plum earned the Good Neighbor ribbon." Ms. Ortiz rose first. "Shoveling a neighbor's walk is a duty. But doing it isn't enough. No deed earns the ribbon unless it comes from a kind heart, and Mr. Plum grumbled the whole time." Mr. Whitfield tugged his suspenders. "Nobody picks their own feelings, Your Honor. So the only thing a deed needs to earn the ribbon is getting done. The walk is clear." The judge wrote one line: Can a deed done with a sour heart earn the ribbon? "Ms. Ortiz says no. Mr. Whitfield says yes. That's our fight."

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 136, Section 2, Question 20 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Write each speaker's main claim in one line. Note what each says is required for the label in question. Then hold up two clipboards for each choice: would speaker one say agree, disagree or no opinion? Then speaker two? Keep only the choice where both have a clear opinion and the opinions are opposite. Drop choices only one speaker touches and choices that use the same words but no real clash.