Logical Reasoning · Strengthen (EXCEPT)

PrepTest 136 · 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

Strengthen EXCEPT

The one idea it tests

Four choices help the argument; the odd one out either does nothing or only confirms a cost the argument already accepts.

The basic logic

Map the burger: a trade-off between two goals, a ranking that says one goal matters more, and a recommendation. Helpers confirm that the preferred option really serves the more important goal, or that the other goal matters less. The answer is the choice that merely restates the price of the recommendation without making it any better.

Tiny words that decide it

“EXCEPT”
“more important”
“of little use”

Playground logic

Ms. Rivera wants the kickball rules written in kid words, since understanding the game matters more than covering every rare detail. Helpers say kid words really are easier, or that the fancy rules confuse people. The odd one out just admits that kid words cannot cover every tiny detail, which Ms. Rivera already agreed to give up.

Step 2 · The kid story

The Kickball Rulebook

Marcus writes the kickball rules for recess. They are three pages long and full of words like 'heretofore' and 'aforementioned base.' He says fancy words make the rules exact. Ms. Rivera reads them and sighs. "Exact rules don't help anyone who can't follow them. Knowing how to play matters more than spelling out every weird situation. So let's write the rules in plain kid words." Owen says odd cases almost never happen at recess anyway. Nadia says kids who can't follow the rules spend recess arguing instead of kicking. Priya says her little cousins played a whole game right using a plain draft. Then Marcus grumbles, "But plain words can't cover what happens when the ball lands on a squirrel." Ms. Rivera smiles. "True, Marcus. I already agreed to give that up."

Step 3 · Try the model question

Ms. Rivera: Fancy-word kickball rules aim to be exact, but exactness doesn't help players who can't follow them. Knowing how to play matters more than covering every odd case. So our rules should be written in plain kid words.

Each of these, if true, gives support to Ms. Rivera's argument EXCEPT:

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Case of the Crossing Guard Sign

The town wants the crosswalk sign to say 'Walk now' instead of a long paragraph about signals and lanes. Mr. Whitfield argues for the short sign: "Nobody reads a paragraph while a bus is coming. Being understood beats being complete." Four witnesses testify. One says people obey short signs more. One says nobody followed the long sign. One says two words are enough to keep walkers safe. One says walkers do not need every lane rule to cross safely. Then a fifth witness says, "The short sign leaves out the rule about bicycles." The judge shrugs. "Counsel already admitted short signs leave things out. That witness helps no one."

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 136, Section 2, Question 3 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Find the trade-off, the ranking of goals, and the recommendation. Remember this is EXCEPT: four choices help. For each choice, ask whether it shows the recommended option serves the higher goal, the other option fails it, or the lesser goal is less needed. Those strengthen. The answer is the one that only repeats the cost the speaker already accepted, so the argument stands exactly where it was.