Logical Reasoning · Flaw

PrepTest 136 · Section 2 · Question 8

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

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type

Flaw

The one idea it tests

A rebuttal that answers a different point from the one the opponent actually raised.

The basic logic

Find the opponent's reason, then the speaker's reply. Ask: does the reply touch the opponent's reason at all? If the opponent said 'wasteful because it lacks value in setting X' and the reply says 'not wasteful because of some unrelated benefit,' the reply has walked past the actual objection. That is a Scope Shift.

Tiny words that decide it

“says”
“because”
“but”
“so clearly”

Playground logic

Sharon says the karaoke machine was a waste because songs are no fun without the real singer's voice. Frankie answers that it was not a waste because it is the only thing loud enough for the gym. Frankie's patty never touches Sharon's reason about fun, so his top bun floats on a different burger.

Step 2 · The kid story

The Karaoke Machine Debate

The class fund bought a karaoke machine. Sharon is not happy. "That was a waste of money. Songs are no fun without the real singer's voice, and karaoke takes the singer away." Frankie stands up. "Wrong! The old radio broke. This machine is the only thing loud enough to fill the whole gym. So clearly it was not a waste." Kevin starts singing about stegosauruses. Priya sips her juice box and turns to Frankie. "Sharon gave a reason: no fun without the real voice. Did you answer that?" Frankie opens his mouth, then closes it. "I talked about loudness." "Right," says Priya. "You might still be correct. But your reason walked right past hers. You two are arguing on different playgrounds." Lulu writes: reply misses the point.

Step 3 · Try the model question

Frankie: Sharon says the karaoke machine was a waste because songs are no fun without the real singer's voice. But the old radio broke, and this machine is the only thing loud enough for the gym. So clearly it was not a waste.

Frankie's reasoning is flawed because it

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Case of the Glittery Mailbox

A homeowner painted her mailbox with glitter. The neighborhood board says the paint was wasted because glitter looks silly in daylight. Mr. Whitfield defends her. "Your Honor, the old mailbox was rusting, and paint was the only way to protect it. So clearly the money was well spent." The board's lawyer stands. "Counsel, we said it looks silly. You talked about rust." The judge nods slowly. "Mr. Whitfield, your point may be true, but it doesn't answer the objection that was made. You've answered a question nobody asked." Mr. Whitfield adjusts his suspenders. "Then let me try again, about the sparkle."

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 136, Section 2, Question 8 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

First write down the opponent's reason in your own short words. Then write down the speaker's reason. Hold them side by side and ask whether the second reason addresses the first. If it does not, look for the choice that says the reply fails to meet the opponent's point. Check other choices against the stimulus: if a choice describes a move the speaker never makes, it is a Phantom Piece.