Logical Reasoning · Inference

PrepTest 137 · Section 2 · Question 7

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

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type

Inference / Most Strongly Supported

The one idea it tests

Chain the conditionals, but leave room for other ways the middle link could be satisfied.

The basic logic

One thing helps raise an output; dropping it threatens the output; a lower output leads to a bad result for some. The safe inference: dropping it leads to the bad result for some, unless something else keeps the output up. Watch for choices that reverse the arrow, overclaim, or claim 'no one' will be harmed.

Tiny words that decide it

“if”
“some”
“unless”
“however”

Playground logic

Candy rewards help the class read more pages, and if pages go down, some kids miss the reading party. Lulu's Spoiler Test says the safe answer is: stop the candy, and some kids miss the party unless something else keeps pages up.

Step 2 · The kid story

The Candy Chart Debate

Ms. Rivera gives a candy for every ten pages read. It works: kids stay focused and read more. But the school nurse wants the candy rewards to stop, because she worries they will make kids care less about reading itself. Here's the catch: the reading party is only for kids who hit their page goal. 'If our pages go down,' Tommy whispers, 'some of us won't make it to the party.' Lulu writes on her clipboard: 'Candy stops → pages might drop → some kids miss the party.' Then she adds a little note: 'Unless we find another way to keep pages up.' Priya nods. 'Stickers, maybe. Or a dinosaur book for Kevin.' Kevin is already on page forty.

Step 3 · Try the model question

Candy rewards keep Ms. Rivera's class focused and raise the number of pages they read. The school nurse has suggested ending the rewards, believing they may make kids care less about reading. If the class reads fewer pages, however, some kids will miss the reading party.

The facts above give the best backing to which choice?

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Night Market Lights

Mr. Whitfield opened his folder. 'Your Honor, the city's streetlights help the night market draw more shoppers. An inspector wants them dimmed, worried about glare in nearby homes. And if shoppers drop, some stalls will close.' The judge asked, 'So if the lights are dimmed, some stalls close for sure?' Mr. Whitfield raised a finger. 'Some will, unless the market finds another way to draw shoppers, like lanterns or music.' The judge smiled. 'That is a careful claim. It is exactly as strong as the facts.'

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 137, Section 2, Question 7 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Diagram the facts as a chain: the practice boosts an output; losing the output hurts some people. Combine them: removing the practice leads to the harm for some, unless the output is kept up another way. Use the Spoiler Test: pick the choice the passage fully backs. Cut choices that depend on an unproven belief, flip a conditional, upgrade or downgrade 'some', or add a new cause.