Logical Reasoning · Weaken

PrepTest 138 · Section 2 · Question 4

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

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type

Weaken (an analogy)

The one idea it tests

An analogy breaks when the two cases differ in the very feature that makes the first one wrong.

The basic logic

The argument says an action is wrong because it is like a famous wrong act. Ask what makes the famous act wrong. If the new case lacks that feature, the comparison pops. Look for the one difference that matters to the verdict, not just any difference.

Tiny words that decide it

“like”
“not”
“but”

Playground logic

Frankie says Owen lending out the class art kit is like sneaking cookies from Grandpa's jar: both use stuff that is not yours. The patty is 'the kit belongs to the class, not Owen'. But sneaking is wrong because nobody said yes. If the class said yes, the comparison loses its sting.

Step 2 · The kid story

Owen and the Art Kit

Owen keeps the class art kit. Every Friday he lends a box of markers to the kindergarten room down the hall. Everyone thinks that is sweet. Not Frankie. 'It is not sweet at all! The markers are not Owen's. They belong to the whole class. That is just like Tommy sneaking cookies from Grandpa's jar and handing them to Lulu. Being generous does not make it okay.' Sharon folded her arms. 'Tommy sneaks because Grandpa never said yes. Did the class say no?' Lulu flipped her clipboard. 'In September we voted. Owen can lend the markers on Fridays. Twenty-two to zero.' Frankie paused. 'Oh.' Priya sipped her juice box. 'Cookie sneaking is wrong because there was no yes. Owen has a yes. Your comparison just fell over.'

Step 3 · Try the model question

Frankie: Owen lends the class markers to the kindergarten room every Friday. Some think this is kind, but it is not. The markers belong to the class, not to Owen. Tommy may share the cookies he sneaks from Grandpa's jar, but he is still sneaking.

Suppose each choice below is true. Which one hurts Frankie's comparison the most?

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Case of the Borrowed Tractor

The prosecutor pointed at the farmhand. 'Your Honor, he drove the farm's tractor to plow the widow's field next door. The tractor is not his. It belongs to the farm owners. This is no different from a horse thief who rides off to help a neighbor. Kind, maybe. Still theft.' Mr. Whitfield rose slowly. 'A horse thief takes without asking. Exhibit A: a note signed by both farm owners. It says, and I quote my own client's grin, use the tractor for anyone who needs help.' Judge Brandt read the note. 'Then the horse thief comparison misses the one thing that makes theft theft. Case dismissed.'

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 138, Section 2, Question 4 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Find the comparison: the argument says this case is like a well-known wrong act. Ask what exactly makes that famous act wrong. Then look for a choice showing the new case lacks that feature. Skip Bystanders and Matching Costumes that sit near the topic but leave the key feature untouched. The best answer cuts the one link the analogy depends on, so read every choice carefully before you settle.