Logical Reasoning · Principle

PrepTest 140 · Section 3 · Question 13

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

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type

Principle

The one idea it tests

A short story illustrates a general rule; pick the rule the story fits snugly, not one it only half touches or overshoots.

The basic logic

Notice exactly what the learners already knew, what they could not do, and what fixed it. The fix helped them keep things in the right sequence, not learn the pieces themselves. The right principle names that exact gap and that exact help, and makes no grand claim about all methods or all learning.

Tiny words that decide it

“useful”
“some”
“order”
“always”

Playground logic

Nadia's dance team already knew every move by name but kept mixing up the routine. A picture strip fixed it. The lesson the story shows: picture strips help you remember the order of moves you already know.

Step 2 · The kid story

The Dance Routine Mix-Up

Nadia's dance team had learned six moves for the school show: the spin, the hop, the wave, the slide, the clap, and the freeze. Every dancer could do each move on its own. But in rehearsal they kept mixing up the sequence. Owen did the freeze first. Kevin did the wave twice and called it a pterodactyl. Ms. Rivera drew a picture strip, like a comic, showing the six moves in a row, and taped it to the wall. By the end of practice, everyone did the routine in the right order. Lulu wrote on her clipboard: 'Already knew the moves. Problem was the order. Picture strip fixed the order.' Priya nodded. 'That is exactly the lesson. Nothing more, nothing less.'

Step 3 · Try the model question

The dancers could each perform all six moves, yet none could get through the routine in the right sequence. After Ms. Rivera taped up a picture strip showing the moves in order, every dancer performed the routine correctly.

The dance practice described above is best seen as an example of which general rule below?

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Recipe Card Trial

A cooking school was accused of false advertising for saying, 'Our recipe cards help cooks keep steps in order.' Mr. Whitfield called a witness. 'Did your students know how to chop, stir, and bake?' 'Yes, every one.' 'And before the cards?' 'They kept baking before they stirred. Burnt soup.' 'After the cards?' 'Perfect soup, every time.' Judge Abernathy raised an eyebrow. 'So the cards did not teach chopping. They helped with the sequence.' 'Exactly, Your Honor. That is all the ad claims.' The judge nodded. 'The facts fit the claim snugly. Case dismissed.'

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 140, Section 3, Question 13 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Sort the facts into three piles: what the learners already knew, what they could not do, and what changed after the help. Then state the lesson in your own modest words before reading answers. Pick the choice that matches all three piles. Cross out answers that claim something is needed, best, or always, and answers about a skill the story says they already had.