Logical Reasoning · Paradox

PrepTest 142 · Section 2 · Question 25

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

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type

Paradox

The one idea it tests

People say they want a feature, then pick an option without it. A simple fix: they did not know which options had it.

The basic logic

Hold both facts side by side: the stated wish and the actual pick. Look for the answer that lets both be true without anyone being foolish. Missing information about the options is a classic handshake.

Tiny words that decide it

“however”
“most”
“prefer”
“never”

Playground logic

Most kids say they want a quiet class pet, but their top choice is a parrot. The handshake: most of them did not know parrots can be loud. Both facts shake hands once the info gap is in view.

Step 2 · The kid story

The Quiet Pet Vote

Ms. Rivera's class was choosing a class pet. Lulu ran a survey. Question one: should our pet be quiet? Most kids said yes, absolutely, quiet please. Question two: pick your favorite from this list. The winner, by a lot: a parrot. Marcus threw up his hands. "Parrots scream! These people make no sense!" Priya sipped her juice box. "Did they know that?" Lulu checked. Most of the class had never met a parrot. They pictured a pretty bird sitting politely on a perch. "So they did want quiet," said Priya, "and they thought they were picking quiet." Tommy nodded. "I thought parrots whispered." Mr. Whiskers, from the windowsill, looked deeply worried about the whole idea.

Step 3 · Try the model question

In a class survey, most students said they want the class pet to be quiet. Yet on the same survey, the favorite pet on the list was a parrot, which can be very loud.

Which of these, if true, best resolves the apparent conflict in the students' answers?

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Case of the Spicy Chili Prize

At the county fair hearing, the fair's lawyer was puzzled. "Your Honor, most judges at the cook-off said they wanted a mild chili to win. Yet they voted for the spiciest pot in the tent." Mr. Whitfield stood. "I can explain. The pots were labeled only by number. Most judges did not taste the spicy one first; they judged by smell, which was sweet." Judge Ivy smiled. "So they wanted mild and believed they were picking mild. They simply did not know which pot was hot." Mr. Whitfield tugged his suspenders. "No contradiction, Your Honor, just a missing label."

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 142, Section 2, Question 25 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Write both facts plainly: what people said they want, and what they actually picked. Ask what would let both be sincere. Look for an answer that changes what the people knew about the options when they picked. Reject answers that explain only why the pick was attractive, that make the wish even stronger, or that talk about the options in general without touching what the choosers knew.