Logical Reasoning · Flaw

PrepTest 144 · 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

Flaw

The one idea it tests

Praising the person who made a claim does not answer a real complaint about the evidence.

The basic logic

Critics raise a fair point about the evidence. The arguer admits the point, then defends the result by talking up the researcher's good name. That swaps the evidence for the person. It is the flip side of attacking the person: a halo instead of a punch.

Tiny words that decide it

“although”
“after all”
“rather than”

Playground logic

Owen's taste test used just three cups, and Nadia says that's too few. Marcus agrees it's few, then says Owen is right anyway because Owen is a genius. Marcus's patty is about Owen, not the taste test, so the top bun has nothing holding it up.

Step 2 · The kid story

Three Cups of Proof

Owen tasted three cups of the new lemonade recipe and announced, "This recipe is better than the old one. For everybody." Nadia frowned. "Three cups? That's barely a test." Marcus marched over. "Okay, three cups is a small number. I admit it. But you're wrong to doubt Owen. He won the spelling bee twice and got a gold star on his science fair volcano!" Priya took a slow sip of her juice box. "Marcus, Nadia's complaint was about the test. You answered with Owen's trophy shelf." "But the trophies are really shiny," Marcus said. Lulu wrote on her clipboard: Shiny trophies do not add cups. Owen shrugged and poured three more cups. "Fine. Let's test more." Biscuit volunteered to help with any spills.

Step 3 · Try the model question

Owen judged the new lemonade recipe better after tasting three cups. Nadia says that is too few cups. Marcus agrees it is few but says Nadia is wrong to doubt the result, since Owen has won the spelling bee twice and is a very smart kid.

Marcus's reasoning is most open to criticism because it

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Famous Weather Watcher

"Your Honor," said Ms. Grant, "the prosecution says it rained on the night of the bake sale, but their only proof is one glance out one window." Mr. Whitfield bowed. "Yes, one glance is not much. I admit that. But the witness is the most beloved weather reporter in the county! Thirty years on television! A lovely smile!" The judge sighed. "Counselor, the defense asked how much the witness saw. You told me how much the town loves her. Her smile does not add a second window." Mr. Whitfield straightened his suspenders. "It is a very lovely smile, though." "Noted," said the judge. "Not as evidence."

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 144, 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 critics' complaint and notice whether the arguer concedes it. Then look at what the arguer offers in reply. If the reply is about the person behind the work rather than the work, that is the flaw. Choose the answer that describes a swap from the evidence to the person. Reject answers that describe moves the argument never makes.