Logical Reasoning · Flaw
PrepTest 146 · Section 2 · Question 8
Phase 1 (your first ~400 questions): read the guidance, then answer. No clock.
Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first
- “only”
- “group”
- “member”
- “thus”
Playground logic
Nadia is a speedy runner, but her relay team came in last, so Marcus says she gets no speed ribbon. He judged the star by the team's result, a classic Team-to-Star Mix-Up.
Step 2 · The kid story
The Field Day Ribbon
Field Day rules are clear: the only kids who get a blue speed ribbon are kids who ran super fast. Nadia is one of the fastest runners in fifth grade. Everyone knows it. But this year her relay team came in dead last, mostly because Kevin stopped halfway to look at a cloud shaped like a dinosaur. Marcus, acting as ribbon judge, crossed Nadia off the list. "Her team was slow," he announced. "So Nadia doesn't get a ribbon." Nadia's mouth fell open. Lulu marched up with her clipboard. "Marcus, the rule is about how fast each kid ran. You only looked at how the whole team did." Owen added, "Nadia ran her leg in record time!" Marcus looked at his notes. "Oh. I judged the star by the team."
Step 3 · Try the model question
Only kids who ran super fast on Field Day should get a speed ribbon. Nadia is an excellent runner, but her relay team finished last. So Nadia should not get a speed ribbon.
Marcus's reasoning goes wrong because it
Step 4 · The courtroom tale
The Case of the Losing Choir
The music academy denied Ms. Bell a solo award. Their rule: only singers who performed brilliantly this season may receive it. Ms. Bell's choir finished last at the regional contest. Mr. Whitfield stood up, snapping his suspenders. "Your Honor, the academy's rule concerns each singer. Yet the academy looked only at the choir's ranking. My client sang every note perfectly. A group can stumble while one voice shines." The academy's lawyer shuffled papers. The judge said, "The academy judged the soloist by the choir. That won't do. Reconsider her award."
Step 5 · Work the real question
Open PrepTest 146, Section 2, Question 8 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.
Your answer
How to apply it
Map the burger: the rule is about individuals, the evidence is about a group, and the conclusion is about one individual. Name the flaw before reading the choices: Team-to-Star Mix-Up. Then find the choice that describes judging one member by the whole group's record. Skip choices about other kinds of comparison, about future years, or about the larger organization doing well.