Logical Reasoning · Flaw

PrepTest 149 · Section 3 · 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

You cannot knock down a claim just by describing the mood of the people who make it.

The basic logic

Some people give arguments for a worrying claim. The arguer waves the claim away by pointing to their tone or feelings, and never looks at the reasons they gave. Spot the move: the speaker attacks the messenger's state of mind instead of the message.

Tiny words that decide it

“however”
“shows”
“rather than”

Playground logic

Frankie's patty: Sharon's notes about the slide sound very worried. His top bun: the problem is Sharon's nerves, not the slide. He never checks Sharon's actual reasons, which is an Attack the Kid move.

Step 2 · The kid story

The Wobbly Slide

Sharon taped three notes to the classroom door. Each one argued that the big slide was unsafe: a loose bolt, a cracked step, a rail that wiggled. Frankie read them and laughed. "Relax, everyone. These notes are so jittery! Look at all the exclamation points. That just shows Sharon is a nervous kid. The slide is fine." Lulu raised her hand. "Did you check the bolt?" "Why would I? The notes are all worried." "The notes have reasons in them," said Lulu, flipping her clipboard. "Worried is a feeling. Loose bolt is a fact." Owen went outside and wiggled the rail. It wiggled a lot. Frankie quietly took down his "Relax" sign.

Step 3 · Try the model question

Frankie: Sharon posted notes arguing that the big slide is unsafe. But there is nothing to worry about. The jittery tone of her notes shows the trouble is Sharon's nervousness, not the slide itself.

Which one of these best names a flaw in Frankie's reasoning?

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Case of the Panicky Petition

The baker's lawyer waved the petition. Your Honor, these neighbors claim our ovens spill smoke onto the street. Listen to their language: alarming, terrible, urgent! Clearly they are just anxious people. The judge peered over her glasses. Counsel, page two lists dates, times, and photos of smoke. Did you look at any of that? The lawyer paused. It was all so dramatic. Mr. Whitfield, for the neighbors, smiled. A shout can still be true, Your Honor. The judge nodded. Feelings are not evidence either way. We will look at the photos.

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 149, Section 3, Question 4 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Separate the claim being rejected from the reason given for rejecting it. Ask whether that reason touches the claim's supporting evidence or only the people who made it. When the dismissal rests on tone, mood or motive, look for the choice saying the arguer ignores the reasons offered. Cross off choices that describe comparisons, confusions or options the argument never raises.