PrepTest 151 · Section 2 · Question 1

The Airplane Ban

Ms. Rivera made a new rule: paper airplanes may only be thrown outside, because a sharp nose can poke an eye in a crowded room. Marcus marched up with his detective notebook. "This rule is wrong," he said. "Nobody throws a plane to poke an eye. We throw them to see how far they fly!" Priya sipped her juice box. "Marcus, a plane doesn't check what you wanted before it lands. You can aim for the back wall and still hit Owen's face." Lulu wrote on her clipboard: Wanted: far. Got: ouch. Marcus frowned. "So my good plan doesn't count?" "It counts," said Priya, "but it doesn't answer her worry. Her worry is about what happens, not what you hope for."

Ms. Rivera says paper airplanes should be thrown only outside, since in a crowded room they can hit someone in the eye. Marcus says the rule is wrong, because kids throw planes to see how far they fly, not to hurt anyone.

Marcus's reply is weakest because it overlooks which possibility?

The Sprinkler Case

Mr. Whitfield snapped his suspenders. "Your Honor, the town wants to limit my client's lawn sprinkler because it floods the sidewalk. But my client turns it on to grow green grass, not to flood anything. Case closed!" The judge peered over her glasses. "Mr. Whitfield, the town did not say your client wants a flood. It said the sidewalk gets wet. Is it wet?" Mr. Whitfield checked his notes. "Well, yes, quite wet." "Then your client's sweet goal does not dry it," said the judge. "Good wishes are not a mop." The jury giggled. Mr. Whitfield sat down and quietly wrote: answer the worry that was actually raised.