Logical Reasoning · Flaw

PrepTest 152 · Section 2 · Question 1

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

Old failures do not prove a new attempt will fail, unless the new attempt is just like the old ones.

The basic logic

The patty is a track record of past tries that flopped. The top bun says the newest try will flop too. The secret sauce is that the new try is no different from the old ones. Look for the answer that says the argument ignores a possible difference.

Tiny words that decide it

“never”
“bound to”
“just as”

Playground logic

Marcus sees that every old fix for Biscuit's escapes failed (patty) and declares the brand-new fix will fail too (top bun). His hidden sauce is that the new fix is the same kind of thing as the old ones. If it is different, his whole burger slides apart.

Step 2 · The kid story

The Great Biscuit Escape

Biscuit loves to escape the backyard. First, Grandpa stacked some flowerpots in the gap. Biscuit knocked them over. Then he leaned a board against it. Biscuit squeezed past. Then Tommy tied a jump rope across it. Biscuit ducked under, wagging. On Saturday, Grandpa announced a new plan. Marcus put on his detective hat. 'Case closed,' he said. 'Every plan has failed. So this one is doomed too.' Lulu checked her clipboard. 'What is the new plan?' Grandpa smiled. 'I am not blocking the gap. I am fixing why he leaves. I hung his favorite squeaky toy on a rope swing in the yard.' Marcus blinked. 'Oh. That is not a pile of stuff in a hole.' Priya sipped her juice box. 'Old plans all tried the same trick. This one tries a new trick. The old flops do not tell us much about it.'

Step 3 · Try the model question

Marcus: Grandpa has tried three times to stop Biscuit from escaping the yard, and every try failed. Now Grandpa has a new plan. So the new plan will certainly fail as well.

Marcus's reasoning is open to which criticism?

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Case of the Leaky Boat Club

Lawyer Penny Marsh stood up. 'Your Honor, the club has patched this canoe four times. Tape, glue, gum, and a sock. All four leaked. So the fifth repair will leak as well.' Mr. Whitfield snapped his suspenders. 'May I ask what the fifth repair is?' The witness, a sailor named Gus, cleared his throat. 'We swapped the whole bottom for a new metal one.' Mr. Whitfield turned to the judge. 'Four quick patches on a soft spot failed. A new metal bottom is not a patch at all. My colleague assumes every repair is the same kind of repair.' The judge nodded slowly. 'A losing streak only predicts the next game if the next game is played the same way.'

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 152, Section 2, Question 1 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Find the top bun: a prediction that a new attempt will fail. Find the patty: a list of earlier attempts that failed. Ask what the arguer quietly assumes about the new attempt compared with the old ones. Then scan for the choice that points out the overlooked possibility that matters to that link. Skip choices that complain about missing details or side benefits; they do not touch the bridge between old and new.