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Logical Reasoning · Paradox

PrepTest 152 · 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

Question type
Paradox (Explain)
The one idea it tests
A defensive move aimed at harmless targets makes sense if those harmless targets bring the real danger closer.
The basic logic
The puzzle: a scary display was thought to be for real threats, but it is used only on harmless ones. Find the answer that gives a reason to chase off the harmless ones, linking them to the real threat. Run the Handshake Test: the fact and the explanation should shake hands.
Tiny words that decide it
  • “however”
  • “never”
  • “only”
  • “instead”

Playground logic

Lulu's big scary voice was supposed to guard the fort from big kids, but she uses it only on little first graders. The handshake: crowds of little kids draw the big kids' attention to the fort.

Step 2 · The kid story

Lulu's Fort Voice

Lulu and Tommy built a stick fort at the edge of the playground. Lulu invented a Fort Voice: she puffs up, waves her arms, and booms 'THIS FORT IS TAKEN!' Marcus assumed it was for the fifth graders who sometimes take over forts. But Owen watched all week and kept notes. 'She never uses the Fort Voice on fifth graders. Only on the little first graders who wander over. And first graders never take forts.' Marcus scratched his head. 'Then why bother?' Priya pointed across the field. 'Watch. When a bunch of first graders gather around a fort, they squeal and play. The noise makes the fifth graders look over. Then the fifth graders come and take it.' Tommy nodded. 'Shoo the little ones, and the big ones never notice.'

Step 3 · Try the model question

Everyone assumed Lulu used her booming Fort Voice to scare off fifth graders who might take her fort. But Owen observed that she never uses it on fifth graders, only on first graders, who never take forts.

Which fact, if added, best clears up why Lulu aims the Fort Voice where she does?

Choices

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Case of the Shooed Pigeons

Lawyer Ann Hollis complained. 'Your Honor, the museum's guard bought a huge foam hand to scare off thieves. Yet he never waves it at visitors. He waves it only at pigeons on the front steps. Pigeons do not steal paintings!' Mr. Whitfield stood, adjusting his suspenders. 'True. But a flock of pigeons draws a crowd of tourists tossing bread. In that crowd, thieves slip in unnoticed. Shoo the pigeons, and the crowd never forms.' Ms. Hollis paused. 'So the guard goes after the harmless birds to keep the real danger away.' The judge smiled. 'The facts and the reason finally shake hands. Puzzle solved.'

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 152, Section 2, Question 8 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

State the surprise: a behavior expected to target a real threat is aimed only at something harmless. Look for a choice that makes targeting the harmless thing useful against the real threat. Run the Handshake Test: the right choice explains both why the threat is not targeted directly and why the harmless thing is. Skip choices that describe the behavior or the actors without linking harmless targets to danger.