Logical Reasoning · Main Conclusion

PrepTest 152 · Section 4 · Question 21

Phase 1 (your first ~400 questions): read the guidance, then answer. No clock.

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type

Main Conclusion

The one idea it tests

When a speaker opens with a recommendation and closes with a 'so' claim that backs it, the recommendation is the top bun and the 'so' claim is a middle bun.

The basic logic

Ask which statement the others are trying to prove. A comparison ('X is better than Y') can be a middle bun that supports an earlier piece of advice ('you should pick X'). A conclusion word near the end does not automatically mark the top bun. Use 'because' between candidates: the boss is the one the other is a reason for.

Tiny words that decide it

“should”
“so”
“because”
“rather than”

Playground logic

Owen's top bun is his advice: bring Grandpa's oranges, not store chips. His 'so oranges are cheaper' line sounds like the end, but it is a middle bun, the reason for the advice. The free-oranges fact is the patty under it.

Step 2 · The kid story

Snack Duty

Owen had snack duty for the soccer team. Kevin was about to grab chips from the store. "Wait," said Owen. "If you're bringing a team snack, bring oranges from Grandpa's tree, not store chips. Grandpa's tree drops way more oranges than he can eat. They'd just rot in the yard, so bringing them costs the team nothing. Chips cost money from the team jar. So the oranges are cheaper for the team." Kevin scratched his head. "So your point is that oranges are cheaper?" Priya sipped her juice box. "Close, but no. Cheaper is the reason. His real point is what you should bring." Lulu drew an arrow on her clipboard: cheaper → bring oranges. "See? Cheaper holds up the advice, not the other way around." Kevin sighed and put the chips back. Biscuit ate a fallen orange peel.

Step 3 · Try the model question

Owen: If you bring a team snack, you should bring Grandpa's oranges rather than store chips. Grandpa's extra oranges would rot otherwise, so bringing them costs the team nothing. Chips cost money from the team jar. So the oranges are cheaper for the team than the chips.

What is Owen mainly trying to prove?

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Library Chairs

Mr. Whitfield addressed the town council. "If the library buys new chairs, it should buy the refurbished ones, not brand-new ones." A council member squinted. "Why?" "The refurbished chairs come from the old courthouse, which is throwing them out anyway. So they cost us only the moving fee. Brand-new chairs cost full price. So the refurbished chairs are cheaper." The clerk scribbled. "So your point is that they're cheaper?" Mr. Whitfield tugged his suspenders. "No, madam clerk. Cheaper is my reason. My point is what the library should buy." Judge Mbeki, visiting, chuckled. "He saved the advice for the start and the reason for the end. Sneaky, but legal."

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 152, Section 4, Question 21 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Mark every claim that is not plain background. Look for advice or a recommendation, and look for a comparison claim that comes after a conclusion word. Test the two with 'because': does the comparison support the advice, or the reverse? The claim that is supported but supports nothing else is the top bun. Pick the choice that restates it, and avoid choices that restate a premise or the middle bun.