Logical Reasoning · Most Strongly Supported

PrepTest 153 · Section 2 · Question 5

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

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type

Most Strongly Supported

The one idea it tests

If people believe X helps with a problem because X supports a certain part, they must believe that problem involves that part.

The basic logic

The stimulus gives a reason (X maintains something found in a specific place) and a belief that rests on it (X helps with some problems). Ask what those believers must think for the reason to matter. Stay inside the Lunchbox: nothing stronger than the stimulus says.

Tiny words that decide it

“for this reason”
“some”
“almost exclusively”

Playground logic

Owen's patty: grease keeps the chain in good shape, and the chain sits mostly at the back wheel. His top bun: grease can fix some bike troubles. For that reasoning to make sense, Owen must believe some bike troubles involve the chain or back wheel.

Step 2 · The kid story

Owen's Grease Theory

Owen fixes bikes in his garage with Grandpa. Grandpa says chain grease is very important for keeping the chain healthy, and the chain lives almost entirely at the back of the bike. So Owen tells the class, "Grease can help fix some bike troubles." Marcus says, "So Owen thinks grease fixes everything!" Priya shakes her head. "No, he said some. But think about why he believes it. He believes it because grease helps the chain. That only makes sense if Owen thinks some bike troubles have something to do with the chain." Lulu writes: "Supported: Owen thinks some troubles involve the chain."

Step 3 · Try the model question

Grease plays a key role in keeping a bike chain healthy, and the chain sits almost entirely at the back of the bike. For this reason, Owen believes grease can help with some bike troubles.

Which statement do these facts back up best?

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Case of the Polishing Cloth

At a museum hearing, a curator testified: "Our special cloth keeps varnish healthy, and varnish appears almost only on the old paintings. For this reason, some of our staff believe the cloth helps with some gallery problems." Mr. Whitfield leapt up. "So the staff think the cloth fixes everything in the building!" Judge Moreno sighed. "Counselor, the witness said some. What do these staff members have to believe, given their reason?" A young clerk raised her hand. "That some gallery problems involve the old paintings' varnish, Your Honor." The judge nodded. "Exactly. Nothing more, nothing less." Mr. Whitfield sat. "I was testing the clerk."

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 153, Section 2, Question 5 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Spot the reason and the belief that rests on it. Ask what a believer must also think for that reason to support the belief; that hidden link is often the answer. Keep the quantity words the same strength as the stimulus, and strike any choice that claims more than the passage gives. Pick the modest answer that the facts force, even if it sounds a bit plain.