Logical Reasoning · Flaw

PrepTest 153 · Section 2 · Question 7

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

Rejecting a claim just because its speaker would gain from it attacks the speaker, not the claim.

The basic logic

One speaker gives a claim with a reason. The other says it is false and points only to the speaker's motive or gain. That is Attack the Kid: a motive to say something does not make it untrue.

Tiny words that decide it

“not true”
“merely because”
“benefit”

Playground logic

Frankie's top bun is 'Coach is wrong'. Her only patty is 'Coach gets paid more for Saturday practice'. That attacks the coach, not the field. Attack the Kid on the Most Wanted list.

Step 2 · The kid story

The Saturday Practice Fight

Sharon tells the team, "Coach says we should practice Saturday because the new field drains better after rain, so it will not be muddy." Frankie crosses her arms. "Not true. Coach gets paid extra for Saturday practices." Everyone looks at Priya. She pokes a straw into her juice box. "Frankie, maybe Coach does get paid more. But does that tell us anything about the field? The field drains well or it does not. Money does not make water stay or go." Lulu writes: "Frankie attacked the speaker, not the claim." Frankie grumbles, "Fine. Let me go stomp on the field and check."

Step 3 · Try the model question

Sharon: Coach says we should practice Saturday because the new field drains better after rain. Frankie: That is false. Coach gets paid extra for Saturday practices.

Frankie's reasoning is weakest because it

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Case of the Shiny Paint

Mr. Gray, a bike shop owner, testified: "This rust paint protects metal because it seals out water." The other lawyer, Ms. Vance, rose. "Your Honor, ignore him. He sells that paint." Judge Lee leaned in. "Counselor, does his selling the paint tell us whether it seals out water?" Ms. Vance paused. "It tells us he wants us to believe it." "Wanting people to believe something," said the judge, "is not the same as it being false. Bring me a test, not a motive." Mr. Whitfield, watching from the gallery, whispered, "I have done that too. It never works."

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 153, Section 2, Question 7 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Find the claim the critic rejects and list the reasons the critic gives. If the only reason is about the speaker (their pay, their interest, their character) and not the claim itself, you have Attack the Kid. Pick the choice that describes rejecting a claim because the source gains from it. Watch for choices that describe moves the critic never made, or that blame the wrong person.