Logical Reasoning · Paradox

PrepTest 153 · Section 3 · Question 13

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

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type

Paradox

The one idea it tests

In an EXCEPT paradox, four answers explain why one group did worse; the odd one out gives a reason that has nothing to do with performance.

The basic logic

Name the surprise: the group that took on a change did worse, though they did fine before. Each explaining answer gives a way the change could hurt performance. The correct answer explains only why people chose the change, not why they did worse.

Tiny words that decide it

“EXCEPT”
“although”
“while”

Playground logic

The kids who took the silent rule spelled worse, even though they spelled fine before. Most handshakes connect silence to worse spelling. The odd one out just tells us why kids picked the rule, which shakes no hands at all.

Step 2 · The kid story

The Silent Week

Ms. Rivera offered a challenge: anyone who wanted could try Silent Week, no talking at all for five days. Half the class signed up, including Nadia and Owen. Kevin did not, because he had too much to say about dinosaurs. On Friday everyone took the spelling quiz. The talkers did great. The silent kids did worse, even though they had all done great the week before. Lulu wrote on her clipboard: "Why?" Priya listed ideas. "Silent kids could not ask Ms. Rivera to repeat a word they misheard. They could not spell out loud, which is how lots of us memorize. They lost their study buddies who quiz them." Marcus added, "Also, a bunch of them joined because their best friends joined." Priya sipped her juice. "True, Marcus. But that does not explain the scores."

Step 3 · Try the model question

Half the class chose Silent Week. On the Friday spelling quiz, the talkers did well, but the silent kids did worse, even though they had done well the week before.

Every choice below, assuming it is true, helps explain the quiz results EXCEPT:

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Night-Shift Bakers

A bakery owner sued her insurance company. "Half my bakers chose to switch to the night shift, and their bread got worse. Before the switch, it was perfect!" The insurance lawyer listed reasons: the night ovens run cooler, the lights are dimmer, the head baker is not there to give tips. Mr. Whitfield, for the owner, nodded at each. "All fair reasons the bread suffered." Then the insurance lawyer added, "Also, many bakers picked nights because they wanted to see the city empty." Mr. Whitfield raised a finger. "Your Honor, that tells us why they switched. It does not tell us one thing about why the bread sank." The judge agreed. "Noted. Motive is not a muffin."

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 153, Section 3, Question 13 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

State the surprise in your own words: one group made a change and did worse, though they were fine before. For each answer, run the Handshake Test: does it connect the change to worse performance? Explaining answers will. Cross those off. The answer left over is the one that talks about something else, such as why people chose the change, and leaves the drop in performance unexplained.