Logical Reasoning · Point at Issue

PrepTest 154 · Section 2 · Question 25

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

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type

Point at Issue

The one idea it tests

The speakers disagree about whether an analogy supports a prediction, not about the facts in the analogy.

The basic logic

Speaker one uses a familiar paying habit to predict a new idea will work if quality is good. Speaker two says that habit only happens where it is customary, so it does not carry over. Find the claim one accepts and the other rejects.

Tiny words that decide it

“but”
“only”
“if”
“most”

Playground logic

Frankie says kids already pay a nickel for gumballs, so pretty bookmarks will sell for a nickel. Sharon says kids pay for gumballs because that is what gumball machines are for, and nobody pays for bookmarks now. Two clipboards: Frankie checks yes on 'the gumball habit shows pretty bookmarks will sell,' Sharon checks no.

Step 2 · The kid story

The Bookmark Business

Frankie and Sharon set up a table at recess. "Our homemade bookmarks will sell for a nickel each, as long as they are pretty enough," Frankie says. "A nickel is nothing! Kids drop nickels into the gumball machine every day." Sharon folds her arms. "Kids put nickels in the gumball machine because that's what you do at a gumball machine. Nobody pays for bookmarks right now. That's a warning light for our plan." Lulu takes two clipboards. On one she writes Frankie's view, on the other Sharon's. "You both agree kids pay at gumball machines," she says. "You fight about whether that habit means pretty bookmarks will sell." Biscuit eats a bookmark. The debate pauses.

Step 3 · Try the model question

Frankie: Our bookmarks will sell for a nickel if they are pretty enough. Kids spend nickels at the gumball machine every day. Sharon: Kids pay at gumball machines because that is expected there. Nobody pays for bookmarks now, which is a warning light for our plan.

Frankie and Sharon most clearly disagree about whether

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Case of the Car Wash Fund

Two town council members argue before Judge Moss. Councilor Fenn: "Residents will pay two dollars to use the new public bike pump, provided it works well. People happily hand two dollars to car wash attendants." Councilor Lark: "People pay at car washes because paying there is expected. No one pays to pump bike tires now. That bodes poorly for the plan." Mr. Whitfield, advising the judge, explains, "Your Honor, they agree about car washes. They split over whether the car wash habit shows the pump fee will work if the pump is good." The judge nods. "Two clipboards, one disagreement."

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 154, Section 2, Question 25 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Write each speaker's conclusion and reasons on separate clipboards. Note what the second speaker accepts from the first (often the basic facts) and what she pushes back on (often whether those facts support the first speaker's prediction). The right choice is a claim the first speaker would affirm and the second would deny. Cross out choices only one speaker addresses, choices both would accept, and choices on topics neither raises.