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Logical Reasoning · Role of a Statement

PrepTest 154 · Section 4 · 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
Role of a Statement
The one idea it tests
A general claim tacked on at the end can be a Helper that props up the Boss directly.
The basic logic
Find the Boss (overall conclusion) first, often flagged by thus or so. Then ask what the target sentence does: does it support the Boss itself, support another premise, or just set the scene? A reason given right after the conclusion is still a Helper.
Tiny words that decide it
  • “thus”
  • “if”
  • “as everyone knows”
  • “however”

Playground logic

Owen's top bun is that lots of chess kids get quiet from playing chess. His patty is what he has seen at club, plus a final general claim: a game needing that much focus can make anyone go quiet. That last line is a Helper, handing support straight to the Boss.

Step 2 · The kid story

Owen and the Silent Chess Club

Owen is explaining his big theory at recess. "Sure, some chess club kids are loud and silly. But the ones I've met are way more often super quiet. So if those kids are typical, lots of chess players get quiet from playing chess." Marcus squints. "Why would chess make you quiet?" "Because," says Owen, "everybody knows a game that needs that much focus can make anybody go quiet." Lulu writes on her clipboard: Boss: chess makes many players quiet. Then she circles the last line. "That one isn't the Boss. It's a reason. It holds up the Boss all by itself, no middle step." Kevin raises a hand. "Do dinosaurs play chess?" Nobody answers.

Step 3 · Try the model question

Owen: Some chess club kids are loud. But the ones I have met are much more often quiet. So, if they are typical, many chess players become quiet from playing chess. After all, a game that needs so much focus can make anyone go quiet.

What job does the final sentence in Owen's argument do?

Choices

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Case of the Sleepy Bakers

Mr. Whitfield addressed the jury. "Some bakers are wide awake all day. But the bakers I have met are far more often yawning. So, if they are typical, baking makes many bakers sleepy." He leaned on the rail. "And of course, a job that starts at four in the morning can make anyone sleepy." The judge raised a finger. "Counsel, is that last remark your conclusion?" "No, Your Honor. My conclusion is that baking makes bakers sleepy. That remark is a reason, offered straight in support of it." "Noted," said the judge. "A Helper, then, not the Boss."

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 154, Section 4, Question 13 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Locate the overall conclusion first; a conclusion word plus an if-clause often marks it. Then read the target sentence and ask why the speaker says it. If it explains why the conclusion would be true, it supports the Boss. Check whether anything else in the argument leans on it; if nothing does, it is not supporting another premise. Match that job to the answer.