PrepTest 156 · Section 4 · Question 21 (Principle)

Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first

Question type

Principle

The one idea it tests

A rule with several conditions: the right judgment is the one where every condition is met and the result matches what the rule says.

The basic logic

List each condition in the rule like a checklist. Then check each case line by line. A case fails if it misses any condition, if it adds a condition the rule never stated, or if it denies something the rule allows. The right answer passes every box and reaches the result the rule gives.

Tiny words that decide it

“up to”
“at least”
“must”

Playground logic

Ms. Rivera's hamster rule has a short checklist: sign up a week ahead and have no missing homework this month, and you can take the hamster home for up to one weekend. Owen checked every box and asked for one weekend, so the rule says yes.

Step 2 · The kid story

Who Gets the Hamster?

Ms. Rivera wrote the rule on the board: "Any eligible student may take Peanut the hamster home for up to one weekend. To be eligible, you must sign up at least one week before that weekend, and you must have no missing homework for the month at the time you sign up."

Lulu copied it onto her clipboard and made three boxes. Kevin signed up on Thursday for that Saturday. "Too late," said Lulu. Nadia signed up two weeks early but owed a math sheet that day. "No box," said Lulu. Owen signed up ten days early with all his homework done, and asked for one weekend.

"Three boxes checked," said Lulu. "Owen gets Peanut."

Marcus asked for two weekends. Lulu didn't even look up.

Step 3 · Try the model question

Class rule: Any eligible student may take the class hamster home for up to one weekend. To be eligible, a student must sign up at least one week before that weekend and must have no missing homework for the month at the time of signing up.

Which one of the following decisions best fits the class rule?

Step 4 · The courtroom tale

The Case of the Garden Plot

The community garden's rule said: a member may claim up to two plots if they sign the waiting list at least a month before spring and have paid dues for a full year at the time of signing. Mr. Whitfield represented Mrs. Pell, who was denied.

"Your Honor, Mrs. Pell signed the list six weeks before spring. She had paid dues for two years when she signed. She asked for one plot, which is under the limit."

The garden's lawyer said, "But she grows only radishes."

"The rule says nothing about radishes," said Mr. Whitfield.

The judge checked each box on the rule. "Timing, yes. Dues, yes. Amount, within limit. Mrs. Pell gets her plot."

Step 5 · Work the real question

Open PrepTest 156, Section 4, Question 21 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.

Your answer

How to apply it

Turn the rule into a numbered checklist, paying attention to timing words and to when each condition must be true. Then test each choice against every box. Cross off any choice that misses a box, especially a condition measured at a specific moment. Also cross off choices that invent a new requirement, or that refuse something the rule allows. The answer is the case that checks every box and lands on the rule's result.