Logical reasoning PrepTest 117 · Section 2 · Question 12

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Illustration (Principle)

Stimulus Summary:
Goal — Convince a jury
Approach — Pick a more charismatic expert instead of a more knowledgeable expert

Answer Anticipation:
For Illustration (Principle) questions, we need to understand the scenario in the stimulus, figure out the principle underlying it, and then find another scenario in an answer choice that conforms to the same principle. Let's start with a principle specific to the stimulus, abstract from it, and then head to the answers.

In the stimulus, a goal is established, along with an approach in reaching it. That goal is to convince a jury during a trial, and the approach is to use charismatic experts over experts who are more knowledgeable. Why? Because the juries evaluate these experts on whether their testimony was clear and confident.

So abstracting from that, we have a principle along the lines of:
In reaching a goal, sometimes the relevant skillset isn't expertise but rather persuasiveness.

Let's find an answer with a similar scenario.

Answer Explanation:
This answer features experts—the politicians—who are reaching a goal—getting elected. The successful ones are often persuasive (highly skilled at conducting an election campaign) but not experts in their role (lack insight into important political issues). This answer matches up with the principle, so it's correct.

Key Takeaway:
Illustration (Principle) questions can be very time—consuming because of all the steps involved. Start by understanding the scenario, then create an abstract principle that reflects the logic but not content of the stimulus. At that point, you're ready to head to the answers.

Incorrect. The topic here is similar, making it suspect, as the LSAT will frequently include topically similar answers in these questions with different logic to throw you off. Additionally, it doesn't line up with the principle. There, one set of skills was prioritized over expertise; here, a separate set of skills are used to enhance another.

Incorrect. This answer goes with the expert (the better singer) over the charismatic (greater dramatic ability) option, so it's the opposite of the stimulus.

Incorrect. It's unclear how gentle reinforcement and telling the children what to do lines up with the expertise in the stimulus, so this answer has a different principle underlying it.

Incorrect. There's no charisma/personality here—there's expertise that fits a role, and expertise that has a role created for it.