PrepTest 133
[lcid:3628] Prep Test 133 LSAT — Logical Reasoning — S1
Logical reasoning
Question prompt
One child pushed another
Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right
Credited answer: B
The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.
Question Type
Principle Questions / Strengthen Questions
Answer choices
-
AAn action that is Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice A is not credited
Incorrect. This answer establishes a necessary condition for an action to be wrong, so it can't justify that conclusion. -
BIt is wrong for Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice B matches the stem
Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument
Valid or Flawed:
Flawed
Question Type:
Strengthen (Principle)
Stimulus Summary:
Situation - A child pushed another from behind, injuring them
Additional info - The pusher understands right from wrong
Conclusion - If the pusher intended to injure, their action was wrong
Answer Anticipation:
Strengthen (Principle) questions task us with connecting the judgment in the conclusion to the details in the premises. Interestingly here, the conclusion itself is conditional, bringing up another detail that would need to be connected.
The judgment here is that an action—pushing another child—was wrong. Why? Because the child in question knows right from wrong. So if the pusher intended injury, then their action was wrong.
Connecting the dots, we want an answer that states when someone knows right from wrong and intends to injure someone else, then their action is wrong.
Answer Explanation:
If someone understands right from wrong and intends to hurt someone, then that action is wrong. The pusher understood right from wrong and hurt someone, so the conclusion of the stimulus—if they intended harm, then their action was wrong—is justified.
Key Takeaway:
We can't stress enough how important it is to focus on the conclusion that you're trying to justify in these Strengthen (Principle) questions—the correct answer has to establish a sufficient condition to reach that conclusion, not a necessary condition for it. Focusing on that alone is generally good for 2-3 eliminations! -
CAny act that is Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice C is not credited
Incorrect. This answer establishes a necessary condition for an action to be wrong, so it can't justify a conclusion that an action was wrong. -
DAn act that harms Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice D is not credited
Incorrect. There's no indication in the stimulus as to whether the pusher did or didn't think about potential injuries to the other child, so this answer doesn't necessarily apply. -
EA person who does Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice E is not credited
Incorrect. The pusher in the stimulus does understand right from wrong, so this answer doesn't apply.