LSAT 133 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q12

LR Question 12 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: When adults toss balls to very young children they…

QUESTION TYPE: Paradox

PARADOX: Adults toss children balls slowly, since children have low coordination. But children are actually better at catching balls if they are thrown quickly.

ANALYSIS: The right answer shows us that a fast moving ball is perceived as a threat and triggers a more effective part of the child’s brain. This makes sense to anyone who’s ever performed well in a dangerous situation yet is clumsy in everyday life.

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1. CORRECT. The self-defense part of the brain is likely to be more effective than the part of the brain that merely attempts to catch a slow ball. Without self-defense reflexes you would get seriously hurt; even children have these reflexes. Throwing the ball quickly triggers self-defense instincts. 
2. If a slow ball is less likely to get obscured then it should be easier to catch.
3. This tells us about adults. We need to explain the strange facts about children.
4. This tells us how well children can throw balls. We’re trying to explain something about how they can catch them.
5. This is to be expected. But it’s still strange that children are better at catching a faster ball than a slower ball, up to a point. This fails to explain that.