Just as a bicycle chain may be too tight, so may one’s carefulness and

You are absolutely right. Edited. Thank you.

I choose C from C and B. I would like to know if I am missing something. Why is C wrong ?

I was unable to pick an answer between B and C? Please provide some clarity on this.

What a fun LSAT-style question. It seems as though some people are having trouble between (B) and (C). Of course, since we are asked to follow a similar line of reasoning as the one presented in the passage, we need to have a clear picture of what the reasoning looks like:


There is an analogy here. A bicycle chain may be too tight and thereby hinder the proper functioning of the bicycle : one's carefulness and conscientiousness may be so tense as to hinder the proper functioning of one's mind. The connection could not be any tighter. Getting to our two shortlisted answer choices...


Keep in mind, the bicycle chain needs to be tightened to a point to allow the bicycle to function properly. Here, a carousel needs to spin for the ride to work properly. But if the carousel spins too quickly, it hinders the proper functioning of the ride. The second part of this comparison goes into a mental process, similar to what we saw in part two of the passage. Here, concentration is necessary to resolve difficulties, but too rapid a concentration, on several problems at that, prevents or hinders the proper resolution of difficulties. Everything fits.


A machine may need to be oiled to function properly, but too much oil leads to... what? A mess? Does it necessarily hinder the machine from functioning properly? Maybe, maybe not. But what happens when we jump across the comma? We get an action, drinking, which cannot be said to be necessary for a human to function properly. Yes, heavy drinking will certainly inhibit or hinder proper functioning, but then we get this overreaching complete dissipation. Are we to interpret this as a complete breakdown? If so, this result would not parallel the outcome of the passage, the hindering of proper function instead. If, on the other hand, we take complete dissipation at face value to mean complete overindulgence, or a descent into drunkenness, then what does that have to do with a well-oiled machine? Does such a machine break down entirely? That is speculative at best. Does the machine overindulge? Impossible, unless we are talking about an intelligent machine. In any case, we are meant to tie the answer choice back into an analogy based on inhibiting the proper functioning of something, nothing more. This answer fails to deliver.

I would be happy to discuss the question further, or any other answer choices, should someone still be curious.

- Andrew

For me it was a big tug of war between B and the river however the method of elemination will be foretold , we require an argument that which can act counteractively such as the bicycle chain which has work normally as free circiling and it's happening with similar analogy with the aid of some of the elements such as perfectionisim frivolous thinking etc, the closest that resembels B however my stoppage for D was that river didn't move just like the clock which made me think and eleminate and arrive at the IMO B

I found that looking for external v/s the internal factors was helpful in reaching OA.
All others except B point out to a factor which is external - Time, Alcohol, Season/some other career related factor, and in E too. Only B suggests concentration which is an internal factor and is reasoned parallel almost perfectly with the bike analogy.