Attractive Wrong Answer
This trap appears as a wrong-answer choice in 22 active questions. Spotting how it is built is the repair: read each example's “why it's attractive” before the “why it's wrong.”
Subject distribution
- CRIMINAL16
- Real Property3
- Civil Procedure1
- Contracts1
- Evidence1
Example wrong choices
first 2014068_retreat_canoe · CIVIL_PROCEDURE · Choice ANo, Paul does not have a right to a jury trial as to any claim because the case is essentially equitable because of the request for injunctive relief.
Why it's attractive
Students remember injunctions are equitable and overextend that memory to the whole case.
Why it's wrong
CUT: one equitable remedy cannot swallow the legal damages claim.
14424_christmas_pageant_lantern_bid · CONTRACTS · Choice APaul was negligent in erroneously calculating the amount of his sub-bid.
Why it's attractive
A talks about Paul's math fault; it does not show Esther was trapped in her own bid before acceptance.
Why it's wrong
A talks about Paul's math fault; it does not show Esther was trapped in her own bid before acceptance.
14424_christmas_pageant_lantern_bid · CONTRACTS · Choice BAfter Paul's notice of revocation, Esther made a reasonable effort to subcontract with another lighting installer at the lowest possible price.
Why it's attractive
B happens after revocation and helps the substitute-price story; it does not explain why Paul's offer stayed open.
Why it's wrong
B happens after revocation and helps the substitute-price story; it does not explain why Paul's offer stayed open.
14424_christmas_pageant_lantern_bid · CONTRACTS · Choice DEsther dealt with all of her subcontractors in good faith and without seeking to renegotiate lower prices they had bid.
Why it's attractive
D shows clean dealing in general; it still does not show Esther was bound to her prime bid when Paul revoked.
Why it's wrong
D shows clean dealing in general; it still does not show Esther was bound to her prime bid when Paul revoked.
14895_ark-ledger · EVIDENCE · Choice AYes, because honesty is a pertinent character trait offered by an accused.
Why it's attractive
It answers whether honesty can matter, not whether specific acts are the allowed form.
Why it's wrong
It answers whether honesty can matter, not whether specific acts are the allowed form.
14895_ark-ledger · EVIDENCE · Choice CNo, because the testimony is extrinsic evidence on a collateral matter.
Why it's attractive
It says No, but it gives a collateral-matter reason instead of the character-proof-form reason.
Why it's wrong
It says No, but it gives a collateral-matter reason instead of the character-proof-form reason.
15014 · REAL_PROPERTY · Choice Ainvalid, because of the change of circumstance in the neighborhood.
Why it's attractive
This choice points to changed circumstances around East Peterhill, but the stem does not give the needed trigger that the restriction has lost its value across the restricted/benefited land.
Why it's wrong
This choice points to changed circumstances around East Peterhill, but the stem does not give the needed trigger that the restriction has lost its value across the restricted/benefited land.
15014 · REAL_PROPERTY · Choice Cvalid, but only so long as the original grantees from the landowner own their respective tracts of Peterhill.
Why it's attractive
The phrase 'only so long as' imposes an original-owner limit. The deed text says the opposite: heirs, assigns, successors, and any owner of Peterhill.
Why it's wrong
The phrase 'only so long as' imposes an original-owner limit. The deed text says the opposite: heirs, assigns, successors, and any owner of Peterhill.
15015_advent_lantern · REAL_PROPERTY · Choice CEsther, because the Advent lantern could not be legally removed after Martha died.
Why it's attractive
The choice reverses the taught timing rule by treating death as an instant cutoff.
Why it's wrong
The choice reverses the taught timing rule by treating death as an instant cutoff.
15023 · REAL_PROPERTY · Choice Bthe landowner, because a right for support, appurtenant to Lot 1, had been acquired by adverse possession or prescription.
Why it's attractive
The 12-year and 10-year facts are bait. The support right on these facts does not need to be acquired by prescription.
Why it's wrong
The 12-year and 10-year facts are bait. The support right on these facts does not need to be acquired by prescription.
16025_calligraphy_studio · CRIMINAL · Choice DAt the time of the shooting, Martha actually believed that Lydia was about to stab her with a craft knife, but a reasonable person in Martha's place would not have held that belief.
Why it's attractive
Actual belief is present, but the reasonable-person sentence defeats complete acquittal.
Why it's wrong
Actual belief is present, but the reasonable-person sentence defeats complete acquittal.
17345_retreat_cider · CRIMINAL · Choice DYes, because Ruth reasonably feared immediate death.
Why it's attractive
The choice proves an ordinary duress element, but it skips the murder limitation.
Why it's wrong
The choice proves an ordinary duress element, but it skips the murder limitation.
17950_choir-loft · CRIMINAL · Choice DComplete acquittal, because Mary honestly feared deadly harm.
Why it's attractive
Full self-defense requires BOTH an honest AND a reasonable belief. The stem tells us a reasonable person would NOT have believed deadly force was needed. Only the honest prong is satisfied — that's imperfect, not perfect self-defense.
Why it's wrong
Full self-defense requires BOTH an honest AND a reasonable belief. The stem tells us a reasonable person would NOT have believed deadly force was needed. Only the honest prong is satisfied — that's imperfect, not perfect self-defense.
18217_youth_rally_stop · CRIMINAL · Choice BYes, because a police command always creates an immediate seizure.
Why it's attractive
Always is too much. The Gold Key adds the missing piece: a command is not a seizure unless Timothy submits.
Why it's wrong
Always is too much. The Gold Key adds the missing piece: a command is not a seizure unless Timothy submits.
18357_journaling_receipts · CRIMINAL · Choice DNo, because codefendants are always private actors for Sixth Amendment purposes.
Why it's attractive
The word always ignores the prosecutors' direction in the stem.
Why it's wrong
The word always ignores the prosecutors' direction in the stem.
18857_armor_of_god_arrow · CRIMINAL · Choice BNo, because Lydia's refusal of the transfusion was a voluntary intervening act.
Why it's attractive
The answer points the superseding-cause rule the wrong way once the Gold Key is available.
Why it's wrong
The answer points the superseding-cause rule the wrong way once the Gold Key is available.
19099 · CRIMINAL · Choice BTo obtain acquittal from all charges arising from the bottle throw
Why it's attractive
The words 'all charges' push the intoxication argument beyond the charged specific-intent issue.
Why it's wrong
The words 'all charges' push the intoxication argument beyond the charged specific-intent issue.
19692 · CRIMINAL · Choice AYes, because theft followed by any force is robbery
Why it's attractive
The words 'followed by any force' erase the timing limit. The stem separates the quiet taking from the later shove.
Why it's wrong
The words 'followed by any force' erase the timing limit. The stem separates the quiet taking from the later shove.
19737_ferry_hymn_workshop · CRIMINAL · Choice ANo seizure occurred because Hannah had first agreed to answer the officer's questions.
Why it's attractive
The choice answers how the encounter began, not what happened after the officer kept the license and blocked the exit.
Why it's wrong
The choice answers how the encounter began, not what happened after the officer kept the license and blocked the exit.
20031_hallelujah_handbells · CRIMINAL · Choice ANo, because robbery requires the property to be physically attached to the victim.
Why it's attractive
The answer invents a narrower requirement than the Gold Key permits.
Why it's wrong
The answer invents a narrower requirement than the Gold Key permits.
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