Even Split
This trap appears as a wrong-answer choice in 8 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
- CRIMINAL4
- Contracts2
- Criminal Law1
- Torts1
Example wrong choices
14481_ruth_nativity_music_box · CONTRACTS · Choice DBoth claims will succeed, and Stephen will recover $6,000.
Why it's attractive
The answer nets both claims, but the rule leaves no contract claims to net.
Why it's wrong
The answer nets both claims, but the rule leaves no contract claims to net.
14521_sea_of_galilee_lantern_walk · CONTRACTS · Choice CNeither party recovers anything, because Lydia committed a material, unexcused breach and Daniel received a $60,000 benefit from Lydia for which Lydia has not been paid.
Why it's attractive
The answer treats opposing facts as canceling each other without applying a remedy rule.
Why it's wrong
The answer treats opposing facts as canceling each other without applying a remedy rule.
14631_manna_mart · CRIMINAL_LAW · Choice DEither strict or vicarious liability.
Why it's attractive
Either/or sounds flexible, but the actual result requires both.
Why it's wrong
Either/or is a false compromise; the result requires both theories.
Spot it next time
Draw two boxes and fill both: direct seller and owner.
14677_prop-gun-rehearsal · CRIMINAL · Choice Bnot guilty of murder or manslaughter.
Why it's attractive
A reasonable mistake negates the mental state for both murder and manslaughter — both are general-intent crimes.
Why it's wrong
A reasonable mistake negates the mental state for both murder and manslaughter — both are general-intent crimes.
14710_private_concert_lockbox · CRIMINAL · Choice Deither larceny or embezzlement, but not both.
Why it's attractive
It keeps larceny but leaves embezzlement falsely available.
Why it's wrong
It keeps larceny but leaves embezzlement falsely available.
15151_retreat_courtyard_culverts · TORTS · Choice Cone-half of her loss, in the absence of evidence enabling the court to allocate responsibility fairly between the city and Emma Rail.
Why it's attractive
This answer guesses a neat fraction instead of answering the plaintiff's recovery from a jointly liable tortfeasor.
Why it's wrong
This answer guesses a neat fraction instead of answering the plaintiff's recovery from a jointly liable tortfeasor.
22282_hymn_festival_permit · CRIMINAL · Choice DBribery in the second degree or conspiracy to commit bribery, but not both.
Why it's attractive
invents an either-or rule
Why it's wrong
invents an either-or rule
22300_tutoring_office_photos · CRIMINAL · Choice BBoth conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to commit larceny.
Why it's attractive
It treats suspicious conduct as satisfying both target crimes.
Why it's wrong
It treats suspicious conduct as satisfying both target crimes.
Practice the questions that use this trap as a distractor and get full Wrong Answer Forensics on submit.
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