Half Truth
This trap appears as a wrong-answer choice in 356 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
- CRIMINAL112
- Real Property66
- Evidence63
- Contracts53
- Constitutional Law23
- Civil Procedure22
- Criminal Law10
- Torts7
Example wrong choices
first 2014062_stephens-orchard-late-changed-charge · CIVIL_PROCEDURE · Choice DYes, because even though Stephen waived his objection to the instruction prior to trial, his objection at trial was timely.
Why it's attractive
Reaches the correct 'Yes' but concedes a pre-trial waiver that never happened — his pre-trial act was objecting to the REFUSAL of his own instruction, which waives nothing.
Why it's wrong
Reaches the correct 'Yes' but concedes a pre-trial waiver that never happened — his pre-trial act was objecting to the REFUSAL of his own instruction, which waives nothing.
14108_ebike_delivery_sign · CIVIL_PROCEDURE · Choice AYes, because the sign evidence was uncontradicted, so no reasonable jury could find that the policy covers Lydia's injury.
Why it's attractive
It treats a sign with no explained purpose as automatically enough to remove the issue from the jury.
Why it's wrong
It treats a sign with no explained purpose as automatically enough to remove the issue from the jury.
14150_livestock_trailer_rancher · CIVIL_PROCEDURE · Choice BNo, because the manufacturer and service center were not misjoined and no basis for dismissal exists.
Why it's wrong
Choice B is not the credited answer for this item.
14178_choir_robe_credit_good_faith · CIVIL_PROCEDURE · Choice DYes, because alternative and inconsistent allegations are permitted when the pleading party does not have knowledge that only one of the allegations is true.
Why it's attractive
Rule 8 permission is real, but it is not a blanket shield against Rule 11 good-faith certification.
Why it's wrong
Rule 8 permission is real, but it is not a blanket shield against Rule 11 good-faith certification.
14188_homeschool_discipleship_kit_files · CIVIL_PROCEDURE · Choice ANo, because it would be no more difficult for Ruth to identify the requested documents than for the publishing house.
Why it's wrong
Choice A is not the credited answer for this item.
14188_homeschool_discipleship_kit_files · CIVIL_PROCEDURE · Choice CYes, because it would be more difficult for Ruth to identify the requested documents than for the publishing house.
Why it's wrong
Choice C is not the credited answer for this item.
14205_fellowship_hall · CIVIL_PROCEDURE · Choice CYes, because this is a proper final judgment issued by the court following a bench trial.
Why it's wrong
Choice C is not the credited answer for this item.
14208_women_of_the_word · CIVIL_PROCEDURE · Choice DNo, because Esther's attorney failed to provide sufficient notice to all members of the class.
Why it's wrong
Choice D is not the credited answer for this item.
14216_retreat_shuttle · CIVIL_PROCEDURE · Choice ANo. Issue preclusion will not bind Lydia, but claim preclusion may bar her negligence claim.
Why it's attractive
It gets the nonparty issue-preclusion cut right, then wrongly reaches for claim preclusion.
Why it's wrong
It gets the nonparty issue-preclusion cut right, then wrongly reaches for claim preclusion.
14222_piano_tutor_counterclaim_default · CIVIL_PROCEDURE · Choice BYes, because Martha's counterclaim was for an exact dollar amount.
Why it's attractive
B uses the sum-certain fact but ignores Peter's filing of the original complaint.
Why it's wrong
B uses the sum-certain fact but ignores Peter's filing of the original complaint.
14227_priscilla_treasurer · CONSTITUTIONAL_LAW · Choice BThe state must demonstrate that the statute is rationally related to a legitimate state interest.
Why it's wrong
Choice B is not the credited answer for this item.
14233_galilee_nets_fieldhouse · CONSTITUTIONAL_LAW · Choice DThe nexus between the contracting decisions of the team owners and the one-time grant of state funds is sufficiently substantial to subject those decisions to the limitations of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Why it's attractive
The choice treats the state grant as enough even though the owners made the contractor-selection decision.
Why it's wrong
The choice treats the state grant as enough even though the owners made the contractor-selection decision.
14237_harvest_table_radio_segment · CONSTITUTIONAL_LAW · Choice ANo, because the state's accreditation and partial funding of the institute are sufficient to make the state an active participant in Mary's discharge.
Why it's attractive
The choice treats real state contacts as enough even though the firing itself has no state link.
Why it's wrong
The choice treats real state contacts as enough even though the firing itself has no state link.
14248_lydia_clay_reclamation · CONSTITUTIONAL_LAW · Choice ALydia's Workshop should prevail on its claim for the cost of the quarry equipment and kiln trailers, but not on its claim for expected profits.
Why it's attractive
It correctly rejects expected profits but turns equipment costs into compensation even though the equipment was not taken.
Why it's wrong
It correctly rejects expected profits but turns equipment costs into compensation even though the equipment was not taken.
14263_good_samaritan_market · CONSTITUTIONAL_LAW · Choice BNo, because the section attaches consequences to conduct Lydia and Barnabas completed before the section was enacted.
Why it's attractive
Past conduct is visible, but the stem also gives named people, loss of pay, legislature, and no trial.
Why it's wrong
Past conduct is visible, but the stem also gives named people, loss of pay, legislature, and no trial.
14275_lantern_launch_observatory · CONSTITUTIONAL_LAW · Choice DYes, because renting the city observatory for the officer-installation ceremony subjects the League's leadership rule to the Fourteenth Amendment.
Why it's attractive
City property is visible, but the answer skips the missing attribution bridge.
Why it's wrong
City property is visible, but the answer skips the missing attribution bridge.
14321_grace_harbor_sanctuary_candles · CONSTITUTIONAL_LAW · Choice CAt the time the sanctuary candles are manufactured and taxed they have not yet entered the channels of interstate commerce.
Why it's wrong
Choice C is not the credited answer for this item.
14327_hatteras_ferry_preemption · CONSTITUTIONAL_LAW · Choice Bhear the case on its merits and decide for Lydia because, on these facts, a federal agency is interfering with essential state functions.
Why it's attractive
The 'hear on merits' half is correct, which is what makes the distractor attractive. The 'essential state functions' reasoning is a Tenth-Amendment / anti-commandeering bait. It does not apply: the federal statute regulates INTERSTATE common carriers — a federal function under the Commerce Clause — and the Supremacy Clause preempts any state law in direct conflict. There is no 'essential state functions' exception to preemption. Gold Key GK-CONST-PREEMPT-INTERSTATE-01 unlocks this trap. Silver Key SK-CONST-POSTURE-CLASH-01: when two choices share the procedural posture, push to the substantive rule.
Why it's wrong
The 'hear on merits' half is correct, which is what makes the distractor attractive. The 'essential state functions' reasoning is a Tenth-Amendment / anti-commandeering bait. It does not apply: the federal statute regulates INTERSTATE common carriers — a federal function under the Commerce Clause — and the Supremacy Clause preempts any state law in direct conflict. There is no 'essential state functions' exception to preemption. Gold Key GK-CONST-PREEMPT-INTERSTATE-01 unlocks this trap. Silver Key SK-CONST-POSTURE-CLASH-01: when two choices share the procedural posture, push to the substantive rule.
14330_new_zion_battery_barn · CONSTITUTIONAL_LAW · Choice AYes, because the federal government's legitimate needs are satisfied when the unlicensed state processor satisfies most federal licensing standards in practice.
Why it's attractive
The answer says most standards are enough, but the stem's federal command requires licensed facilities.
Why it's wrong
The answer says most standards are enough, but the stem's federal command requires licensed facilities.
14339_good_shepherd_science_kit · CONSTITUTIONAL_LAW · Choice BYes, because the state's interest in protecting children from faulty animal science justifies this burden on interstate commerce.
Why it's attractive
The statute itself protects in-state makers, and only the in-state product satisfies the criteria.
Why it's wrong
The statute itself protects in-state makers, and only the in-state product satisfies the criteria.
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