Passage Summary: A skeptic tried to catch a magician using three common tricks by testing them one by one, and because the magician still succeeded in each individual test, the skeptic decided she doesn't use any of those tricks at all.

Conclusion: The magician does not use sleight of hand, a trick deck, or a fake volunteer to perform her trick.

Reasoning: In three separate tests, each designed to isolate and prevent one of those specific methods, the magician still successfully performed the trick.

Analysis: The skeptic's logic is a bit like saying, 'I tried to start my car without the key, and it didn't work; then I tried with the key but no gas, and it didn't work; so the car must not need keys or gas to run.' The skeptic assumes that because a method wasn't used in one specific trial, it isn't used in any of them. However, Debbie could have used sleight of hand in the trial where the skeptic provided the deck, or used a trick deck in the trial where she was being videotaped for sleight of hand. Look for an answer that points out that a method could be used in the trials where it wasn't the specific focus of the test.