SUBJECTS
|
BROWSE
|
CAREER CENTER
|
POPULAR
|
JOIN
|
LOGIN
Business Skills
|
Soft Skills
|
Basic Literacy
|
Certifications
About
|
Help
|
Privacy
|
Terms
|
Email
Search
Test your basic knowledge |
GMAT Critical Reasoning
Start Test
Study First
Subjects
:
gmat
,
logic-and-reasoning
Instructions:
Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can
study here
.
Match each statement with the correct term.
Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.
This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. In order to clarify a question stem with EXCEPT - rephrase the EXCEPT statement into a question - inserting the word NOT and eliminating the word EXCEPT. Ex: 'Each of the following helps to explain event X except...' turns into 'Which one does NOT ex
Warning
: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in
/var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php
on line
183
2. Arguments contain 2 opposing points of view. Assess answer choices by holding them in opposition to the conclusion or one of its assumptions. 1. Identify the conclusion from the point of view of the author. 2. Note the counter-claim and it's proponen
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Switching terms
Weaken the Conclusion: Argument/Counterargument
Draw a Conclusion
Premise
3. If you have two claims X & Y - ask yourself which leads to the other. A) 'X - therefore Y'. If this works - Y is the conclusion. B) 'Y - therefore X'. If this works - X is the conclusion. The deduction that takes place last logically in the sequence
Warning
: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in
/var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php
on line
183
4. Extreme words make the answer choices incorrect - unless the argument explicitly justifies/states extreme words. A correct answer choice must be 100% true. When you see boundary or extreme words in an answer - ask 'what is the most extreme example I
What Correct answers do
Boundary & Extreme Words in Answer Choices
LEN: Least Extreme Negation Technique
Use Real Numbers - Make an Inference
5. Unstated parts of an argument that are necessary to reach the given conclusion. NEVER stated in the written argument.
The 'Therefore' test
Find the Assumption Questions
Conclusion
Assumption
6. 1. Look for the conclusion - often the last sentence of an argument - but sometimes the first. 2. Find the premises that lead to the conclusion - provide ALL the pieces of information written in the argument. - provide evidence that supports or leads
Identifying the Parts of an Argument
Strengthen the Conclusion
Answer Choices: Process of Elimination
Strengthen the Conclusion: Wrong Answer Choice Type - No Tie to the Conclusion
7. They limit the scope of an argument and can be useful in identifying incorrect answer choices. They provide nuances to the argument - which can help you make some answer choices correct or incorrect. When diagramming - be sure to include boundary wor
Boundary Words
'Except' and 'Fill in the Blank' Questions
MQT: Analyze Argument Structure - faster approach
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - No ties to the conclusion
8. Solve a problem posed by the premises - correct AC should directly counteract or fix a given problem. Tend to appear as a new premise - wrong AC will address some piece of the argument but not counteract or fix the problem. Some wrong AC will reinfor
Resolve a Problem A Minor Question Type (MQT)
Identifying the Parts of an Argument
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Out of Scope
Signal Words for Premises
9. Commonly uses words 'assumption - assume - flaw or questionable'. Assumptions serve as a necessary bridge between the premises and the conclusion. The correct answer choice of an assumption question must be necessary to the conclusion of the argument
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices
Mimic the Argument A Minor Question Type (MQT)
Argument Structure
Find the Assumption Questions
10. The answer choice MUST be true!
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Switching terms
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Wrong Direction
Argument Structure
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices
11. Provides a conclusion that is opposite of what the argument says.
MQT: Analyze Argument Structure - faster approach
Minor Question Type: Explain an Event or Discrepancy
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Wrong Direction
Boundary & Extreme Words in Answer Choices
12. Is a disguised version of a known question type. Once you recognize what type it is - use the standard strategies for that type.
Warning
: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in
/var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php
on line
183
13. Read the passage and label each boldface as Fact - Opinion - or Conclusion. Skim each answer choice - only looking for terminology matching F - O - C. Eliminate AC that don't match F - O - C classification.
MQT: Analyze Argument Structure
Boundary & Extreme Words in Answer Choices
The T Diagram
MQT: Analyze Argument Structure - faster approach
14. 1. Draw a large T - leaving more room on the left 'pro' side than the right 'con' side. 2. Look for the conclusion and write it on the top of the T. 3. Read the argument sentence by sentence. Write any pro premises on the left and cons on the right.
Negating an assumption
The T Diagram
Fill in a logic gap
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Addresses the premise only
15. Poses two seemingly contradictory premises and find the AC that best reconciles them - Question will indicate the discrepancy or provide a keyword pointing to it in the argument: yet - however - nonetheless - paradoxically - surprising because...Argu
Minor Question Type: Explain an Event or Discrepancy
Identify all claims from facts (which can be proven) - Alternate Way to Find the Conclusion
Boundary & Extreme Words in Answer Choices
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices
16. Make sure to note if a question is strengthen or weaken the conclusion so as to not mistakenly choose the wrong answer - use an S-W-slash chart
Weaken: Wrong Answer Choice Type - No tie to the conclusion
'Except' and 'Fill in the Blank' Questions
Weaken: Wrong Answer Choice Type - Wrong direction
Argument Structure
17. The main point of the argument - logically supported by the assumptions and premises. In the form of an opinion or claim.
Premise
LEN Examples
Diagramming Efficiently
Conclusion
18. When reading any question stem - try to classify the problem. Then - as you diagram - proactively find answers for the question type. Read the question stem first. If it is not immediately helpful - do not dwell. The process of diagramming will gener
Conclusion
Identifying the Question Type
Extreme Words
Draw a Conclusion
19. Proposes faulty mathematical or logical reasoning - make sure that any substituted expressions are truly synonyms
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices
Restate the Conclusion A Minor Question Type (MQT)
How to Diagram an Argument: The T-Diagram
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Switching Terms
20. The conclusion you select should be supported by at least some of the premises. The conclusion does NOT need to address all of the premises. A correct answer may be a mathematical or logical deduction. In this type of question - the entire body of th
Weaken 'EXCEPT' Questions
Draw a Conclusion: Stay Close to the Premises
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Out of Scope
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - No ties to the conclusion
21. Provide unnecessary information about a premise - make sure answer choices are not simply related to the conclusion but also weaken it - an answer choice can seem realistic - but only need to determine whether it weakens the argument
Weaken: Wrong Answer Choice Type - No tie to the conclusion
Establish the feasibility of the premises of an argument
'Except' and 'Fill in the Blank' Questions
Identifying the Question Type
22. Answer choice provides the opposite of what you are looking for
Weaken the Conclusion
Signal Words for Premises
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Wrong direction
Minor Question Type: Explain an Event or Discrepancy
23. Many answer choices weaken the argument instead of strengthening it - make sure to note the question type so as to choose the correct answer
Eliminate alternate paths to reach a given conclusion
Resolve a Problem A Minor Question Type (MQT)
Assumption: Ties to the Conclusion
Strengthen the Conclusion: Wrong Answer Choice Type - Wrong Direction
24. Use your paper to visibly eliminate answer choices A-E. Cross out incorrect choices and circle the correct answers. Check all of the answer choices even if you believe you have found the correct one. You may find that another answer choice is potenti
Weaken the Conclusion
The T Diagram
Answer Choices: Process of Elimination
'Except' and 'Fill in the Blank' Questions
25. Therefore - As a result - Suggests - It follows that - Indicates - Accordingly - So - Consequently - Thus - Hence - Should
Signal Words for Conclusion
Evaluate the Conclusion A Minor Question Type (MQT)
Extreme Words
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Switching Terms
26. 1. Find the assumption. 2. Draw a conclusion. 3. Strengthen the conclusion. 4. Weaken the conclusion. 5. Explain an event or discrepancy. 6. Analyze the argument structure. 7. Evaluate the conclusion. 8. Resolve a problem. 9. Provide an example. 10.
Establish the feasibility of the premises of an argument
S-W-Slash Chart
Major Question Types
Strengthen the Conclusion: Wrong Answer Choice Type - No Tie to the Conclusion
27. Only use this method when the primary patterns do not apply. A) predict the future - will - should - can be expected to - could result in - are likely to B) subjective opinion - anything that cannot be proven C) cause & effect - if...then - as a resu
Identify all claims from facts (which can be proven) - Alternate Way to Find the Conclusion
Extreme Words
Strengthen the Conclusion: Wrong Answer Choice Type - Wrong Direction
Premise
28. A category of assumption - cause and effect conclusions; correlation is not causation. - look for an assumption that eliminates an alternate model of causation - you must rule out the causality in the other direction
Can eliminate alternate causes for a given conclusion
The 'Therefore' test
Assumption: Ties to the Conclusion
LEN Examples
29. Premise + (assumption) = Conclusion
Argument Structure
MQT: Analyze Argument Structure
Draw a Conclusion: Stay Close to the Premises
Restate the Conclusion A Minor Question Type (MQT)
30. What do you do when two or more answer choices are very tempting? Use the Least Extreme Negation (LEN) technique. - negate answer choices to see whether the argument fails - use the least extreme negation possible. If the conclusion can still follow
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Switching terms
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Out of Scope
LEN: Least Extreme Negation Technique
Signal Words for Conclusion
31. Always - only - all >> insert not necessarily or sometimes... Not - Never - none - not one - not once >> at least one - at least once - Some - a few - several >> no - none - Sometimes - on occasion - often >> never - At least - at most - more than -
Identify all claims from facts (which can be proven) - Alternate Way to Find the Conclusion
Weaken: Wrong Answer Choice Type - No tie to the conclusion
LEN Examples
Weaken the Conclusion
32. An answer choice that weakens the conclusion without requiring significant leaps of logic is likely correct. Use an S-W-slash chart on EXCEPT questions with confusing wording. Four answer choices will weaken - one will not. The correct answer choice
Warning
: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in
/var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php
on line
183
33. In 'Explain an Event or Discrepancy' - Look for __________ that shows why the discrepancy is not one - after you add it to existing premises - it shoul make sense all together - correct AC fills a logical hole in the argument - allowing all premises
Strengthen the Conclusion
Evaluate the Conclusion A Minor Question Type (MQT)
The AC that gives a new - fact-based premise
Establish the feasibility of the premises of an argument
34. A category of assumption - 'how do we logically get from Point A to Point B?' - key words: therefore - because - for this reason - etc. - fact-based or background information; occasionally reflects an opinion or claim
Draw a Conclusion: Stay Close to the Premises
Finding the Conclusion
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Out of Scope
Fill in a logic gap
35. Analyze the logical flow of a argument and choose the AC that most closely mimics the argument flow or structure - be sure to not spend too much time
Strengthen the Conclusion: Wrong Answer Choice Type - Wrong Direction
The AC that gives a new - fact-based premise
Mimic the Argument A Minor Question Type (MQT)
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices
36. Provides an assumption that is not actually necessary for the conclusion to be logically valid. - breaks up a category subtype
Boundary & Extreme Words in Answer Choices
MQT: Analyze Argument Structure - faster approach
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - No ties to the conclusion
Draw a Conclusion
37. Look for the assumption to: 1. Bridge agap between any premise and the conclusion. 2. Support/strengthen/validate the conclusion. The answer doesn't have to be the only necessary assumption. The right answer is often 'necessary but not sufficient.' I
Find the Assumption Questions
Assumption: Ties to the Conclusion
Major Question Types
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices
38. 1. Abbreviate anything you can but don't abbreviate so much that you change or lose the argument. 2. Underline key words - details and boundary words. 3. Use arrows to indicate cause and effect relationships. 4. Identify point of view with a colon to
Diagramming Efficiently
Conclusion
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Addresses the premise only
Strengthen the Conclusion: Wrong Answer Choice Type - Wrong Direction
39. A category of assumption - Reflects opinions or claims and that these are true or that a sequence of events will occur in a way the argument assumes.
Diagramming Efficiently
Weaken the Conclusion
Weaken: Wrong Answer Choice Type - Wrong direction
Establish the feasibility of the premises of an argument
40. Stated pieces of information or evidence that provide support for the conclusion (facts - opinions or claims).
Use Real Numbers - Make an Inference
MQT: Analyze Argument Structure
Premise
LEN: Least Extreme Negation Technique
41. A category of assumption - uses some type of superlative qualifier like only/best/worst way - there shouldn't be another way or better/worse way.
Use Real Numbers - Make an Inference
Eliminate alternate paths to reach a given conclusion
Restate the Conclusion A Minor Question Type (MQT)
Major Question Types
42. A powerful technique. If an answer choice in a question is negated and the argument becomes nonsensical - then the answer choice is almost certainly correct. An argument might depend on several assumptions - any of which could be the answer. However
Boundary & Extreme Words in Answer Choices
Negating an assumption
Extreme Words
Minor Question Type: Explain an Event or Discrepancy
43. Since - Due to - As a result of - Because - Given that - As
Signal Words for Premises
Conclusion
'Except' and 'Fill in the Blank' Questions
Can eliminate alternate causes for a given conclusion
44. Presented in 3 common ways - so read the question first! 1. Question contains the conclusion. 2. Question hints at the conclusion in the argument. 3. Argument contains an obvious conclusion - indicated by a clear signal word. Some GMAT questions ask
Finding the Conclusion
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Follow on
Weaken the Conclusion: Argument/Counterargument
LEN Examples
45. Describe the role of a part or parts of an argument - often use argument/counterargument structure (use modified T-diagram) Don't spend too much time - eliminate a few choices and move on. Two boldfaced statements - determine the role each one plays
Strengthen the Conclusion: Wrong Answer Choice Type - Wrong Direction
MQT: Analyze Argument Structure
Weaken 'EXCEPT' Questions
Weaken the Conclusion
46. Tied to a premise and provides unnecessary information about a premise - if the premise is already a stated fact - it doesn't need support - make sure the answer choice is not simply related to the conclusion but supports it
LEN Examples
Extreme Words
Strengthen the Conclusion: Wrong Answer Choice Type - No Tie to the Conclusion
Weaken the Conclusion
47. Explains or leads to a premise instead of the conclusion
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Follow on
Weaken: Wrong Answer Choice Type - Wrong direction
Strengthen the Conclusion: Wrong Answer Choice Type - Wrong Direction
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Addresses the premise only
48. 1. Expose a faulty or tenuous assumption OR 2. Negatively impacts the conclusion directly
Diagramming Efficiently
Strengthen the Conclusion: Wrong Answer Choice Type - No Tie to the Conclusion
Assumption: Ties to the Conclusion
What Correct answers do
49. To strengthen an argument - look for an answer choice that fixes a weakness of the conclusion - validates an assumption - or introduces new supporting evidence. A premise can strengthen or support a conclusion without being necessary for that conclus
Strengthen the Conclusion
Assumption
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Wrong Direction
LEN Examples
50. If an argument involves percentages - use real - concrete numbers. The words inference - assertion - prediction and claim are all synonyms for conclusion.
Minor Question Type: Explain an Event or Discrepancy
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Switching terms
Use Real Numbers - Make an Inference
Weaken: Wrong Answer Choice Type - No tie to the conclusion