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Test your basic knowledge |
LSAT Logical Reasoning Clues
Start Test
Study First
Subjects
:
logic-and-reasoning
,
LSAT
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. Mis-assessing the force of evidence is a frequent error committed by LSAT authors 1. Lack of evidence for a position is taken to prove that position is false 2. lack of evidence against a position is taken to prove that position is true 3. some evide
Primary Objective #1
Time shift errors
Logical opposites
Errors in the use of evidence
2. Stimulus (affected or determined)--/-> answer choices (accepted) Negative sign on the arrow reflects attacking or hurting the argument (weaken).
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Weaken question signal words
Errors in the use of evidence
Family #3: Hurt
3. Takes a small number of intstances and treats those instances as if they support a broad - sweeping conclusion. Often appears as an incorrect answer.n
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Exceptional case/over generalization
Uncertain use of a term or concept
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
4. Always ask: Do the given facts support the conclusion? Do the premises strongly suggest that the conclusion would be true? Does the conclusion feel like an inevitable result of the premises? Or Does the conclusion go beyond the scope of the info in t
Family #1: Prove
How to determine the strength of an argument
Mistaken Negation
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
5. The makers of the LSAT do not think that there are multiple causes for the same effect. When an LSAT speaker concludes that one occurance caused another - that speaker also assumes that the stated cause is the only possible cause of the effect and th
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Primary Objective #8
Assumption Negation Technique
Rules for Family #1
6. If all 5 answer choices appear to be 'losers' - return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument.
Primary Objective #9
Rules for Family #2
Conclusion Indicators
Mistaken cause and effect
7. Because - since - for - for example - for the reason that - in that - given that - as indicated by - due to - owing to - this can be seen from - we know this by.
Exceptional case/over generalization
Rules for Family #1
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Premise Indicators
8. To logically negate a conditional statement - negate the necessary condition. Example: neither...nor becomes either...or.
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Logical negation
Counter Premise Indicators
9. Amount - quantity - sum - total - count - tally.n
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Primary Objective #9
Family #2: Help
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
10. Allows you to decide between contenders or to confirm that the answer you have chosen is correct. 1. Logically negate the answer choices under consideration. Usually consists of taking a 'not' out of a sentence or putting a 'not' in a sentence. 2. Th
Errors of conditional reasoning
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Assumption Negation Technique
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
11. 1. Stimulus will contain an argument. Must isolate and identify and assess the premises and the conclusion. 2. Focus on the conclusion. Almost all correct Weaken answers impact the conclusion. 3. The info in the stimulus is suspect. There are often r
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Rules for Family #1
Numbers and percentage errors
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
12. Occurs when an author improperly equates a percentage with a definate quantity or vice versa. n
Primary Objective #7
Family #2: Help
Rules for Family #1
Numbers and percentage errors
13. 1. An indication that the answer choices should be accepted as true 2. Keywords that indicate your task is to resolve the problem Action: Problem: Resolve Paradox Explain Contradiction Reconcile Discrepancy Conflict Puzzle *Attempt to prephrase Corre
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Primary Objective #6
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Primary Objective #1
14. 1. The info in the stimulus is supect. There are often reasoning errors present - and you will further weaken the argument in some way. 2. The answer choices are accepted as given - even if they include 'new' info. The task is to determine which answ
Primary Objective #9
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Premise Indicators
Rules for Family #3
15. Negates both conditions - creating a statement that does not have to be true. Given: A+ --> Study Mistaken Negation: Not A+ --> Not Study
Mistaken Negation
Primary Objective #6
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
16. 1. Appeal to authority - uses the opinion of an authority in an attempt to persuade the reader. The flaw is that the authority may not have relevant knowledge or all of the info regarding the situation - to there may be a difference of opinion among
Appeal Fallacies
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Conclusion Identification Method
Exceptional case/over generalization
17. As an argument progresses - the author must use each term in a constant - coherent fashion. using a term in different ways is inherently confusing and undermines the integrity of the argument. n
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Primary Objective #1
18. To weaken a conditional conclusion - attack the necessary condition by showing that the necessary condition does not need to occur in order for the sufficient condition to occur. With a combo of a conditional reasoning stimulus and a weaken question
Errors of composition and division
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Weakening conditional reasoning
Method of Reasoning
19. If - when - whenever - every - all - any - people who - in order to.
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Primary Objective #8
Errors of conditional reasoning
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
20. They often feature 2 conclusions (main and sub.) - when the main conclusion is typically place in the first or second sentence and the last sentence contains the sub. conclusion. The sub. conclusion is set off by conclusion indicators while the main
Weaken question signal words
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Primary Objective #9
Central assumption of causal conclusions
21. 1. if you recognize the form of reasoning used in the stimulus (causal - conditional - etc.) immediately attack the answers and search for the answer with similar reasoning (analogy - circular reasoning) 2. The Conclusion - match the conclusions - to
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Sufficient Condition
Time shift errors
22. Weaken - attack - undermine - refute - argue against - call into question - cast doubt - challenge - damage - counter - When evaluating answers ask yourself: 'Would this answer choice make the author reconsider his position or force the author to res
Typical assumption question stems
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Weaken question signal words
23. 1. Any 'new' element in the conclusion will appear in the correct answer. 2. Elements that are common to the conclusion and at least one premise normally do not appear in the correct answer. 3. Elements that appear in the premises but not the conclus
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
False analogy
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
24. Mistaken negation and reversal exp: taking the non-existence of something as evidence that a necessary precondition for that thing also did not exist' (MN) 'mistakes being sufficient to justify punishment for being required to justify it' (MR)n
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Counter Premise Indicators
Rules for Family #3
Errors of conditional reasoning
25. 1. ethical versus factual situations - when the stimulus addresses something ethical - a factual answer would be incorrect and vice versa 2. dual agreement or dual disagreement - often incorrect answer choices will supply statements that both speaker
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Rules for Family #1
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Central assumption of causal conclusions
26. Introduce something that actually contains an idea that is counter to the argument. By raising opposition - the author can minimize the damage that would be done by the objection if it were raised elsewhere. but yet - however - on the other hand - ad
Weakening conditional reasoning
Mistaken Reversal
How to determine the strength of an argument
Counter Premise Indicators
27. Then - only - only if - must - required - unless - except - until - without.
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
How to determine the strength of an argument
Primary Objective #6
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
28. 1. No conclusion. When a stimulus does not have a conclusion and contains a paradox - expect a Resolve question 2. Language of contradiction exp: but - however - yet - although - paradoxically - surprisingly.
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Method of Reasoning
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
29. A fact - proposition or statement from which a conclusion is made. Ask: What reasons has the author used to persuade me? Why should I believe this argument? What evidence exists?
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Premise definition
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Errors of composition and division
30. 1. Whatever term is modified by 'unless' - 'except' - 'until' or 'without' becomes the necessary condition 2. The remaining term is negated and becomes the sufficient condition.
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Primary Objective #6
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
31. 1. Opposite answers. These answers do the exact opposite of What is needed. 2. Shell game answers. Occurs when an idea or concept is raised in the stimulus and then a very similar idea appears in the answer choices - but the idea is changed just enou
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Main Point Questions
Family #3: Hurt
Logical opposites
32. Thus - therefore - hence - consequently - as a result - so - accordingly - clearly - must be that - shows that - conclude that - follows that - for this reason.
Mistaken Negation
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Conclusion Indicators
Family #1: Prove
33. Stimulus (accepted) ----> Answer Choices (affected or determined) AKA: must be or prove family must be true - main point - point at issue - method of reasoning - flaw in the reasoning - parallel reasoning.
Primary Objective #9
Family #1: Prove
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Family #2: Help
34. A statement or judgement that follows from one or more reasons. Ask: What is the author driving at? What does the author want me to believe? What point follows from the others?
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Conclusion definition
Mistaken Negation
Mistaken Reversal
35. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements. n
Conclusion definition
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Rules for Family #3
Primary Objective #6
36. They h ave failed to fully and accurately identify the conclusion of the argument. If a conclusion is present - you MUST identify it prior to proceeding on to the question stem.
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Sufficient Condition
37. 1. Increasing percentages automatically lead to increasing numbers. This is not necessarily true because the overall size of the group could get smaller. 2. Decreasing percentages automatically lead to decreasing numbers 3. Increasing numbers automat
Primary Objective #9
Method of Reasoning
Causal statements
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
38. Stimulus (accepted) --/-> answer choices (affected or determined) cannot be true.
Conclusion definition
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Family #4: Disprove
39. Quantity: All = 100 Not all = 0-99 Some = 1-100 None = 0 Time: Always - Not always - Sometimes - Never Space: Everywhere - Not everywhere - Somewhere - No where.
Premise Indicators
Logical opposites
Primary Objective #8
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
40. First Family The correct answer choice will be a rephrasing of the main conclusion of the argument. The conclusion is either in the middle or beginning of the stimulus. The correct answer choice must not only be true it also must summarize the author
False analogy
Primary Objective #4
Main Point Questions
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
41. Whenever you identify a causal relationship in the conclusion of an LSAT problem - immediately prepare to either weaken or strengthen the argument. Tasks for Weaken questions...must always identify a causal conclusion. Then ask if there relationship
Family #2: Help
How to attack a causal conclusion
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Rules for Family #3
42. 1. The stem uses the word assumption - presupposition or some variation 2. The stem NEVER uses the word 'if' or any other sufficient condition indicator. The stem will likely contain a necessary condition indicator such as required or unless. The cor
Rules for Family #2
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Typical assumption question stems
43. This type of flawed argument attacks the person (or source) instead of the argument they advance. because the LSAT is concerned solely with argument forms - a speaker can never validly attack the character or motives or a person; instead - a speaker
Family #1: Prove
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Probability indicators
Justify the conclusion formula
44. If the stimulus contains an argument - determine whether the argument is strong or weak.
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Circular reasoning
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Primary Objective #3
45. 1. Identify the conclusion - this is what you are trying to strengthen 2. Personalize the argument 3. Look for weaknesses in the argument 4. Arguments that contain analogies or use surveys rely upon the validity of those analogies and surveys. Answer
False analogy
How to strengthen an argument
Errors of conditional reasoning
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
46. An event or circumstance whose occurrence is required in order for a sufficient condition to occur.
Rules for Family #3
Necessary Condition
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Method of Reasoning
47. A. Eliminates an alternate cause for the stated effect B. Shows that when the cause occurs - the effect occurs - assumption answers affirm the cause/effect relationship C. Show that when the cause does not occur - the effect doe not occur D. Eliminat
Assumption Negation Technique
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Circular reasoning
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
48. At least on of the two - possibly both.
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49. 1. The info in the stimulus is suspect. There are often reasoning errors present and depending on the question - you will help shore up the argument in some way. 2. The answer choices are accepted as given - even if they include 'new' info. Your task
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Rules for Family #2
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
How to attack a causal conclusion
50. A. Eliminate any alternate causes for the stated effect. B. Show that when the cause occurs - the effect occurs. C. Show that when the cause does not occur - the effect does not occur. D. Eliminate the possility that the stated relationship is revers
False dilemma
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Primary Objective #2
Numbers and percentage errors