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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. If the stimulus contains an argument - determine whether the argument is strong or weak.
Primary Objective #3
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Common weakening scenarios
2. An event or circumstance whose occurrence indicates that a necessary condition must also occur.
Sufficient Condition
Premise Indicators
Rules for Family #3
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
3. Argument Part - If you do see the main conclusion at the end of a Method-AP problem - be prepared to answer a question about a part of the arguement other than the conclusion.n
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Method of Reasoning
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Time shift errors
4. 1. new element answers - an answer that describes something that did not occure or describes an element new to the argument cannot be correct 2. Half right - half wrong answers - LSAT makers like to start off with something that happened - then end w
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Rules for Family #3
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
5. They can be in the premises or conclusion. If they are in the conclusion the argument is flawed. Classic mistaken cause and effect reasoning refers to occurences when a causal assertion is made in the conclusion or the conclusion presumes a causal re
Mistaken Negation
Premise definition
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Causal statements
6. 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
Family #4: Disprove
Premise Indicators
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Exceptional case/over generalization
7. Percent - proportion - fraction - ratio - incidence - likelihood - probability - segment - share. n
Assumption Negation Technique
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Justify the conclusion formula
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
8. 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.
Family #4: Disprove
Justify the conclusion formula
Family #1: Prove
How to strengthen an argument
9. 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
2 speaker questions
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
10. Occurs when an author improperly equates a percentage with a definate quantity or vice versa. n
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Numbers and percentage errors
11. Always read each of the five answer choices. If an answer choice appears somewhat attractive - interesting or even confusing - keep it as a contender and move to the next answer.
Appeal Fallacies
Primary Objective #7
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Premise definition
12. Stimulus (affected or determined)--/-> answer choices (accepted) Negative sign on the arrow reflects attacking or hurting the argument (weaken).
Primary Objective #1
Primary Objective #8
2 speaker questions
Family #3: Hurt
13. 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
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Counter Premise Indicators
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
14. 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
Family #4: Disprove
Uncertain use of a term or concept
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
15. Authors misuses info to such a degree that they fail to provide any info to support their conclusion or they provide info that is irrelevant to their conclusion. n
How to strengthen an argument
Source argument AKA ad hominen
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
16. Thus - therefore - hence - consequently - as a result - so - accordingly - clearly - must be that - shows that - conclude that - follows that - for this reason.
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Conclusion Indicators
Assumption Negation Technique
Errors of composition and division
17. Usually have one male and one female. The female uses sound reasoning and the male uses flawed reasoning or makes a mistake. This is not always true - but more often than not.n
Counter Premise Indicators
2 speaker questions
Family #2: Help
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
18. The author assumes as true What is supposed to be proved. exp: 'this essay is the best because it is better than all the others'n
Circular reasoning
Straw Man
Mistaken Reversal
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
19. 1. The survey uses a biased sample 2. The survey questions are improperly constructed 3. Respondents to the survey give inaccurate responses. People do not always tell the truth when responding to surveys.n
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Survey errors
Causal statements
Rules for Family #1
20. If all 5 answer choices appear to be 'losers' - return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument.
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Primary Objective #9
Justify the conclusion formula
Quantity indicators
21. 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
How to strengthen an argument
Family #1: Prove
Mistaken Reversal
Counter Premise Indicators
22. To raise a viewpoint at the beginning of the stimulus and then disagree with it immediately thereafter. The stimulus often begins with: Some people claim... Some people propose... Many people believe... Some argue that... Some critics claim... Some s
Errors in the use of evidence
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Exceptional case/over generalization
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
23. 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
Premise definition
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
24. Premises + answer choice = conclusion When approaching answers - separate them into winners and losers - then apply the justify formula.
Sufficient Condition
Survey errors
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Justify the conclusion formula
25. 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
Weaken question signal words
Circular reasoning
Mistaken cause and effect
False dilemma
26. 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
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Primary Objective #8
27. Carefully read and identify the question stem. DO NOT assume that certain words are automatically associated with certain questions types.
Assumption Negation Technique
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Primary Objective #5
Conclusion Indicators
28. Think about the structure of the argument before examining the answer choices. Do not expect to see the exact prephrase - there are too many variations. Make an abstract prephrase then examine each answer to see if it paraphrases the prephrase.n
Sufficient Condition
Circular reasoning
Family #3: Hurt
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
29. Refer to the amount or quantity in the relationship. Examples: (do not need to memorize) all - every - most - many - several - sole - only - not all - none - few.
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Errors of conditional reasoning
Mistaken cause and effect
Quantity indicators
30. At least on of the two - possibly both.
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31. 1. The stimulus will almost always contain an argument you must identify - isolate and assess the premises and the conclusion of the argument 2. Focus on the conclusion. Almost all correct answer choices impact the conclusion 3. The info in the stimu
Causal statements
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Conclusion definition
Errors of conditional reasoning
32. 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
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Time shift errors
33. Take the statements under consideration and place them in an arrangement that forces once to be the conclusion and the other(s) to be the premise (s). Use premise and conclusion indicators to achieve this end. Once the pieces are arranged - determine
Family #3: Hurt
Conclusion Identification Method
Errors in the use of evidence
Weakening conditional reasoning
34. 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
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Rules for Family #1
35. 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?
Premise definition
Method of Reasoning
Family #3: Hurt
Rules for Family #1
36. 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
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Conclusion definition
Weakening conditional reasoning
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
37. 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
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Time shift errors
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
38. 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
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Method of Reasoning
Errors of conditional reasoning
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
39. An event or circumstance whose occurrence is required in order for a sufficient condition to occur.
Necessary Condition
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Family #2: Help
Rules for Family #3
40. 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.
Probability indicators
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Mistaken cause and effect
41. 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
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Method of Reasoning
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Conclusion Indicators
42. 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
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
How to strengthen an argument
How to determine the strength of an argument
43. Involves judgements made about groups and parts of a group. an error or composition occurs when the author attributes a characteristic of part of the group to the group as a whole or to each member of the group Error of division - author attributes c
Errors of composition and division
How to determine the strength of an argument
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
44. 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
Rules for Family #2
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Circular reasoning
45. 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 #8
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Errors in the use of evidence
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
46. Switches the elements in the sufficient and necessary conditions - creating a statement that does not have to be true. Given: A+ --> Study Mistaken Reversal: Study --> A+.
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Errors in the use of evidence
Mistaken Reversal
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
47. Stimulus (accepted) --/-> answer choices (affected or determined) cannot be true.
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Family #4: Disprove
'Additional' Premise Indicators
48. Determine whether the stimulus contains an argument or if it is only a set of factual statements. MUST recognize whether a conclusion is present.
Quantity indicators
Survey errors
Primary Objective #1
How to determine the strength of an argument
49. 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
Counter Premise Indicators
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Logical negation
50. 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
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Logical opposites
Assumption Negation Technique