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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. 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
Conclusion Indicators
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Primary Objective #5
2. 1. Stem uses the word 'if' or another sufficient indicator 2. Stem uses the phrase 'allows the conclusion to be properly drawn' or 'enables the conclusion to be properly drawn'. 3. Stem does not lessen the degree of justification. Never uses 'most ju
Appeal Fallacies
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Probability indicators
3. Stimulus (affected or determined)--/-> answer choices (accepted) Negative sign on the arrow reflects attacking or hurting the argument (weaken).
Family #3: Hurt
Time shift errors
Necessary Condition
Quantity indicators
4. 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?
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Conclusion definition
Primary Objective #9
Primary Objective #1
5. 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
Primary Objective #7
Method of Reasoning
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
6. 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
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Primary Objective #7
7. Prephrase: after reading the question stem - take a moment to mentally formulate your answer to the question stem.
Survey errors
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Primary Objective #6
Rules for Family #1
8. Read closely and know precisely what the author said. DO NOT GENERALIZE!.
Straw Man
Primary Objective #4
Errors of composition and division
Family #4: Disprove
9. Amount - quantity - sum - total - count - tally.n
Main Point Questions
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Causal statements
10. 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+.
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Primary Objective #6
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Mistaken Reversal
11. 1. You can use only the info in the stimulus to prove the correct answer choice 2. Any answer choice that describes an element or a situation that does not occur in the stimulus is incorrect Method of Reasoning questions use a variety of formats - bu
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Premise definition
Method of Reasoning questions
Primary Objective #6
12. 1. If conditional statements are linked together in the argument - the correct answer choice for an assumption question will typically supply a missing link in the chain or the contrapositive to that link. 2. If you see a conditional conclusion and t
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Assumption Negation Technique
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
13. Caused by because of responsible for reason for leads to induced by promoted by determined by produced by product of played a role in was a factor in is an effect of.
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
14. If an answer choice describes an event that did not occur in the stimulus - then that answer is incorrect. Watch for answers that are partially true - that is answers that contain a description of something that happened in the argument but that also
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Conclusion Indicators
Mistaken Reversal
2 speaker questions
15. 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
Assumption Negation Technique
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Conclusion Identification Method
Primary Objective #4
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
Family #3: Hurt
Appeal Fallacies
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
17. Supporter - the traditional linking role - where an assumption connects pieces of the argument. (often new or rogue pieces) They also can close gaps. Ex: All male citizens of athens had the right to vote. Therefore - Socrates had the right to vote in
How to attack a causal conclusion
Exceptional case/over generalization
Justify the conclusion formula
2 roles played by assumptions
18. Separate the answer choices into 'contenders' and 'loser'. After completing this process - review the contenders and decide which answer correct.
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Primary Objective #8
Method of Reasoning questions
Conclusion Indicators
19. The mistake involves assuming that conditions will remain constant over time - and that what was the case in the past will be the case in the future or present. n
Time shift errors
Conclusion Identification Method
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Errors of conditional reasoning
20. Occurs when an author attempts to attack an opponent's position by ignoring the actual statements made by the opposing speaker and instead distorts and refashions the argument - making it weaker in the process. Often prephrased by 'what you're saying
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Weakening conditional reasoning
Straw Man
21. Occurs when an author improperly equates a percentage with a definate quantity or vice versa. n
Quantity indicators
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
How to strengthen an argument
Numbers and percentage errors
22. Determine whether the stimulus contains an argument or if it is only a set of factual statements. MUST recognize whether a conclusion is present.
Source argument AKA ad hominen
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Primary Objective #1
23. 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
2 speaker questions
Survey errors
Primary Objective #7
Circular reasoning
24. 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
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Primary Objective #1
Typical assumption question stems
25. At least on of the two - possibly both.
26. 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
Primary Objective #3
Conclusion Identification Method
Weaken question signal words
False dilemma
27. Immediately look for the repeat or contrapositive in the answer choices. Avoid mistaken reversals and mistaken negations.
Necessary Condition
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Common weakening scenarios
Straw Man
28. 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
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Rules for Family #1
Central assumption of causal conclusions
29. 1. Watch for answers starting with the phrase 'at least one' or 'at least some'. When an assumption answer choice starts with one of these phrases it is usually right. But ALWAYS verify with A.N.T. 2. Avoid answers that claim an idea was the most imp
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Appeal Fallacies
30. 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
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Primary Objective #1
Central assumption of causal conclusions
31. Stimulus (accepted) --/-> answer choices (affected or determined) cannot be true.
Conclusion Indicators
Family #4: Disprove
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Circular reasoning
32. To logically negate a conditional statement - negate the necessary condition. Example: neither...nor becomes either...or.
Logical negation
Errors of conditional reasoning
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
33. Thus - therefore - hence - consequently - as a result - so - accordingly - clearly - must be that - shows that - conclude that - follows that - for this reason.
Rules for Family #3
Errors of composition and division
Conclusion Indicators
Justify the conclusion formula
34. 1. The sufficient condition does not make the necessary condition occur. That is - the sufficient condition does not actively cause the necessary condition to happen. 2. Temporally speaking - either condition can occur first - or the two conditions c
Quantity indicators
Rules for Family #1
Main Point Questions
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
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
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Uncertain use of a term or concept
36. 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.
Family #2: Help
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Premise Indicators
37. 1. assuming a causal relationship on the basis of the sequence of events 2. assuming a causal relationship when only a correlation exists 3. failure to consider an alternate cause for the effect or an alternate cause for both the cause and the effect
Weaken question signal words
False analogy
Mistaken cause and effect
Family #1: Prove
38. 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
Causal statements
Rules for Family #1
Counter Premise Indicators
Primary Objective #7
39. 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.
Common weakening scenarios
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Numbers and percentage errors
Rules for Family #3
40. 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
Typical assumption question stems
Numbers and percentage errors
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Primary Objective #4
41. 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
Mistaken Negation
Family #2: Help
2 speaker questions
Rules for Family #2
42. Assumes that only 2 courses of action are available when there may be others. n
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
False dilemma
Typical assumption question stems
Weaken question signal words
43. Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is two disimilar to the original situation to be applicable. n
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Mistaken Reversal
False analogy
44. If the stimulus contains an argument - determine whether the argument is strong or weak.
Primary Objective #3
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Primary Objective #7
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
45. 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
Primary Objective #2
Rules for Family #2
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
46. 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
Necessary Condition
Primary Objective #6
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
47. 1. You must accept the stimulus info- even if it contains an error in reasoning-and use it to prove one of the answer choices must be true. 2. Any info in an answer choice that does not appear either directly in the stimulus or as a combination of it
Rules for Family #1
Rules for Family #3
Conclusion definition
Typical assumption question stems
48. Carefully read and identify the question stem. DO NOT assume that certain words are automatically associated with certain questions types.
Justify the conclusion formula
Counter Premise Indicators
Primary Objective #5
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
49. 1. Incomplete info. The author fails to consider all of the possibilities or relies upon evidence that is incomplete. This flaw can be attacked by bringing up new possibilities or info. 2. Improper comparison. The author attempts to compare two or mo
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Exceptional case/over generalization
Common weakening scenarios
Primary Objective #2
50. Negates both conditions - creating a statement that does not have to be true. Given: A+ --> Study Mistaken Negation: Not A+ --> Not Study
Probability indicators
Mistaken Negation
Exceptional case/over generalization
Necessary Condition