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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. 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+.
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Counter Premise Indicators
Primary Objective #7
Mistaken Reversal
2. 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
Method of Reasoning
Conclusion Indicators
Mistaken cause and effect
Primary Objective #8
3. If all 5 answer choices appear to be 'losers' - return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument.
Primary Objective #9
Circular reasoning
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
4. Carefully read and identify the question stem. DO NOT assume that certain words are automatically associated with certain questions types.
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Exceptional case/over generalization
Primary Objective #5
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
5. 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
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Weakening conditional reasoning
Premise Indicators
Circular reasoning
6. If the stimulus contains an argument - identify the conclusion. If the stimulus contains a fact set - examine each fact.
Conclusion definition
Rules for Family #1
Justify the conclusion formula
Primary Objective #2
7. Negates both conditions - creating a statement that does not have to be true. Given: A+ --> Study Mistaken Negation: Not A+ --> Not Study
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Straw Man
Mistaken Negation
8. If - when - whenever - every - all - any - people who - in order to.
Exceptional case/over generalization
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
9. An event or circumstance whose occurrence indicates that a necessary condition must also occur.
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Premise Indicators
Sufficient Condition
Typical assumption question stems
10. Determine whether the stimulus contains an argument or if it is only a set of factual statements. MUST recognize whether a conclusion is present.
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Primary Objective #1
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
How to attack a causal conclusion
11. 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
Family #3: Hurt
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Rules for Family #1
Rules for Family #3
12. 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?
Common weakening scenarios
Typical assumption question stems
Survey errors
13. Then - only - only if - must - required - unless - except - until - without.
Mistaken Negation
Primary Objective #4
Primary Objective #1
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
14. Premises + answer choice = conclusion When approaching answers - separate them into winners and losers - then apply the justify formula.
Mistaken Negation
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Justify the conclusion formula
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
15. 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
Straw Man
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Rules for Family #2
16. 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
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
How to strengthen an argument
Primary Objective #6
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
17. Percent - proportion - fraction - ratio - incidence - likelihood - probability - segment - share. n
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Family #4: Disprove
Premise Indicators
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
18. 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
Primary Objective #8
How to attack a causal conclusion
Conclusion definition
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
19. Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is two disimilar to the original situation to be applicable. n
Family #1: Prove
Assumption Negation Technique
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
False analogy
20. Read closely and know precisely what the author said. DO NOT GENERALIZE!.
Logical opposites
Premise Indicators
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Primary Objective #4
21. 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.
Logical opposites
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Errors of conditional reasoning
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
22. 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
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Assumption Negation Technique
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
'Additional' Premise Indicators
23. 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.
Errors of composition and division
Logical negation
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
24. 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
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Primary Objective #2
25. 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
Errors of composition and division
Primary Objective #7
2 speaker questions
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
26. 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
Time shift errors
Probability indicators
Premise definition
27. 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
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Weakening conditional reasoning
Conclusion Identification Method
Counter Premise Indicators
28. 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
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Exceptional case/over generalization
Typical assumption question stems
29. 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.
2 roles played by assumptions
Mistaken Reversal
Primary Objective #3
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
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
Premise Indicators
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Primary Objective #6
Weaken question signal words
31. 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
Weakening conditional reasoning
Circular reasoning
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Logical opposites
32. 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
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
How to determine the strength of an argument
Probability indicators
33. 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
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Circular reasoning
34. To logically negate a conditional statement - negate the necessary condition. Example: neither...nor becomes either...or.
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Rules for Family #3
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Logical negation
35. At least on of the two - possibly both.
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36. Refer to the likelihood of occurence or the obligation present - as in 'The mayor should resign.' 'the law will never pass.' Examples: (do not need to memorize) must - will - always - not always - probably - likely - would - never - rarely - could -
Central assumption of causal conclusions
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Probability indicators
37. 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
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
2 roles played by assumptions
Time shift errors
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
38. 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
Logical opposites
Errors of composition and division
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Weakening conditional reasoning
39. 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
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
2 roles played by assumptions
Weaken question signal words
Common weakening scenarios
40. 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
Main Point Questions
How to strengthen an argument
Errors of conditional reasoning
41. 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.
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Appeal Fallacies
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
42. 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.
Mistaken Reversal
Premise Indicators
Primary Objective #4
Primary Objective #6
43. 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.
Sufficient Condition
Common weakening scenarios
Quantity indicators
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
44. 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
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Conclusion Identification Method
Source argument AKA ad hominen
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
45. 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
Assumption Negation Technique
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Rules for Family #2
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
46. If the stimulus contains an argument - determine whether the argument is strong or weak.
Typical assumption question stems
How to determine the strength of an argument
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Primary Objective #3
47. 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
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Straw Man
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Counter Premise Indicators
48. Separate the answer choices into 'contenders' and 'loser'. After completing this process - review the contenders and decide which answer correct.
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Weaken question signal words
Primary Objective #8
49. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements. n
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Errors of conditional reasoning
Primary Objective #5
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
50. Occurs when an author improperly equates a percentage with a definate quantity or vice versa. n
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Numbers and percentage errors
Survey errors
2 roles played by assumptions
Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?
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