SUBJECTS
|
BROWSE
|
CAREER CENTER
|
POPULAR
|
JOIN
|
LOGIN
Business Skills
|
Soft Skills
|
Basic Literacy
|
Certifications
About
|
Help
|
Privacy
|
Terms
|
Email
Search
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. 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.
Exceptional case/over generalization
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Primary Objective #7
Errors in the use of evidence
2. 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
Appeal Fallacies
Mistaken Reversal
Errors of conditional reasoning
3. 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
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Primary Objective #8
4. 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
Main Point Questions
Mistaken Reversal
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Typical assumption question stems
5. An event or circumstance whose occurrence is required in order for a sufficient condition to occur.
Necessary Condition
Primary Objective #9
Premise definition
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
6. 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
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Counter Premise Indicators
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
How to strengthen an argument
7. 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
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Typical assumption question stems
Errors of conditional reasoning
8. 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
Assumption Negation Technique
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Family #3: Hurt
Primary Objective #9
9. 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
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Primary Objective #8
Family #1: Prove
Assumption Negation Technique
10. 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
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Numbers and percentage errors
11. 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
Premise Indicators
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Survey errors
Rules for Family #1
12. 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
Family #2: Help
Appeal Fallacies
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Mistaken cause and effect
13. Thus - therefore - hence - consequently - as a result - so - accordingly - clearly - must be that - shows that - conclude that - follows that - for this reason.
Exceptional case/over generalization
Conclusion Indicators
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Method of Reasoning questions
14. 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
Method of Reasoning
Common weakening scenarios
Circular reasoning
Primary Objective #7
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
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Family #4: Disprove
Exceptional case/over generalization
Time shift errors
16. Stimulus (accepted) --/-> answer choices (affected or determined) cannot be true.
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Family #4: Disprove
Method of Reasoning
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
17. 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
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Rules for Family #1
Uncertain use of a term or concept
18. 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
Conclusion definition
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Family #4: Disprove
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
19. 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
Necessary Condition
Mistaken Negation
How to determine the strength of an argument
Rules for Family #1
20. Immediately look for the repeat or contrapositive in the answer choices. Avoid mistaken reversals and mistaken negations.
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Family #2: Help
21. 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
2 roles played by assumptions
Probability indicators
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Uncertain use of a term or concept
22. Read closely and know precisely what the author said. DO NOT GENERALIZE!.
Primary Objective #4
Conclusion definition
Main Point Questions
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
23. 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
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Conclusion Identification Method
Method of Reasoning questions
Rules for Family #2
24. At least on of the two - possibly both.
Warning
: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in
/var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php
on line
183
25. 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 -
Mistaken Negation
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Probability indicators
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
26. 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
Numbers and percentage errors
Primary Objective #7
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
27. 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
Sufficient Condition
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
28. 1. The stem uses the word strengthen or a synonym (support - helps - most justifies) 2. The stem indicates that you should accept the answer choices are true.
Family #4: Disprove
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
2 speaker questions
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
29. If the stimulus contains an argument - determine whether the argument is strong or weak.
Primary Objective #3
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Probability indicators
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
30. 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
Justify the conclusion formula
Common weakening scenarios
Counter Premise Indicators
31. 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
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Primary Objective #3
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
32. 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
Numbers and percentage errors
Errors of conditional reasoning
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
False dilemma
33. 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
Primary Objective #3
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Premise Indicators
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
34. 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
Appeal Fallacies
Rules for Family #2
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Method of Reasoning
35. Premises + answer choice = conclusion When approaching answers - separate them into winners and losers - then apply the justify formula.
Justify the conclusion formula
Numbers and percentage errors
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
36. Separate the answer choices into 'contenders' and 'loser'. After completing this process - review the contenders and decide which answer correct.
How to determine the strength of an argument
Primary Objective #8
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Central assumption of causal conclusions
37. 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
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Errors of composition and division
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
38. Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is two disimilar to the original situation to be applicable. n
False analogy
Necessary Condition
Quantity indicators
Exceptional case/over generalization
39. 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
Common weakening scenarios
Mistaken Reversal
Primary Objective #7
Main Point Questions
40. Amount - quantity - sum - total - count - tally.n
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Circular reasoning
Weakening conditional reasoning
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
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
Rules for Family #2
Primary Objective #6
Conclusion Indicators
Family #1: Prove
42. If the stimulus contains an argument - identify the conclusion. If the stimulus contains a fact set - examine each fact.
Sufficient Condition
Primary Objective #8
Primary Objective #2
Rules for Family #3
43. 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
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Typical assumption question stems
2 speaker questions
44. 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.
Premise Indicators
Method of Reasoning
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Quantity indicators
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
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Appeal Fallacies
How to strengthen an argument
Probability indicators
46. 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
Rules for Family #2
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Numbers and percentage errors
47. 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
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Time shift errors
Straw Man
48. 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
Weakening conditional reasoning
Family #4: Disprove
Straw Man
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
49. Percent - proportion - fraction - ratio - incidence - likelihood - probability - segment - share. n
Primary Objective #7
Necessary Condition
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Exceptional case/over generalization
50. 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
Rules for Family #3
Logical negation
Family #4: Disprove
Method of Reasoning