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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. 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
Conclusion Identification Method
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Errors of composition and division
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
2. 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
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Sufficient Condition
3. 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
Exceptional case/over generalization
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
4. Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is two disimilar to the original situation to be applicable. n
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
False analogy
Family #4: Disprove
5. 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
Premise definition
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
6. If the stimulus contains an argument - determine whether the argument is strong or weak.
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
False analogy
2 speaker questions
Primary Objective #3
7. Determine whether the stimulus contains an argument or if it is only a set of factual statements. MUST recognize whether a conclusion is present.
Necessary Condition
Primary Objective #1
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Primary Objective #4
8. 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 determine the strength of an argument
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Numbers and percentage errors
9. Separate the answer choices into 'contenders' and 'loser'. After completing this process - review the contenders and decide which answer correct.
Primary Objective #8
Probability indicators
Conclusion Indicators
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
10. At least on of the two - possibly both.
11. 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
How to determine the strength of an argument
Errors in the use of evidence
Conclusion definition
2 speaker questions
12. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements. n
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
13. Percent - proportion - fraction - ratio - incidence - likelihood - probability - segment - share. n
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Rules for Family #2
Method of Reasoning questions
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
14. Read closely and know precisely what the author said. DO NOT GENERALIZE!.
Sufficient Condition
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Primary Objective #4
15. 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
Justify the conclusion formula
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Primary Objective #4
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
16. 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.
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Weaken question signal words
Primary Objective #7
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
17. Immediately look for the repeat or contrapositive in the answer choices. Avoid mistaken reversals and mistaken negations.
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Primary Objective #3
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
18. 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.
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Mistaken cause and effect
Conclusion Indicators
19. If the stimulus contains an argument - identify the conclusion. If the stimulus contains a fact set - examine each fact.
Primary Objective #2
Premise definition
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Errors in the use of evidence
20. Occurs when an author improperly equates a percentage with a definate quantity or vice versa. n
Conclusion Identification Method
Numbers and percentage errors
Justify the conclusion formula
How to determine the strength of an argument
21. If - when - whenever - every - all - any - people who - in order to.
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Family #4: Disprove
Sufficient Condition
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
22. Assumes that only 2 courses of action are available when there may be others. n
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Conclusion definition
2 speaker questions
False dilemma
23. 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.
Weakening conditional reasoning
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Family #1: Prove
24. Prephrase: after reading the question stem - take a moment to mentally formulate your answer to the question stem.
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Conclusion definition
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Primary Objective #6
25. 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
Weakening conditional reasoning
How to attack a causal conclusion
Weaken question signal words
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
26. 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 -
Probability indicators
Main Point Questions
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
27. 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
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Main Point Questions
Family #3: Hurt
Uncertain use of a term or concept
28. To logically negate a conditional statement - negate the necessary condition. Example: neither...nor becomes either...or.
Justify the conclusion formula
Logical negation
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Survey errors
29. Thus - therefore - hence - consequently - as a result - so - accordingly - clearly - must be that - shows that - conclude that - follows that - for this reason.
Primary Objective #5
Primary Objective #8
Conclusion Indicators
How to attack a causal conclusion
30. 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
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Rules for Family #2
Common weakening scenarios
Appeal Fallacies
31. 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
Errors in the use of evidence
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
32. Stimulus (affected or determined)--/-> answer choices (accepted) Negative sign on the arrow reflects attacking or hurting the argument (weaken).
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Family #3: Hurt
Method of Reasoning questions
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
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
Logical negation
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Family #1: Prove
34. 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.
2 roles played by assumptions
Primary Objective #2
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
35. 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
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Primary Objective #6
Rules for Family #1
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
36. 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
Premise definition
How to attack a causal conclusion
Errors of conditional reasoning
Straw Man
37. 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
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Rules for Family #1
38. 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+.
Mistaken Reversal
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Mistaken cause and effect
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
39. 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
How to determine the strength of an argument
Mistaken cause and effect
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Errors of composition and division
40. 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
Survey errors
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
False dilemma
41. Premises + answer choice = conclusion When approaching answers - separate them into winners and losers - then apply the justify formula.
Errors of conditional reasoning
Conclusion Identification Method
Errors of composition and division
Justify the conclusion formula
42. An event or circumstance whose occurrence is required in order for a sufficient condition to occur.
Necessary Condition
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Primary Objective #3
False analogy
43. 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
How to determine the strength of an argument
Common weakening scenarios
Straw Man
Probability indicators
44. 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
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Primary Objective #9
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
45. 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
Method of Reasoning
Family #4: Disprove
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
46. 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
Errors of conditional reasoning
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Time shift errors
Source argument AKA ad hominen
47. 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
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Assumption Negation Technique
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Conclusion Identification Method
48. 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
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
How to strengthen an argument
Rules for Family #3
Justify the conclusion formula
49. 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
Mistaken Reversal
Method of Reasoning questions
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
50. 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
Time shift errors
Circular reasoning
Mistaken Negation
Primary Objective #8