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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. Amount - quantity - sum - total - count - tally.n
Counter Premise Indicators
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Family #4: Disprove
Primary Objective #3
2. 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
Conclusion Identification Method
Rules for Family #3
Primary Objective #4
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
3. 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
Method of Reasoning questions
Counter Premise Indicators
Primary Objective #4
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
4. 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
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Exceptional case/over generalization
5. Carefully read and identify the question stem. DO NOT assume that certain words are automatically associated with certain questions types.
Primary Objective #5
Primary Objective #4
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
2 speaker questions
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.
Primary Objective #7
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Counter Premise Indicators
7. 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
Necessary Condition
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Errors in the use of evidence
Method of Reasoning
8. 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
Sufficient Condition
Rules for Family #1
Family #4: Disprove
Main Point Questions
9. 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.
Numbers and percentage errors
Conclusion Identification Method
Primary Objective #5
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
10. 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
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Justify the conclusion formula
2 roles played by assumptions
11. 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?
Conclusion Indicators
Logical opposites
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Premise definition
12. If the stimulus contains an argument - determine whether the argument is strong or weak.
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Primary Objective #3
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Sufficient Condition
13. 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.
Weakening conditional reasoning
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Quantity indicators
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
14. Separate the answer choices into 'contenders' and 'loser'. After completing this process - review the contenders and decide which answer correct.
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Probability indicators
Primary Objective #8
15. Immediately look for the repeat or contrapositive in the answer choices. Avoid mistaken reversals and mistaken negations.
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Time shift errors
Counter Premise Indicators
16. 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.
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Common weakening scenarios
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
17. 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.
Method of Reasoning
Exceptional case/over generalization
Logical opposites
Premise Indicators
18. 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
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Errors of composition and division
Counter Premise Indicators
Premise Indicators
19. 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
Rules for Family #3
Family #3: Hurt
Circular reasoning
Time shift errors
20. 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
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Appeal Fallacies
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
21. 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
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Mistaken Negation
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
22. 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
Mistaken Reversal
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Straw Man
23. 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
Justify the conclusion formula
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Counter Premise Indicators
24. 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
Exceptional case/over generalization
Main Point Questions
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
25. 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?
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Primary Objective #5
Exceptional case/over generalization
26. 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 attack a causal conclusion
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Mistaken cause and effect
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
27. 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
Necessary Condition
Primary Objective #4
Numbers and percentage errors
Time shift errors
28. Determine whether the stimulus contains an argument or if it is only a set of factual statements. MUST recognize whether a conclusion is present.
Weakening conditional reasoning
Typical assumption question stems
Primary Objective #4
Primary Objective #1
29. 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
How to attack a causal conclusion
Mistaken Reversal
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Sufficient Condition
30. 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
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
31. 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
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Weaken question signal words
32. 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.
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Premise Indicators
Assumption Negation Technique
33. 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
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Survey errors
Main Point Questions
34. Percent - proportion - fraction - ratio - incidence - likelihood - probability - segment - share. n
Premise definition
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Family #3: Hurt
Errors in the use of evidence
35. 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
Method of Reasoning questions
Primary Objective #3
Rules for Family #2
Primary Objective #7
36. 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
Conclusion Indicators
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Central assumption of causal conclusions
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
37. 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
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Primary Objective #4
Time shift errors
38. Used to introduce other premises that support the conclusion but are sometimes non-essential to the conclusion furthermore - moreover - besides - in addition - whats more - after all.
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39. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements. n
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Main Point Questions
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Errors of conditional reasoning
40. 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
Family #3: Hurt
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Premise definition
41. 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
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Straw Man
Common weakening scenarios
42. At least on of the two - possibly both.
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43. Prephrase: after reading the question stem - take a moment to mentally formulate your answer to the question stem.
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Primary Objective #6
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Main Point Questions
44. Assumes that only 2 courses of action are available when there may be others. n
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
False dilemma
Straw Man
45. An event or circumstance whose occurrence indicates that a necessary condition must also occur.
Primary Objective #3
How to attack a causal conclusion
Sufficient Condition
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
46. 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
Mistaken cause and effect
Mistaken Negation
Primary Objective #1
47. 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 #1: Prove
Rules for Family #3
Rules for Family #1
Circular reasoning
48. 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
Rules for Family #3
Errors of conditional reasoning
Probability indicators
Primary Objective #9
49. Premises + answer choice = conclusion When approaching answers - separate them into winners and losers - then apply the justify formula.
Primary Objective #2
Justify the conclusion formula
Typical assumption question stems
Quantity indicators
50. 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
Weaken question signal words
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Family #4: Disprove