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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. 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
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
2. Amount - quantity - sum - total - count - tally.n
Sufficient Condition
Rules for Family #2
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Quantity indicators
3. 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 numerical ideas
Primary Objective #6
Exceptional case/over generalization
Time shift errors
4. If - when - whenever - every - all - any - people who - in order to.
Circular reasoning
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
5. 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
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
6. 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+.
Conclusion Identification Method
Rules for Family #3
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Mistaken Reversal
7. 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
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Errors in the use of evidence
Conclusion Identification Method
8. Read closely and know precisely what the author said. DO NOT GENERALIZE!.
Primary Objective #4
Primary Objective #1
Primary Objective #6
Family #1: Prove
9. Take the statements under consideration and place them in an arrangement that forces once to be the conclusion and the other(s) to be the premise (s). Use premise and conclusion indicators to achieve this end. Once the pieces are arranged - determine
Conclusion Identification Method
Mistaken Negation
2 speaker questions
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
10. Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is two disimilar to the original situation to be applicable. n
Numbers and percentage errors
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
False analogy
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
11. Premises + answer choice = conclusion When approaching answers - separate them into winners and losers - then apply the justify formula.
Method of Reasoning
Justify the conclusion formula
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Weakening conditional reasoning
12. 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.
Assumption Negation Technique
Primary Objective #7
Quantity indicators
Premise Indicators
13. Prephrase: after reading the question stem - take a moment to mentally formulate your answer to the question stem.
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Primary Objective #6
Mistaken Negation
Weaken question signal words
14. 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
Typical assumption question stems
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Necessary Condition
Uncertain use of a term or concept
15. 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 #1
Premise definition
Errors of conditional reasoning
Counter Premise Indicators
16. 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
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Circular reasoning
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
17. 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.
18. 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
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Logical negation
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Causal statements
19. Stimulus (accepted) --/-> answer choices (affected or determined) cannot be true.
Errors of composition and division
Family #4: Disprove
Justify the conclusion formula
Mistaken Negation
20. Assumes that only 2 courses of action are available when there may be others. n
Circular reasoning
False dilemma
2 roles played by assumptions
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
21. Negates both conditions - creating a statement that does not have to be true. Given: A+ --> Study Mistaken Negation: Not A+ --> Not Study
Mistaken Negation
Primary Objective #5
Primary Objective #3
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
22. Stimulus (affected or determined)--/-> answer choices (accepted) Negative sign on the arrow reflects attacking or hurting the argument (weaken).
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Main Point Questions
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Family #3: Hurt
23. 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
Exceptional case/over generalization
Counter Premise Indicators
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
24. Carefully read and identify the question stem. DO NOT assume that certain words are automatically associated with certain questions types.
Assumption Negation Technique
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Sufficient Condition
Primary Objective #5
25. 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
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Main Point Questions
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Premise definition
26. 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.
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Common weakening scenarios
27. 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
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Rules for Family #1
Mistaken cause and effect
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
28. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements. n
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
False dilemma
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
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
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Circular reasoning
Primary Objective #8
30. 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
Weaken question signal words
Weakening conditional reasoning
Straw Man
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
31. 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
Logical negation
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Method of Reasoning
Time shift errors
32. 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.
Rules for Family #2
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Family #1: Prove
33. 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
Errors of composition and division
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
How to attack a causal conclusion
Logical opposites
34. 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
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Primary Objective #1
Family #1: Prove
Appeal Fallacies
35. 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
Premise definition
Primary Objective #1
Straw Man
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
36. 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.
Primary Objective #5
Conclusion definition
Family #4: Disprove
Premise Indicators
37. 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 percentage ideas
Primary Objective #1
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Primary Objective #8
38. 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
Time shift errors
Mistaken Negation
Errors in the use of evidence
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
39. 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
Rules for Family #2
False analogy
Mistaken cause and effect
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
40. 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
Primary Objective #1
2 speaker questions
Probability indicators
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
41. 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
How to strengthen an argument
Method of Reasoning questions
How to attack a causal conclusion
Premise definition
42. 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
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
43. 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?
Method of Reasoning questions
Logical negation
How to attack a causal conclusion
44. 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
Common weakening scenarios
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
How to strengthen an argument
45. 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
Counter Premise Indicators
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Sufficient Condition
Primary Objective #2
46. 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
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Time shift errors
47. 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.
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Time shift errors
Logical opposites
Primary Objective #7
48. At least on of the two - possibly both.
49. 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
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Sufficient Condition
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
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Mistaken cause and effect