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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. Stimulus (affected or determined) ---> answer choices (accepted) AKA: Help Family assumption - justify the conclusion - strengthen/support - resolve the paradox.
Source argument AKA ad hominen
How to attack a causal conclusion
Typical assumption question stems
Family #2: Help
2. 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
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Logical negation
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
3. 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
Time shift errors
Circular reasoning
Main Point Questions
Rules for Family #2
4. 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
Numbers and percentage errors
2 roles played by assumptions
Method of Reasoning questions
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
5. 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
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Survey errors
Exceptional case/over generalization
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
6. Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is two disimilar to the original situation to be applicable. n
Rules for Family #1
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
False analogy
Necessary Condition
7. 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 Indicators
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Rules for Family #3
8. 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.
Primary Objective #1
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Counter Premise Indicators
9. 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
Mistaken Negation
Errors in the use of evidence
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Central assumption of causal conclusions
10. 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
Logical opposites
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Rules for Family #2
Survey errors
11. Read closely and know precisely what the author said. DO NOT GENERALIZE!.
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
How to strengthen an argument
Numbers and percentage errors
Primary Objective #4
12. Prephrase: after reading the question stem - take a moment to mentally formulate your answer to the question stem.
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Primary Objective #6
Primary Objective #4
Weakening conditional reasoning
13. 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
Weakening conditional reasoning
How to strengthen an argument
Logical opposites
Errors in the use of evidence
14. 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
Primary Objective #3
Family #1: Prove
Family #3: Hurt
15. 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?
Family #1: Prove
Premise definition
Numbers and percentage errors
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
16. 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
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
2 speaker questions
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
17. 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 #2
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Primary Objective #3
2 speaker questions
18. Premises + answer choice = conclusion When approaching answers - separate them into winners and losers - then apply the justify formula.
Justify the conclusion formula
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Quantity indicators
Family #1: Prove
19. 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.
Primary Objective #3
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Quantity indicators
Family #1: Prove
20. Assumes that only 2 courses of action are available when there may be others. n
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
False dilemma
Conclusion Identification Method
Time shift errors
21. Thus - therefore - hence - consequently - as a result - so - accordingly - clearly - must be that - shows that - conclude that - follows that - for this reason.
Time shift errors
Conclusion Indicators
Family #4: Disprove
Causal statements
22. 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 cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Necessary Condition
Family #2: Help
Mistaken Reversal
23. 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
Family #2: Help
Family #4: Disprove
Probability indicators
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
24. Stimulus (affected or determined)--/-> answer choices (accepted) Negative sign on the arrow reflects attacking or hurting the argument (weaken).
Family #3: Hurt
Weaken question signal words
Time shift errors
Primary Objective #4
25. 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
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
How to strengthen an argument
26. If - when - whenever - every - all - any - people who - in order to.
Justify the conclusion formula
Weaken question signal words
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
2 roles played by assumptions
27. Negates both conditions - creating a statement that does not have to be true. Given: A+ --> Study Mistaken Negation: Not A+ --> Not Study
Primary Objective #8
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Mistaken Negation
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
28. 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 questions
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Main Point Questions
29. Percent - proportion - fraction - ratio - incidence - likelihood - probability - segment - share. n
How to determine the strength of an argument
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Method of Reasoning questions
Primary Objective #5
30. Then - only - only if - must - required - unless - except - until - without.
Mistaken Negation
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Primary Objective #7
Numbers and percentage errors
31. 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
Straw Man
Conclusion Indicators
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Conclusion Identification Method
32. 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
Necessary Condition
Rules for Family #1
Uncertain use of a term or concept
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
33. 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.
False dilemma
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Uncertain use of a term or concept
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
34. 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
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
35. 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
Family #3: Hurt
How to attack a causal conclusion
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
36. 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
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Exceptional case/over generalization
How to determine the strength of an argument
37. If all 5 answer choices appear to be 'losers' - return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument.
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Primary Objective #9
Exceptional case/over generalization
Primary Objective #3
38. 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.
How to strengthen an argument
Mistaken Reversal
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
39. To logically negate a conditional statement - negate the necessary condition. Example: neither...nor becomes either...or.
Errors of composition and division
Logical negation
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Weakening conditional reasoning
40. 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
Rules for Family #1
Appeal Fallacies
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
What is the biggest reason students miss 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 approach causality and strengthen questions?
Premise Indicators
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Method of Reasoning questions
42. 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
Quantity indicators
Circular reasoning
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
43. 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
Rules for Family #1
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Typical assumption question stems
Errors of composition and division
44. 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
Appeal Fallacies
Necessary Condition
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Mistaken cause and effect
45. Separate the answer choices into 'contenders' and 'loser'. After completing this process - review the contenders and decide which answer correct.
Primary Objective #8
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Survey errors
Logical negation
46. 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
Time shift errors
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Mistaken Reversal
47. If the stimulus contains an argument - identify the conclusion. If the stimulus contains a fact set - examine each fact.
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
How to attack a causal conclusion
Primary Objective #2
Quantity indicators
48. Stimulus (accepted) --/-> answer choices (affected or determined) cannot be true.
Sufficient Condition
Family #2: Help
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Family #4: Disprove
49. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements. n
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Family #4: Disprove
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Errors of composition and division
50. 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
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Conclusion Identification Method
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions