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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. 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
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Primary Objective #9
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Mistaken Reversal
2. 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
Family #1: Prove
Family #4: Disprove
Counter Premise Indicators
Central assumption of causal conclusions
3. Percent - proportion - fraction - ratio - incidence - likelihood - probability - segment - share. n
Method of Reasoning questions
Primary Objective #9
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Uncertain use of a term or concept
4. 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
Errors of composition and division
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Premise Indicators
Method of Reasoning
5. Read closely and know precisely what the author said. DO NOT GENERALIZE!.
2 speaker questions
Family #3: Hurt
Logical negation
Primary Objective #4
6. 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.
7. 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
Main Point Questions
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Conclusion definition
8. 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
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Logical negation
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Assumption Negation Technique
9. 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
Primary Objective #6
Straw Man
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
How to determine the strength of an argument
10. 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?
Premise definition
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
2 roles played by assumptions
11. Assumes that only 2 courses of action are available when there may be others. n
False dilemma
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Conclusion Indicators
Justify the conclusion formula
12. 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
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Primary Objective #6
13. 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
Errors in the use of evidence
How to determine the strength of an argument
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
14. Negates both conditions - creating a statement that does not have to be true. Given: A+ --> Study Mistaken Negation: Not A+ --> Not Study
Causal statements
Mistaken Negation
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
15. If all 5 answer choices appear to be 'losers' - return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument.
Primary Objective #9
Appeal Fallacies
Counter Premise Indicators
Time shift errors
16. An event or circumstance whose occurrence indicates that a necessary condition must also occur.
Sufficient Condition
Primary Objective #3
Primary Objective #9
Mistaken Reversal
17. If - when - whenever - every - all - any - people who - in order to.
Circular reasoning
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Weaken question signal words
Typical assumption question stems
18. Stimulus (accepted) --/-> answer choices (affected or determined) cannot be true.
Primary Objective #5
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Family #4: Disprove
Appeal Fallacies
19. If the stimulus contains an argument - determine whether the argument is strong or weak.
Primary Objective #3
Assumption Negation Technique
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
20. Thus - therefore - hence - consequently - as a result - so - accordingly - clearly - must be that - shows that - conclude that - follows that - for this reason.
Probability indicators
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Conclusion Indicators
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
21. 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
Family #2: Help
Family #3: Hurt
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
22. An event or circumstance whose occurrence is required in order for a sufficient condition to occur.
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Necessary Condition
Primary Objective #2
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
23. A statement or judgement that follows from one or more reasons. Ask: What is the author driving at? What does the author want me to believe? What point follows from the others?
Exceptional case/over generalization
2 roles played by assumptions
Conclusion definition
Numbers and percentage errors
24. If the stimulus contains an argument - identify the conclusion. If the stimulus contains a fact set - examine each fact.
Causal statements
Mistaken cause and effect
Primary Objective #2
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
25. 1. if you recognize the form of reasoning used in the stimulus (causal - conditional - etc.) immediately attack the answers and search for the answer with similar reasoning (analogy - circular reasoning) 2. The Conclusion - match the conclusions - to
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Primary Objective #4
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Appeal Fallacies
26. 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
Conclusion Identification Method
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Straw Man
27. 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
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Common weakening scenarios
Conclusion definition
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
28. 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
How to determine the strength of an argument
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Survey errors
Family #1: Prove
29. They can be in the premises or conclusion. If they are in the conclusion the argument is flawed. Classic mistaken cause and effect reasoning refers to occurences when a causal assertion is made in the conclusion or the conclusion presumes a causal re
Causal statements
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Family #2: Help
30. 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
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Rules for Family #3
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Family #4: Disprove
31. 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
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
How to strengthen an argument
Errors in the use of evidence
32. Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is two disimilar to the original situation to be applicable. n
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
False analogy
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Primary Objective #8
33. 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
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Primary Objective #4
Conclusion Indicators
34. To logically negate a conditional statement - negate the necessary condition. Example: neither...nor becomes either...or.
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
2 roles played by assumptions
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Logical negation
35. 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
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Necessary Condition
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Primary Objective #2
36. 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
Method of Reasoning
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
How to attack a causal conclusion
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
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
Primary Objective #6
2 roles played by assumptions
Rules for Family #1
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
38. 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
Primary Objective #5
2 speaker questions
Rules for Family #3
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
39. 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
Primary Objective #8
Circular reasoning
Weakening conditional reasoning
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
40. Determine whether the stimulus contains an argument or if it is only a set of factual statements. MUST recognize whether a conclusion is present.
Time shift errors
Primary Objective #1
Central assumption of causal conclusions
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
41. 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
Central assumption of causal conclusions
How to attack a causal conclusion
Circular reasoning
Weakening conditional reasoning
42. At least on of the two - possibly both.
43. 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
Counter Premise Indicators
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
False analogy
Weakening conditional reasoning
44. 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
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Primary Objective #4
2 roles played by assumptions
45. 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
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Straw Man
Rules for Family #1
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
46. 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
Logical opposites
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Primary Objective #2
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
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Primary Objective #3
Family #4: Disprove
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
48. 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
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
How to determine the strength of an argument
Mistaken Reversal
49. 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
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
2 roles played by assumptions
Errors in the use of evidence
Premise definition
50. 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.
Common weakening scenarios
Primary Objective #7
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Appeal Fallacies