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Test your basic knowledge |
GMAT Critical Reasoning
Start Test
Study First
Subjects
:
gmat
,
logic-and-reasoning
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. If an argument involves percentages - use real - concrete numbers. The words inference - assertion - prediction and claim are all synonyms for conclusion.
Use Real Numbers - Make an Inference
Draw a Conclusion: Stay Close to the Premises
Identifying the Question Type
Identify all claims from facts (which can be proven) - Alternate Way to Find the Conclusion
2. Explains or leads to a premise instead of the conclusion
The AC that gives a new - fact-based premise
Argument Structure
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Addresses the premise only
Find the Assumption Questions
3. Most common among critical reasoning questions.Correct answers do NOT need to make the conclusion false or invalid; just needs to make it less likely that the conclusion is valid.
Finding the Conclusion
The 'Therefore' test
Weaken the Conclusion
Evaluate the Conclusion A Minor Question Type (MQT)
4. Solve a problem posed by the premises - correct AC should directly counteract or fix a given problem. Tend to appear as a new premise - wrong AC will address some piece of the argument but not counteract or fix the problem. Some wrong AC will reinfor
Signal Words for Premises
Resolve a Problem A Minor Question Type (MQT)
Assumption: Ties to the Conclusion
Signal Words for Conclusion
5. Provides a conclusion that is opposite of what the argument says.
Premise
Mimic the Argument A Minor Question Type (MQT)
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Wrong Direction
The T Diagram
6. Tied to a premise and provides unnecessary information about a premise - if the premise is already a stated fact - it doesn't need support - make sure the answer choice is not simply related to the conclusion but supports it
Conclusion
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices
Weaken the Conclusion: Argument/Counterargument
Strengthen the Conclusion: Wrong Answer Choice Type - No Tie to the Conclusion
7. Identify information that would help evaluate the validity of a given conclusion - the correct AC will provide a way to TEST the conclusion
Establish the feasibility of the premises of an argument
Evaluate the Conclusion A Minor Question Type (MQT)
Minor Question Type: Explain an Event or Discrepancy
Draw a Conclusion
8. Select a situation that best exemplifies the conclusion
Draw a Conclusion
Provide an Example A Minor Question Type (MQT)
The T Diagram
Finding the Conclusion
9. In 'Explain an Event or Discrepancy' - Look for __________ that shows why the discrepancy is not one - after you add it to existing premises - it shoul make sense all together - correct AC fills a logical hole in the argument - allowing all premises
LEN: Least Extreme Negation Technique
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Out of Scope
Strengthen the Conclusion: Wrong Answer Choice Type - No Tie to the Conclusion
The AC that gives a new - fact-based premise
10. Read the passage and label each boldface as Fact - Opinion - or Conclusion. Skim each answer choice - only looking for terminology matching F - O - C. Eliminate AC that don't match F - O - C classification.
Identifying the Question Type
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Switching Terms
MQT: Analyze Argument Structure - faster approach
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Switching terms
11. 1. Look for the conclusion - often the last sentence of an argument - but sometimes the first. 2. Find the premises that lead to the conclusion - provide ALL the pieces of information written in the argument. - provide evidence that supports or leads
Identifying the Parts of an Argument
Fill in a logic gap
Minor Question Type: Explain an Event or Discrepancy
The 'Therefore' test
12. 1. Focus on the essential meaning. 2. Use EXTREME shorthand.3. Keep terms the same - try to keep exact wording of key points. 4. Make sure you understand what you are writing.
Major Question Types
MQT: Analyze Argument Structure
Conclusion
How to Diagram an Argument: The T-Diagram
13. 1. Abbreviate anything you can but don't abbreviate so much that you change or lose the argument. 2. Underline key words - details and boundary words. 3. Use arrows to indicate cause and effect relationships. 4. Identify point of view with a colon to
Minor Question Type: Explain an Event or Discrepancy
How to Diagram an Argument: The T-Diagram
Resolve a Problem A Minor Question Type (MQT)
Diagramming Efficiently
14. Make sure to note if a question is strengthen or weaken the conclusion so as to not mistakenly choose the wrong answer - use an S-W-slash chart
Weaken: Wrong Answer Choice Type - Wrong direction
Strengthen the Conclusion
Draw a Conclusion: Stay Close to the Premises
Resolve a Problem A Minor Question Type (MQT)
15. A category of assumption - uses some type of superlative qualifier like only/best/worst way - there shouldn't be another way or better/worse way.
Boundary Words
Eliminate alternate paths to reach a given conclusion
Resolve a Problem A Minor Question Type (MQT)
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Wrong Direction
16. Look for the assumption to: 1. Bridge agap between any premise and the conclusion. 2. Support/strengthen/validate the conclusion. The answer doesn't have to be the only necessary assumption. The right answer is often 'necessary but not sufficient.' I
Extreme Words
Resolve a Problem A Minor Question Type (MQT)
Assumption: Ties to the Conclusion
S-W-Slash Chart
17. 1. Expose a faulty or tenuous assumption OR 2. Negatively impacts the conclusion directly
Extreme Words
What Correct answers do
MQT: Analyze Argument Structure
Eliminate alternate paths to reach a given conclusion
18. Identify the conclusion and choose the best AC that restates or paraphrases it
Minor Question Type: Explain an Event or Discrepancy
Premise
Restate the Conclusion A Minor Question Type (MQT)
Establish the feasibility of the premises of an argument
19. Answers require you to assume at least one piece of information not explicitly presented in the argument.
Draw a Conclusion: Stay Close to the Premises
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Out of Scope
'Fill in the Blank'
Boundary Words
20. 1. Find the assumption. 2. Draw a conclusion. 3. Strengthen the conclusion. 4. Weaken the conclusion. 5. Explain an event or discrepancy. 6. Analyze the argument structure. 7. Evaluate the conclusion. 8. Resolve a problem. 9. Provide an example. 10.
Strengthen the Conclusion
Weaken the Conclusion
Major Question Types
Draw a Conclusion
21. A powerful technique. If an answer choice in a question is negated and the argument becomes nonsensical - then the answer choice is almost certainly correct. An argument might depend on several assumptions - any of which could be the answer. However
Finding the Conclusion
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices
Negating an assumption
The T Diagram
22. In order to clarify a question stem with EXCEPT - rephrase the EXCEPT statement into a question - inserting the word NOT and eliminating the word EXCEPT. Ex: 'Each of the following helps to explain event X except...' turns into 'Which one does NOT ex
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23. Only use this method when the primary patterns do not apply. A) predict the future - will - should - can be expected to - could result in - are likely to B) subjective opinion - anything that cannot be proven C) cause & effect - if...then - as a resu
LEN Examples
Diagramming Efficiently
Identify all claims from facts (which can be proven) - Alternate Way to Find the Conclusion
Boundary Words
24. A category of assumption - cause and effect conclusions; correlation is not causation. - look for an assumption that eliminates an alternate model of causation - you must rule out the causality in the other direction
Can eliminate alternate causes for a given conclusion
Assumption
Eliminate alternate paths to reach a given conclusion
Mimic the Argument A Minor Question Type (MQT)
25. Poses two seemingly contradictory premises and find the AC that best reconciles them - Question will indicate the discrepancy or provide a keyword pointing to it in the argument: yet - however - nonetheless - paradoxically - surprising because...Argu
Weaken the Conclusion: Argument/Counterargument
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Switching terms
Boundary Words
Minor Question Type: Explain an Event or Discrepancy
26. Answer choice provides the opposite of what you are looking for
Signal Words for Conclusion
S-W-Slash Chart
The T Diagram
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Wrong direction
27. Conclude something from a given set of premises - the conclusion you draw must be true as a result of only the given premises; it should not require any additional assumptions. Sample question stems: 'If the statements above are true - which of the f
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Follow on
Draw a Conclusion
Fill in a logic gap
Weaken: Wrong Answer Choice Type - Wrong direction
28. Always - only - all >> insert not necessarily or sometimes... Not - Never - none - not one - not once >> at least one - at least once - Some - a few - several >> no - none - Sometimes - on occasion - often >> never - At least - at most - more than -
LEN Examples
Identifying the Question Type
Restate the Conclusion A Minor Question Type (MQT)
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Out of Scope
29. Use your paper to visibly eliminate answer choices A-E. Cross out incorrect choices and circle the correct answers. Check all of the answer choices even if you believe you have found the correct one. You may find that another answer choice is potenti
Answer Choices: Process of Elimination
Identifying the Question Type
Weaken: Wrong Answer Choice Type - No tie to the conclusion
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Out of Scope
30. If you have two claims X & Y - ask yourself which leads to the other. A) 'X - therefore Y'. If this works - Y is the conclusion. B) 'Y - therefore X'. If this works - X is the conclusion. The deduction that takes place last logically in the sequence
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31. Stated pieces of information or evidence that provide support for the conclusion (facts - opinions or claims).
Diagramming Efficiently
Premise
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Wrong Direction
Negating an assumption
32. Unstated parts of an argument that are necessary to reach the given conclusion. NEVER stated in the written argument.
Assumption
Resolve a Problem A Minor Question Type (MQT)
Establish the feasibility of the premises of an argument
Signal Words for Conclusion
33. Always - never - all -none - etc. They make the argument very broad or far-reaching - making it susceptible to attack. Note any extreme language used in premises or conclusions with an (!). This strategy ONLY applies to words in the argument. _______
Extreme Words
LEN: Least Extreme Negation Technique
Find the Assumption Questions
Negating an assumption
34. Describe the role of a part or parts of an argument - often use argument/counterargument structure (use modified T-diagram) Don't spend too much time - eliminate a few choices and move on. Two boldfaced statements - determine the role each one plays
Extreme Words
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Addresses the premise only
MQT: Analyze Argument Structure
Draw a Conclusion
35. Provide unnecessary information about a premise - make sure answer choices are not simply related to the conclusion but also weaken it - an answer choice can seem realistic - but only need to determine whether it weakens the argument
'Except' and 'Fill in the Blank' Questions
Eliminate alternate paths to reach a given conclusion
S-W-Slash Chart
Weaken: Wrong Answer Choice Type - No tie to the conclusion
36. What do you do when two or more answer choices are very tempting? Use the Least Extreme Negation (LEN) technique. - negate answer choices to see whether the argument fails - use the least extreme negation possible. If the conclusion can still follow
LEN: Least Extreme Negation Technique
Weaken the Conclusion
MQT: Analyze Argument Structure - faster approach
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Switching Terms
37. To help the process of elimination: 1. Write down letters A-E. 2. Evaluate each answer choice and note whether a. It strengthens the conclusion with an S b. it weakens the conclusion with a W c. Is irrelevant to the conclusion with a slash through it
Extreme Words
Diagramming Efficiently
Fill in a logic gap
S-W-Slash Chart
38. 1. Draw a large T - leaving more room on the left 'pro' side than the right 'con' side. 2. Look for the conclusion and write it on the top of the T. 3. Read the argument sentence by sentence. Write any pro premises on the left and cons on the right.
What Correct answers do
The T Diagram
MQT: Analyze Argument Structure - faster approach
Signal Words for Premises
39. Extreme words make the answer choices incorrect - unless the argument explicitly justifies/states extreme words. A correct answer choice must be 100% true. When you see boundary or extreme words in an answer - ask 'what is the most extreme example I
Restate the Conclusion A Minor Question Type (MQT)
Boundary & Extreme Words in Answer Choices
Signal Words for Premises
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Wrong Direction
40. Commonly uses words 'assumption - assume - flaw or questionable'. Assumptions serve as a necessary bridge between the premises and the conclusion. The correct answer choice of an assumption question must be necessary to the conclusion of the argument
Evaluate the Conclusion A Minor Question Type (MQT)
Find the Assumption Questions
Finding the Conclusion
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Addresses the premise only
41. Premise + (assumption) = Conclusion
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Follow on
LEN: Least Extreme Negation Technique
What Correct answers do
Argument Structure
42. Provides an assumption that is not actually necessary for the conclusion to be logically valid. - breaks up a category subtype
Resolve a Problem A Minor Question Type (MQT)
Identify all claims from facts (which can be proven) - Alternate Way to Find the Conclusion
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Addresses the premise only
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - No ties to the conclusion
43. The conclusion you select should be supported by at least some of the premises. The conclusion does NOT need to address all of the premises. A correct answer may be a mathematical or logical deduction. In this type of question - the entire body of th
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Addresses the premise only
Draw a Conclusion
Draw a Conclusion: Stay Close to the Premises
Strengthen the Conclusion
44. They limit the scope of an argument and can be useful in identifying incorrect answer choices. They provide nuances to the argument - which can help you make some answer choices correct or incorrect. When diagramming - be sure to include boundary wor
Can eliminate alternate causes for a given conclusion
Fill in a logic gap
Weaken: Wrong Answer Choice Type - No tie to the conclusion
Boundary Words
45. Proposes faulty mathematical or logical reasoning - make sure that any substituted expressions are truly synonyms
Wrong Answer Choice Types: Draw a Conclusion - Switching Terms
Weaken: Wrong Answer Choice Type - No tie to the conclusion
Strengthen the Conclusion: Wrong Answer Choice Type - No Tie to the Conclusion
Identify all claims from facts (which can be proven) - Alternate Way to Find the Conclusion
46. Follows on from the conclusion instead of identifying an assumption that underlies the conclusion
Identifying the Parts of an Argument
Assumption
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Follow on
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Wrong direction
47. A category of assumption - 'how do we logically get from Point A to Point B?' - key words: therefore - because - for this reason - etc. - fact-based or background information; occasionally reflects an opinion or claim
Assumptions: Wrong Answer Choices - Follow on
Weaken: Wrong Answer Choice Type - No tie to the conclusion
Fill in a logic gap
Strengthen the Conclusion: Wrong Answer Choice Type - Wrong Direction
48. Analyze the logical flow of a argument and choose the AC that most closely mimics the argument flow or structure - be sure to not spend too much time
Weaken the Conclusion
Identifying the Parts of an Argument
'Fill in the Blank'
Mimic the Argument A Minor Question Type (MQT)
49. An answer choice that weakens the conclusion without requiring significant leaps of logic is likely correct. Use an S-W-slash chart on EXCEPT questions with confusing wording. Four answer choices will weaken - one will not. The correct answer choice
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50. Many answer choices weaken the argument instead of strengthening it - make sure to note the question type so as to choose the correct answer
'Fill in the Blank'
Strengthen the Conclusion: Wrong Answer Choice Type - Wrong Direction
What Correct answers do
Draw a Conclusion: Stay Close to the Premises