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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. 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 determine the strength of an argument
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Primary Objective #3
Family #2: Help
2. 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
Numbers and percentage errors
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Mistaken cause and effect
Uncertain use of a term or concept
3. If - when - whenever - every - all - any - people who - in order to.
Mistaken Reversal
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Rules for Family #2
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
Primary Objective #2
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Premise Indicators
5. Carefully read and identify the question stem. DO NOT assume that certain words are automatically associated with certain questions types.
Conclusion definition
Primary Objective #5
Logical opposites
Probability indicators
6. 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
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Numbers and percentage errors
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
7. 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?
Premise definition
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Weaken question signal words
8. 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 -
Numbers and percentage errors
Probability indicators
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Primary Objective #2
9. 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
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Exceptional case/over generalization
Causal statements
False analogy
10. 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
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Conclusion Identification Method
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
11. 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
Straw Man
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Justify the conclusion formula
Exceptional case/over generalization
12. 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
Primary Objective #6
2 roles played by assumptions
Counter Premise Indicators
Source argument AKA ad hominen
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
Weaken question signal words
Primary Objective #6
Errors in the use of evidence
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
14. 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+.
Mistaken Reversal
Sufficient Condition
Rules for Family #2
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
15. 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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16. Read closely and know precisely what the author said. DO NOT GENERALIZE!.
Primary Objective #4
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
2 roles played by assumptions
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
17. If the stimulus contains an argument - determine whether the argument is strong or weak.
Primary Objective #3
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
2 speaker questions
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
18. 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
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Family #1: Prove
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
19. 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 causality: typical correct answer categories
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Premise definition
Primary Objective #2
20. 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
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Necessary Condition
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Primary Objective #4
21. 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
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Main Point Questions
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Family #3: Hurt
22. To logically negate a conditional statement - negate the necessary condition. Example: neither...nor becomes either...or.
Circular reasoning
Logical negation
Primary Objective #8
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
23. Stimulus (affected or determined) ---> answer choices (accepted) AKA: Help Family assumption - justify the conclusion - strengthen/support - resolve the paradox.
Premise Indicators
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Family #2: Help
Source argument AKA ad hominen
24. 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 cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Common weakening scenarios
Errors in the use of evidence
25. 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.
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Family #1: Prove
Rules for Family #3
26. 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
Straw Man
Errors of composition and division
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Appeal Fallacies
27. 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.
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Weakening conditional reasoning
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Mistaken cause and effect
28. 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.
Survey errors
Primary Objective #7
Primary Objective #6
Common weakening scenarios
29. Takes a small number of intstances and treats those instances as if they support a broad - sweeping conclusion. Often appears as an incorrect answer.n
Exceptional case/over generalization
Necessary Condition
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
2 speaker questions
30. 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
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
31. If the stimulus contains an argument - identify the conclusion. If the stimulus contains a fact set - examine each fact.
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Primary Objective #2
Conclusion Identification Method
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
32. 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
Circular reasoning
Conclusion definition
Counter Premise Indicators
Rules for Family #2
33. 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
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Appeal Fallacies
Straw Man
How to determine the strength of an argument
34. Percent - proportion - fraction - ratio - incidence - likelihood - probability - segment - share. n
Straw Man
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Rules for Family #1
2 roles played by assumptions
35. 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.
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Justify the conclusion formula
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Survey errors
36. If all 5 answer choices appear to be 'losers' - return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument.
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Conclusion Indicators
Primary Objective #9
Errors in the use of evidence
37. An event or circumstance whose occurrence indicates that a necessary condition must also occur.
Quantity indicators
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Sufficient Condition
Family #2: Help
38. 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
Family #1: Prove
Time shift errors
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Weakening conditional reasoning
39. Negates both conditions - creating a statement that does not have to be true. Given: A+ --> Study Mistaken Negation: Not A+ --> Not Study
Circular reasoning
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Mistaken Negation
40. 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
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Main Point Questions
Causal statements
41. 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
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
2 speaker questions
Weakening conditional reasoning
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
42. 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
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
False analogy
Primary Objective #3
43. Stimulus (affected or determined)--/-> answer choices (accepted) Negative sign on the arrow reflects attacking or hurting the argument (weaken).
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Family #3: Hurt
Primary Objective #4
44. Separate the answer choices into 'contenders' and 'loser'. After completing this process - review the contenders and decide which answer correct.
Primary Objective #8
Numbers and percentage errors
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Counter Premise Indicators
45. 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?
Conclusion definition
Necessary Condition
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
46. Stimulus (accepted) --/-> answer choices (affected or determined) cannot be true.
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Family #4: Disprove
Typical assumption question stems
47. At least on of the two - possibly both.
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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
Counter Premise Indicators
Errors of composition and division
Primary Objective #3
Errors of conditional reasoning
49. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements. n
Time shift errors
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Rules for Family #1
Primary Objective #9
50. Then - only - only if - must - required - unless - except - until - without.
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Typical assumption question stems
Rules for Family #2