SUBJECTS
|
BROWSE
|
CAREER CENTER
|
POPULAR
|
JOIN
|
LOGIN
Business Skills
|
Soft Skills
|
Basic Literacy
|
Certifications
About
|
Help
|
Privacy
|
Terms
|
Email
Search
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. Prephrase: after reading the question stem - take a moment to mentally formulate your answer to the question stem.
Primary Objective #6
Common weakening scenarios
How to determine the strength of an argument
Assumption Negation Technique
2. 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
Family #2: Help
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
3. 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
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Mistaken Reversal
4. If all 5 answer choices appear to be 'losers' - return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument.
Primary Objective #9
Mistaken Reversal
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Common weakening scenarios
5. 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.
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Assumption Negation Technique
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Logical opposites
6. 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
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Mistaken Negation
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Survey errors
7. 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?
Straw Man
2 roles played by assumptions
Conclusion definition
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
8. 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
Primary Objective #5
Family #3: Hurt
Typical assumption question stems
Premise Indicators
9. 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+.
Common weakening scenarios
Appeal Fallacies
Primary Objective #2
Mistaken Reversal
10. 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
Conclusion Identification Method
How to determine the strength of an argument
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Errors in the use of evidence
11. Carefully read and identify the question stem. DO NOT assume that certain words are automatically associated with certain questions types.
Primary Objective #5
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Time shift errors
Central assumption of causal conclusions
12. An event or circumstance whose occurrence indicates that a necessary condition must also occur.
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Sufficient Condition
Mistaken Negation
Primary Objective #2
13. Stimulus (affected or determined) ---> answer choices (accepted) AKA: Help Family assumption - justify the conclusion - strengthen/support - resolve the paradox.
Causal statements
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
2 speaker questions
Family #2: Help
14. 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
Counter Premise Indicators
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Primary Objective #6
Time shift errors
15. Stimulus (affected or determined)--/-> answer choices (accepted) Negative sign on the arrow reflects attacking or hurting the argument (weaken).
Weakening conditional reasoning
Family #3: Hurt
Necessary Condition
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
16. 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?
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Premise definition
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
17. Negates both conditions - creating a statement that does not have to be true. Given: A+ --> Study Mistaken Negation: Not A+ --> Not Study
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
How to strengthen an argument
Sufficient Condition
Mistaken Negation
18. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements. n
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Survey errors
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
19. 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
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Main Point Questions
20. 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
Method of Reasoning questions
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Mistaken cause and effect
Assumption Negation Technique
21. Amount - quantity - sum - total - count - tally.n
Justify the conclusion formula
Conclusion Identification Method
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
22. 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
Uncertain use of a term or concept
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
2 speaker questions
23. 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)
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
24. 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 necessary condition
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Family #2: Help
Counter Premise Indicators
25. If the stimulus contains an argument - identify the conclusion. If the stimulus contains a fact set - examine each fact.
Justify the conclusion formula
Rules for Family #3
Primary Objective #2
Necessary Condition
26. 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
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Conclusion Identification Method
Central assumption of causal conclusions
27. Percent - proportion - fraction - ratio - incidence - likelihood - probability - segment - share. n
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Primary Objective #2
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Exceptional case/over generalization
28. 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
Primary Objective #1
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Probability indicators
29. Occurs when an author improperly equates a percentage with a definate quantity or vice versa. n
Causal statements
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Survey errors
Numbers and percentage errors
30. 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.
Warning
: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in
/var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php
on line
183
31. Weaken - attack - undermine - refute - argue against - call into question - cast doubt - challenge - damage - counter - When evaluating answers ask yourself: 'Would this answer choice make the author reconsider his position or force the author to res
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Weaken question signal words
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
32. Determine whether the stimulus contains an argument or if it is only a set of factual statements. MUST recognize whether a conclusion is present.
Conclusion Indicators
False dilemma
Exceptional case/over generalization
Primary Objective #1
33. 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
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Causal statements
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Rules for Family #1
34. Stimulus (accepted) --/-> answer choices (affected or determined) cannot be true.
Primary Objective #3
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Family #4: Disprove
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
35. 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.
Primary Objective #5
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Justify the conclusion formula
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
36. 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
Method of Reasoning
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Time shift errors
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
37. 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
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Mistaken cause and effect
Primary Objective #1
Rules for Family #1
38. Argument Part - If you do see the main conclusion at the end of a Method-AP problem - be prepared to answer a question about a part of the arguement other than the conclusion.n
Method of Reasoning
Assumption Negation Technique
Mistaken cause and effect
Primary Objective #2
39. 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
2 speaker questions
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Typical assumption question stems
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
40. 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
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Primary Objective #9
Errors in the use of evidence
Mistaken Negation
41. The author assumes as true What is supposed to be proved. exp: 'this essay is the best because it is better than all the others'n
Primary Objective #6
Circular reasoning
Numbers and percentage errors
Necessary Condition
42. 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
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
False analogy
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
43. 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
Primary Objective #8
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Errors in the use of evidence
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
44. 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
Premise Indicators
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
2 roles played by assumptions
45. Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is two disimilar to the original situation to be applicable. n
False analogy
Time shift errors
Survey errors
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
46. 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
False dilemma
Primary Objective #6
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Errors in the use of evidence
47. 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
Necessary Condition
Numbers and percentage errors
How to attack a causal conclusion
Primary Objective #5
48. 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
2 roles played by assumptions
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Exceptional case/over generalization
49. 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
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Method of Reasoning questions
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
50. Immediately look for the repeat or contrapositive in the answer choices. Avoid mistaken reversals and mistaken negations.
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Primary Objective #3
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features