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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. 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
Primary Objective #9
Family #2: Help
Appeal Fallacies
2. Immediately look for the repeat or contrapositive in the answer choices. Avoid mistaken reversals and mistaken negations.
Common weakening scenarios
Conclusion Indicators
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Time shift errors
3. If all 5 answer choices appear to be 'losers' - return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument.
Primary Objective #9
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Survey errors
'Additional' Premise Indicators
4. 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
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
2 roles played by assumptions
Justify the conclusion formula
Mistaken Reversal
5. 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.
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Primary Objective #2
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
6. Separate the answer choices into 'contenders' and 'loser'. After completing this process - review the contenders and decide which answer correct.
Weaken question signal words
Logical opposites
Primary Objective #8
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
7. Negates both conditions - creating a statement that does not have to be true. Given: A+ --> Study Mistaken Negation: Not A+ --> Not Study
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Mistaken Negation
Circular reasoning
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
8. 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
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Survey errors
Assumption Negation Technique
Conclusion Indicators
9. 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
Assumption Negation Technique
How to determine the strength of an argument
Errors in the use of evidence
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
10. Read closely and know precisely what the author said. DO NOT GENERALIZE!.
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Primary Objective #9
Primary Objective #4
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
11. 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
Appeal Fallacies
Mistaken Reversal
Premise definition
12. Stimulus (accepted) --/-> answer choices (affected or determined) cannot be true.
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Family #4: Disprove
Conclusion Identification Method
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
13. At least on of the two - possibly both.
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14. Determine whether the stimulus contains an argument or if it is only a set of factual statements. MUST recognize whether a conclusion is present.
Primary Objective #1
Mistaken Negation
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Justify the conclusion formula
15. 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
Mistaken Reversal
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Method of Reasoning questions
16. Assumes that only 2 courses of action are available when there may be others. n
Rules for Family #3
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
False dilemma
2 speaker questions
17. 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
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Main Point Questions
Probability indicators
18. An event or circumstance whose occurrence is required in order for a sufficient condition to occur.
Necessary Condition
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
'Additional' Premise Indicators
19. 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
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Appeal Fallacies
Exceptional case/over generalization
20. 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
Circular reasoning
Numbers and percentage errors
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
21. 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
Primary Objective #5
Primary Objective #6
Primary Objective #4
Mistaken cause and effect
22. 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
Main Point Questions
Method of Reasoning questions
Primary Objective #7
23. 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
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Premise Indicators
Causal statements
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
24. 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?
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Method of Reasoning questions
Premise definition
25. 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
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Logical opposites
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Numbers and percentage errors
26. 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
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
How to determine the strength of an argument
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Family #4: Disprove
27. If an answer choice describes an event that did not occur in the stimulus - then that answer is incorrect. Watch for answers that are partially true - that is answers that contain a description of something that happened in the argument but that also
Causal statements
Quantity indicators
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
28. 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
Appeal Fallacies
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Common weakening scenarios
How to attack a causal conclusion
29. Amount - quantity - sum - total - count - tally.n
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Family #3: Hurt
30. 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
Family #1: Prove
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Circular reasoning
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
31. An event or circumstance whose occurrence indicates that a necessary condition must also occur.
Rules for Family #1
Weakening conditional reasoning
Circular reasoning
Sufficient Condition
32. 1. Watch for answers starting with the phrase 'at least one' or 'at least some'. When an assumption answer choice starts with one of these phrases it is usually right. But ALWAYS verify with A.N.T. 2. Avoid answers that claim an idea was the most imp
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
False analogy
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
How to attack a causal conclusion
33. Occurs when an author improperly equates a percentage with a definate quantity or vice versa. n
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Family #1: Prove
Numbers and percentage errors
Family #2: Help
34. 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
Conclusion definition
Numbers and percentage errors
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Mistaken Negation
35. 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
'Additional' Premise Indicators
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Assumption Negation Technique
Rules for Family #1
36. 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)
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
37. 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.
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Conclusion Indicators
Family #2: Help
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
38. 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
Errors of conditional reasoning
Weaken question signal words
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Primary Objective #8
39. 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.
Family #1: Prove
Logical opposites
Quantity indicators
Errors in the use of evidence
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
Method of Reasoning questions
How to attack a causal conclusion
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Appeal Fallacies
41. If - when - whenever - every - all - any - people who - in order to.
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Primary Objective #1
Counter Premise Indicators
Appeal Fallacies
42. 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
How to strengthen an argument
Primary Objective #9
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
False analogy
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
Weaken question signal words
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
44. 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?
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Conclusion definition
Mistaken Reversal
2 roles played by assumptions
45. 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
Rules for Family #2
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
46. 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
Appeal Fallacies
Mistaken Reversal
Weaken question signal words
Assumption Negation Technique
47. 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
Straw Man
How to attack a causal conclusion
Premise definition
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
48. If the stimulus contains an argument - determine whether the argument is strong or weak.
Primary Objective #3
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Mistaken Negation
Family #3: Hurt
49. 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
Straw Man
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Numbers and percentage errors
50. 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 #6
Typical assumption question stems
Primary Objective #1
Logical negation