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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. 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
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Method of Reasoning questions
Conclusion definition
2. 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 -
Probability indicators
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Family #2: Help
Mistaken cause and effect
3. 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
2 speaker questions
Errors of conditional reasoning
Primary Objective #5
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
4. 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 #3
How to determine the strength of an argument
Typical assumption question stems
Conclusion Identification Method
5. Read closely and know precisely what the author said. DO NOT GENERALIZE!.
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Primary Objective #4
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Primary Objective #5
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
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
False dilemma
Sufficient Condition
Primary Objective #4
7. 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
2 roles played by assumptions
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Premise definition
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
8. Immediately look for the repeat or contrapositive in the answer choices. Avoid mistaken reversals and mistaken negations.
Family #1: Prove
Conclusion definition
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Quantity indicators
9. 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
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Appeal Fallacies
Errors of composition and division
10. 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
Rules for Family #2
'Additional' Premise Indicators
How to attack a causal conclusion
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
11. 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
Primary Objective #1
Premise definition
Rules for Family #2
False dilemma
12. 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.
How to determine the strength of an argument
Typical assumption question stems
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Errors in the use of evidence
13. 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
Rules for Family #3
Uncertain use of a term or concept
14. 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
Typical assumption question stems
Family #3: Hurt
2 speaker questions
15. 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.
Primary Objective #4
'Additional' Premise Indicators
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Causal statements
16. Carefully read and identify the question stem. DO NOT assume that certain words are automatically associated with certain questions types.
How to attack a causal conclusion
Conclusion Indicators
Primary Objective #5
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
17. 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+.
Primary Objective #4
Straw Man
2 roles played by assumptions
Mistaken Reversal
18. Refer to the amount or quantity in the relationship. Examples: (do not need to memorize) all - every - most - many - several - sole - only - not all - none - few.
Quantity indicators
Primary Objective #1
2 roles played by assumptions
Exceptional case/over generalization
19. 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
Rules for Family #2
Justify the conclusion formula
Causal statements
20. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements. n
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
21. 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.
Primary Objective #7
How to determine the strength of an argument
Mistaken Reversal
Quantity indicators
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
Primary Objective #7
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
False analogy
23. An event or circumstance whose occurrence indicates that a necessary condition must also occur.
How to strengthen an argument
Family #3: Hurt
Sufficient Condition
Primary Objective #3
24. Premises + answer choice = conclusion When approaching answers - separate them into winners and losers - then apply the justify formula.
Justify the conclusion formula
Conclusion Indicators
Mistaken cause and effect
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
25. 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
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Appeal Fallacies
Primary Objective #4
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
26. 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
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Survey errors
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Primary Objective #5
27. Stimulus (affected or determined)--/-> answer choices (accepted) Negative sign on the arrow reflects attacking or hurting the argument (weaken).
Family #3: Hurt
Primary Objective #5
Straw Man
Rules for Family #2
28. At least on of the two - possibly both.
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29. 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
False analogy
Rules for Family #3
Method of Reasoning
How to determine the strength of an argument
30. 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?
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Conclusion definition
Primary Objective #2
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
31. 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
Conclusion Identification Method
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Causal statements
Weakening conditional reasoning
32. If - when - whenever - every - all - any - people who - in order to.
Primary Objective #6
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
33. 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
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Primary Objective #4
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
How to determine the strength of an argument
34. 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
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Rules for Family #1
How to determine the strength of an argument
Primary Objective #3
35. 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.
Appeal Fallacies
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
36. 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
Quantity indicators
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Exceptional case/over generalization
Straw Man
37. 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
Premise definition
Assumption Negation Technique
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
How to determine the strength of an argument
38. 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
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Primary Objective #7
Typical assumption question stems
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
39. 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
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Circular reasoning
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
40. 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
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
41. 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
Necessary Condition
Mistaken cause and effect
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Sufficient Condition
42. Occurs when an author improperly equates a percentage with a definate quantity or vice versa. n
Primary Objective #1
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Numbers and percentage errors
Necessary Condition
43. Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is two disimilar to the original situation to be applicable. n
False analogy
Conclusion Identification Method
Family #2: Help
Errors of conditional reasoning
44. To logically negate a conditional statement - negate the necessary condition. Example: neither...nor becomes either...or.
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Necessary Condition
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Logical negation
45. An event or circumstance whose occurrence is required in order for a sufficient condition to occur.
Quantity indicators
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
2 speaker questions
Necessary Condition
46. 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
Primary Objective #6
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Counter Premise Indicators
47. Amount - quantity - sum - total - count - tally.n
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
2 roles played by assumptions
Survey errors
Premise definition
48. 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
Conclusion Indicators
Rules for Family #3
Time shift errors
49. 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
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Primary Objective #4
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
50. 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
Conclusion definition
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Straw Man
Primary Objective #9