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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. 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
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
False dilemma
2. 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.
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Assumption Negation Technique
How to strengthen an argument
3. 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
Rules for Family #1
Justify the conclusion formula
Sufficient Condition
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
4. 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
2 roles played by assumptions
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Family #3: Hurt
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
5. Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is two disimilar to the original situation to be applicable. n
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Family #4: Disprove
False analogy
6. 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
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Straw Man
Primary Objective #4
7. 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
Primary Objective #3
Errors of composition and division
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
'Additional' Premise Indicators
8. Stimulus (affected or determined) ---> answer choices (accepted) AKA: Help Family assumption - justify the conclusion - strengthen/support - resolve the paradox.
Family #2: Help
How to strengthen an argument
Mistaken Reversal
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
9. Assumes that only 2 courses of action are available when there may be others. n
Primary Objective #8
False dilemma
Logical opposites
'Additional' Premise Indicators
10. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements. n
Family #1: Prove
Primary Objective #9
Primary Objective #5
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
11. 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.
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Quantity indicators
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Primary Objective #1
12. If the stimulus contains an argument - identify the conclusion. If the stimulus contains a fact set - examine each fact.
Primary Objective #2
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Family #1: Prove
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
13. 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
2 roles played by assumptions
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Mistaken cause and effect
14. 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
Weakening conditional reasoning
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Central assumption of causal conclusions
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.
Errors of composition and division
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Logical opposites
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
16. Percent - proportion - fraction - ratio - incidence - likelihood - probability - segment - share. n
Primary Objective #7
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Premise definition
Primary Objective #3
17. If the stimulus contains an argument - determine whether the argument is strong or weak.
Mistaken cause and effect
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Primary Objective #3
18. 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+.
Family #3: Hurt
Mistaken Reversal
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Method of Reasoning questions
19. 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
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Common weakening scenarios
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
20. Carefully read and identify the question stem. DO NOT assume that certain words are automatically associated with certain questions types.
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Circular reasoning
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Primary Objective #5
21. Thus - therefore - hence - consequently - as a result - so - accordingly - clearly - must be that - shows that - conclude that - follows that - for this reason.
How to determine the strength of an argument
Weaken question signal words
Conclusion Indicators
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
22. 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
Errors in the use of evidence
Conclusion definition
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Common weakening scenarios
23. 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
Mistaken Reversal
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
False dilemma
24. 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
Rules for Family #2
Main Point Questions
Family #4: Disprove
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
25. At least on of the two - possibly both.
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26. 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
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Weaken question signal words
Straw Man
Causal statements
27. If all 5 answer choices appear to be 'losers' - return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument.
Uncertain use of a term or concept
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Primary Objective #7
Primary Objective #9
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
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Exceptional case/over generalization
Family #4: Disprove
29. 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.
How to strengthen an argument
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Family #1: Prove
Circular reasoning
30. Introduce something that actually contains an idea that is counter to the argument. By raising opposition - the author can minimize the damage that would be done by the objection if it were raised elsewhere. but yet - however - on the other hand - ad
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Counter Premise Indicators
False dilemma
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
31. Separate the answer choices into 'contenders' and 'loser'. After completing this process - review the contenders and decide which answer correct.
Method of Reasoning questions
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
2 speaker questions
Primary Objective #8
32. 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 -
How to attack a causal conclusion
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Probability indicators
Family #1: Prove
33. 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
Premise definition
Uncertain use of a term or concept
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Sufficient Condition
34. 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
How to determine the strength of an argument
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
35. If - when - whenever - every - all - any - people who - in order to.
Method of Reasoning
Family #4: Disprove
Main Point Questions
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
36. 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
Method of Reasoning questions
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Primary Objective #3
Mistaken cause and effect
37. Occurs when an author improperly equates a percentage with a definate quantity or vice versa. n
Numbers and percentage errors
Logical opposites
Counter Premise Indicators
Conclusion definition
38. 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
Premise definition
Survey errors
Primary Objective #7
Primary Objective #2
39. 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
Premise Indicators
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Necessary Condition
40. 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
Straw Man
Family #4: Disprove
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Assumption Negation Technique
41. 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
How to determine the strength of an argument
Survey errors
False dilemma
Rules for Family #2
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
Straw Man
Numbers and percentage errors
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
43. 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?
Assumption Negation Technique
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Premise definition
Primary Objective #8
44. 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.
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Mistaken Reversal
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
45. 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
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Survey errors
How to strengthen an argument
46. 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
Method of Reasoning
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Errors of conditional reasoning
Primary Objective #2
47. 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
Primary Objective #3
Rules for Family #3
Family #1: Prove
48. 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
Main Point Questions
Primary Objective #9
Time shift errors
2 speaker questions
49. 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
Rules for Family #1
Conclusion Identification Method
Method of Reasoning
Family #3: Hurt
50. Prephrase: after reading the question stem - take a moment to mentally formulate your answer to the question stem.
Main Point Questions
Primary Objective #6
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Resolve the Paradox question stem features