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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. 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.
Conclusion definition
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
2. 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
Exceptional case/over generalization
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Primary Objective #8
3. At least on of the two - possibly both.
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4. 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
Straw Man
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Errors in the use of evidence
Justify the conclusion formula
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.
Exceptional case/over generalization
Conclusion definition
Errors in the use of evidence
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
6. 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
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Primary Objective #8
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Logical negation
7. To logically negate a conditional statement - negate the necessary condition. Example: neither...nor becomes either...or.
Logical negation
Counter Premise Indicators
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
How to strengthen an argument
8. 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
Probability indicators
How to attack a causal conclusion
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
9. 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
How to attack a causal conclusion
Primary Objective #4
Mistaken cause and effect
Weaken question signal words
10. 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
Rules for Family #1
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Assumption Negation Technique
11. Premises + answer choice = conclusion When approaching answers - separate them into winners and losers - then apply the justify formula.
Circular reasoning
Family #3: Hurt
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Justify the conclusion formula
12. 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
Primary Objective #6
Weakening conditional reasoning
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Primary Objective #4
13. 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
Mistaken cause and effect
Method of Reasoning questions
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
14. 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
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Conclusion Identification Method
Family #1: Prove
Exceptional case/over generalization
15. Thus - therefore - hence - consequently - as a result - so - accordingly - clearly - must be that - shows that - conclude that - follows that - for this reason.
Conclusion Indicators
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Primary Objective #2
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
16. If the stimulus contains an argument - determine whether the argument is strong or weak.
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Survey errors
Primary Objective #3
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
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
Rules for Family #2
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Errors of composition and division
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
18. 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
Quantity indicators
Rules for Family #3
Method of Reasoning
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
19. Then - only - only if - must - required - unless - except - until - without.
Family #2: Help
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Mistaken Negation
Weakening conditional reasoning
20. Because - since - for - for example - for the reason that - in that - given that - as indicated by - due to - owing to - this can be seen from - we know this by.
Time shift errors
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Premise Indicators
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
21. 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
How to strengthen an argument
2 roles played by assumptions
Family #1: Prove
Premise definition
22. 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.
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Primary Objective #9
Circular reasoning
Quantity indicators
23. 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
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Primary Objective #5
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
24. Assumes that only 2 courses of action are available when there may be others. n
Assumption Negation Technique
False dilemma
Necessary Condition
Method of Reasoning
25. 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
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Errors of composition and division
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
26. 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
Counter Premise Indicators
Method of Reasoning questions
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Mistaken Reversal
27. Prephrase: after reading the question stem - take a moment to mentally formulate your answer to the question stem.
Primary Objective #6
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Mistaken cause and effect
Primary Objective #8
28. 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
Justify the conclusion formula
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
2 roles played by assumptions
Survey errors
29. 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
Assumption Negation Technique
Conclusion definition
Appeal Fallacies
Family #3: Hurt
30. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements. n
Uncertain use of a term or concept
How to attack a causal conclusion
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
31. Read closely and know precisely what the author said. DO NOT GENERALIZE!.
Typical assumption question stems
Family #4: Disprove
Probability indicators
Primary Objective #4
32. 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
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Main Point Questions
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Mistaken cause and effect
33. 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
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Numbers and percentage errors
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Central assumption of causal conclusions
34. Percent - proportion - fraction - ratio - incidence - likelihood - probability - segment - share. n
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Mistaken cause and effect
'Additional' Premise Indicators
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
35. 1. Incomplete info. The author fails to consider all of the possibilities or relies upon evidence that is incomplete. This flaw can be attacked by bringing up new possibilities or info. 2. Improper comparison. The author attempts to compare two or mo
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Common weakening scenarios
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Causal statements
36. 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.
Primary Objective #1
Rules for Family #1
Logical opposites
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
37. 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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38. 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 strengthen an argument
How to determine the strength of an argument
Rules for Family #1
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
39. 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
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Primary Objective #3
Weakening conditional reasoning
40. Immediately look for the repeat or contrapositive in the answer choices. Avoid mistaken reversals and mistaken negations.
2 speaker questions
Primary Objective #2
How to determine the strength of an argument
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
41. An event or circumstance whose occurrence is required in order for a sufficient condition to occur.
Necessary Condition
Common weakening scenarios
Exceptional case/over generalization
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
42. Carefully read and identify the question stem. DO NOT assume that certain words are automatically associated with certain questions types.
How to strengthen an argument
Necessary Condition
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Primary Objective #5
43. 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
Straw Man
Circular reasoning
Rules for Family #2
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
44. Stimulus (affected or determined)--/-> answer choices (accepted) Negative sign on the arrow reflects attacking or hurting the argument (weaken).
Justify the conclusion formula
Counter Premise Indicators
Numbers and percentage errors
Family #3: Hurt
45. 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
Mistaken cause and effect
Family #2: Help
46. If the stimulus contains an argument - identify the conclusion. If the stimulus contains a fact set - examine each fact.
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Weaken question signal words
Errors in the use of evidence
Primary Objective #2
47. 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
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
48. 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
Primary Objective #6
Causal statements
Conclusion Indicators
Survey errors
49. 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
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Primary Objective #7
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Errors of conditional reasoning
50. If - when - whenever - every - all - any - people who - in order to.
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Uncertain use of a term or concept