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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. 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
Survey errors
Method of Reasoning
Rules for Family #1
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
2. 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
Circular reasoning
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Errors in the use of evidence
3. 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
Typical assumption question stems
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Method of Reasoning
Mistaken cause and effect
4. 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
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Weaken question signal words
5. Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is two disimilar to the original situation to be applicable. n
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
False analogy
Primary Objective #5
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
6. 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
Family #3: Hurt
False dilemma
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
7. 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
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Mistaken Negation
Mistaken cause and effect
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
8. 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
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Errors of composition and division
Family #4: Disprove
9. 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
Typical assumption question stems
Premise definition
Common weakening scenarios
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
10. 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
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Time shift errors
Errors of composition and division
How to strengthen an argument
11. 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
Errors in the use of evidence
Time shift errors
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
12. Then - only - only if - must - required - unless - except - until - without.
How to attack a causal conclusion
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Rules for Family #3
13. 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
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Counter Premise Indicators
False analogy
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
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
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Conclusion Identification Method
Causal statements
Conclusion Indicators
15. Carefully read and identify the question stem. DO NOT assume that certain words are automatically associated with certain questions types.
Primary Objective #5
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Appeal Fallacies
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
16. They often feature 2 conclusions (main and sub.) - when the main conclusion is typically place in the first or second sentence and the last sentence contains the sub. conclusion. The sub. conclusion is set off by conclusion indicators while the main
Assumption Negation Technique
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
False dilemma
17. 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)
Errors of conditional reasoning
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Numbers and percentage errors
18. Negates both conditions - creating a statement that does not have to be true. Given: A+ --> Study Mistaken Negation: Not A+ --> Not Study
Mistaken Negation
Exceptional case/over generalization
Rules for Family #1
Errors of composition and division
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.
2 speaker questions
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Assumption Negation Technique
20. 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.
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Sufficient Condition
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
21. 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
Probability indicators
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Causal statements
22. Stimulus (accepted) --/-> answer choices (affected or determined) cannot be true.
Family #4: Disprove
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Primary Objective #1
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
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Primary Objective #3
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
24. 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
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Premise definition
Mistaken Reversal
Straw Man
25. 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
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Primary Objective #5
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Premise definition
26. At least on of the two - possibly both.
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27. 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
Method of Reasoning questions
Errors of composition and division
Survey errors
Conclusion Indicators
28. 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
Primary Objective #9
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
29. 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 #3
Family #2: Help
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Uncertain use of a term or concept
30. 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
Mistaken Reversal
Time shift errors
Main Point Questions
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
31. If the stimulus contains an argument - determine whether the argument is strong or weak.
Sufficient Condition
Probability indicators
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Primary Objective #3
32. Thus - therefore - hence - consequently - as a result - so - accordingly - clearly - must be that - shows that - conclude that - follows that - for this reason.
Logical opposites
Conclusion Indicators
Time shift errors
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
33. Amount - quantity - sum - total - count - tally.n
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Rules for Family #3
34. 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?
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
How to strengthen an argument
Premise definition
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
35. 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.
Mistaken Reversal
Logical opposites
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Conclusion Indicators
36. 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.
Primary Objective #7
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Family #1: Prove
Primary Objective #6
37. 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
Primary Objective #1
Common weakening scenarios
Rules for Family #2
Premise definition
38. Stimulus (affected or determined)--/-> answer choices (accepted) Negative sign on the arrow reflects attacking or hurting the argument (weaken).
Family #3: Hurt
False analogy
Logical opposites
Primary Objective #4
39. If - when - whenever - every - all - any - people who - in order to.
How to strengthen an argument
Rules for Family #2
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
40. An event or circumstance whose occurrence indicates that a necessary condition must also occur.
Conclusion definition
Time shift errors
Sufficient Condition
Primary Objective #9
41. 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
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Weakening conditional reasoning
Exceptional case/over generalization
Counter Premise Indicators
42. 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 determine the strength of an argument
Weakening conditional reasoning
2 roles played by assumptions
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
43. 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
Circular reasoning
Primary Objective #8
Primary Objective #3
44. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements. n
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
45. Determine whether the stimulus contains an argument or if it is only a set of factual statements. MUST recognize whether a conclusion is present.
Circular reasoning
Quantity indicators
Primary Objective #1
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
46. An event or circumstance whose occurrence is required in order for a sufficient condition to occur.
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Necessary Condition
Conclusion Indicators
Weakening conditional reasoning
47. 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
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Justify the conclusion formula
Weaken question signal words
Central assumption of causal conclusions
48. 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
Primary Objective #1
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Time shift errors
Common weakening scenarios
49. Prephrase: after reading the question stem - take a moment to mentally formulate your answer to the question stem.
Family #2: Help
Assumption Negation Technique
Primary Objective #6
Weaken question signal words
50. 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
Appeal Fallacies
Exceptional case/over generalization
How to determine the strength of an argument
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