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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. 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 #5
Primary Objective #7
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Logical opposites
2. 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.
Common weakening scenarios
Method of Reasoning
Family #2: Help
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
3. 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
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Assumption Negation Technique
Quantity indicators
Primary Objective #6
4. 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.
Necessary Condition
Premise Indicators
Counter Premise Indicators
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
5. 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
Primary Objective #3
Errors of conditional reasoning
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
6. 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 definition
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Family #2: Help
7. 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
Mistaken Negation
Conclusion Indicators
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Premise Indicators
8. An event or circumstance whose occurrence is required in order for a sufficient condition to occur.
Necessary Condition
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Primary Objective #7
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
9. 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?
Primary Objective #8
Premise definition
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
10. 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
Straw Man
Time shift errors
Premise Indicators
Mistaken cause and effect
11. Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is two disimilar to the original situation to be applicable. n
Weakening conditional reasoning
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
False analogy
Causal statements
12. 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
Common weakening scenarios
Quantity indicators
Conclusion Identification Method
Straw Man
13. 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
2 speaker questions
Primary Objective #2
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
14. 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
Assumption Negation Technique
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Conclusion Indicators
15. 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 #4
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Rules for Family #1
How to determine the strength of an argument
16. 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
Survey errors
Mistaken Negation
Primary Objective #8
Primary Objective #5
17. Stimulus (affected or determined) ---> answer choices (accepted) AKA: Help Family assumption - justify the conclusion - strengthen/support - resolve the paradox.
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Probability indicators
Family #2: Help
18. Separate the answer choices into 'contenders' and 'loser'. After completing this process - review the contenders and decide which answer correct.
Errors of composition and division
Primary Objective #8
Primary Objective #3
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
19. 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
Conclusion definition
Counter Premise Indicators
Errors of conditional reasoning
20. Immediately look for the repeat or contrapositive in the answer choices. Avoid mistaken reversals and mistaken negations.
Errors in the use of evidence
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Premise definition
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
21. This type of flawed argument attacks the person (or source) instead of the argument they advance. because the LSAT is concerned solely with argument forms - a speaker can never validly attack the character or motives or a person; instead - a speaker
False dilemma
Conclusion definition
Family #1: Prove
Source argument AKA ad hominen
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.
Primary Objective #2
Mistaken Negation
Quantity indicators
False analogy
23. To logically negate a conditional statement - negate the necessary condition. Example: neither...nor becomes either...or.
Logical negation
How to strengthen an argument
Appeal Fallacies
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
24. 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
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
25. If - when - whenever - every - all - any - people who - in order to.
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Circular reasoning
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
26. Read closely and know precisely what the author said. DO NOT GENERALIZE!.
Primary Objective #4
Sufficient Condition
Assumption Negation Technique
Logical opposites
27. 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
Logical opposites
Typical assumption question stems
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Primary Objective #6
28. 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
Circular reasoning
Primary Objective #4
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
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
Causal statements
Conclusion Identification Method
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Primary Objective #3
30. 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
2 roles played by assumptions
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Primary Objective #6
Source argument AKA ad hominen
31. 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?
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Mistaken cause and effect
32. 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.
Sufficient Condition
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Conclusion Identification Method
Conclusion definition
33. 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
Conclusion definition
Primary Objective #2
Straw Man
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
34. 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?
Justify the conclusion formula
Conclusion definition
Assumption Negation Technique
Main Point Questions
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.
Mistaken Reversal
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Primary Objective #8
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
36. 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
Errors of conditional reasoning
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Primary Objective #5
Conclusion Identification Method
37. 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
Necessary Condition
Family #1: Prove
Weakening conditional reasoning
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
38. If the stimulus contains an argument - determine whether the argument is strong or weak.
Primary Objective #3
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Justify the conclusion formula
Weakening conditional reasoning
39. 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
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Rules for Family #2
40. 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
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Circular reasoning
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
41. At least on of the two - possibly both.
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42. 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
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Straw Man
Rules for Family #3
How to attack a causal conclusion
43. 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
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Straw Man
Necessary Condition
Time shift errors
44. 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.
Errors in the use of evidence
Logical opposites
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Primary Objective #4
45. Assumes that only 2 courses of action are available when there may be others. n
False dilemma
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Sufficient Condition
46. Negates both conditions - creating a statement that does not have to be true. Given: A+ --> Study Mistaken Negation: Not A+ --> Not Study
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Rules for Family #2
Family #3: Hurt
Mistaken Negation
47. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements. n
Primary Objective #2
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
48. Amount - quantity - sum - total - count - tally.n
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
False analogy
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Errors of conditional reasoning
49. 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
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Quantity indicators
50. 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
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Primary Objective #2
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
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