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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. 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?
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Conclusion definition
Assumption Negation Technique
2. Stimulus (accepted) --/-> answer choices (affected or determined) cannot be true.
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Family #4: Disprove
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
3. 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.
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Primary Objective #3
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
4. 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
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
5. 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
Mistaken Reversal
Method of Reasoning
How to strengthen an argument
Counter Premise Indicators
6. 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
Weaken question signal words
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Rules for Family #2
How to attack a causal conclusion
7. 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 -
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Probability indicators
Logical opposites
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
8. 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
Primary Objective #7
Errors in the use of evidence
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Source argument AKA ad hominen
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?
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Rules for Family #3
Premise definition
10. Separate the answer choices into 'contenders' and 'loser'. After completing this process - review the contenders and decide which answer correct.
Primary Objective #8
Primary Objective #4
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
False analogy
11. 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
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Family #2: Help
False analogy
How to strengthen an argument
12. 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
Primary Objective #4
Method of Reasoning
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
2 roles played by assumptions
13. Carefully read and identify the question stem. DO NOT assume that certain words are automatically associated with certain questions types.
Primary Objective #5
Family #2: Help
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Quantity indicators
14. 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
Mistaken Negation
Time shift errors
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Rules for Family #2
15. 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
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Appeal Fallacies
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Source argument AKA ad hominen
16. Then - only - only if - must - required - unless - except - until - without.
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
17. 1. You can use only the info in the stimulus to prove the correct answer choice 2. Any answer choice that describes an element or a situation that does not occur in the stimulus is incorrect Method of Reasoning questions use a variety of formats - bu
Method of Reasoning questions
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
2 roles played by assumptions
Quantity indicators
18. Prephrase: after reading the question stem - take a moment to mentally formulate your answer to the question stem.
Primary Objective #6
Typical assumption question stems
Circular reasoning
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
19. 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
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Straw Man
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Common weakening scenarios
20. 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
Primary Objective #5
False analogy
Rules for Family #3
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
21. 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
How to strengthen an argument
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
22. Amount - quantity - sum - total - count - tally.n
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Premise Indicators
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Mistaken Negation
23. 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
Primary Objective #1
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Family #2: Help
How to attack a causal conclusion
24. 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
Survey errors
False dilemma
Rules for Family #1
Primary Objective #6
25. 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?
Mistaken cause and effect
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
'Additional' Premise Indicators
26. Determine whether the stimulus contains an argument or if it is only a set of factual statements. MUST recognize whether a conclusion is present.
Rules for Family #2
Main Point Questions
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Primary Objective #1
27. At least on of the two - possibly both.
28. If the stimulus contains an argument - identify the conclusion. If the stimulus contains a fact set - examine each fact.
Primary Objective #2
How to determine the strength of an argument
Conclusion definition
How to strengthen an argument
29. 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
Family #1: Prove
Exceptional case/over generalization
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
30. The author assumes as true What is supposed to be proved. exp: 'this essay is the best because it is better than all the others'n
Quantity indicators
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Circular reasoning
31. 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 roles played by assumptions
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Conclusion Indicators
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
32. 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
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Primary Objective #5
Primary Objective #9
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
33. 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
Probability indicators
Time shift errors
Weakening conditional reasoning
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
34. Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is two disimilar to the original situation to be applicable. n
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Premise Indicators
False analogy
35. 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
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Logical negation
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
36. Immediately look for the repeat or contrapositive in the answer choices. Avoid mistaken reversals and mistaken negations.
Mistaken cause and effect
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Family #2: Help
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
37. 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
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Typical assumption question stems
38. 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
Method of Reasoning
Numbers and percentage errors
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Premise definition
39. An event or circumstance whose occurrence is required in order for a sufficient condition to occur.
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Justify the conclusion formula
Necessary Condition
Counter Premise Indicators
40. 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
Time shift errors
Rules for Family #2
Errors in the use of evidence
Circular reasoning
41. Occurs when an author improperly equates a percentage with a definate quantity or vice versa. n
Assumption Negation Technique
Straw Man
Numbers and percentage errors
Premise definition
42. 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
Premise Indicators
Common weakening scenarios
2 speaker questions
False dilemma
43. 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
Mistaken Reversal
Errors of composition and division
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Logical negation
44. 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
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Main Point Questions
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
45. 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
How to determine the strength of an argument
Logical opposites
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
46. 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
Primary Objective #3
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Conclusion Identification Method
47. 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
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Common weakening scenarios
Errors of conditional reasoning
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
48. 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.
Exceptional case/over generalization
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Causal statements
Quantity indicators
49. If the stimulus contains an argument - determine whether the argument is strong or weak.
Uncertain use of a term or concept
False analogy
Errors of conditional reasoning
Primary Objective #3
50. 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
Assumption Negation Technique
Mistaken Negation
Numbers and percentage errors
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)