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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. 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
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Logical opposites
Exceptional case/over generalization
2. 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
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Typical assumption question stems
3. Occurs when an author improperly equates a percentage with a definate quantity or vice versa. n
Mistaken cause and effect
How to strengthen an argument
Numbers and percentage errors
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
4. 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.
Necessary Condition
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
5. Read closely and know precisely what the author said. DO NOT GENERALIZE!.
Probability indicators
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Rules for Family #2
Primary Objective #4
6. Then - only - only if - must - required - unless - except - until - without.
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Premise definition
Rules for Family #3
7. 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
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
8. 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
How to strengthen an argument
Rules for Family #2
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Primary Objective #5
9. 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
Conclusion Identification Method
How to attack a causal conclusion
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
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
Method of Reasoning questions
Premise definition
Assumption Negation Technique
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
11. 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
Common weakening scenarios
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Weakening conditional reasoning
12. 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
Uncertain use of a term or concept
How to determine the strength of an argument
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Conclusion definition
13. 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 -
Counter Premise Indicators
Survey errors
Probability indicators
Central assumption of causal conclusions
14. 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 #8
Counter Premise Indicators
Conclusion Indicators
How to attack a causal conclusion
15. If - when - whenever - every - all - any - people who - in order to.
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Primary Objective #9
How to strengthen an argument
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
16. 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
2 speaker questions
Logical opposites
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Primary Objective #7
17. 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
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Mistaken cause and effect
Circular reasoning
18. 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
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
2 roles played by assumptions
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
19. If the stimulus contains an argument - identify the conclusion. If the stimulus contains a fact set - examine each fact.
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Primary Objective #2
Necessary Condition
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
20. Stimulus (accepted) --/-> answer choices (affected or determined) cannot be true.
Family #4: Disprove
Exceptional case/over generalization
Numbers and percentage errors
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
21. Prephrase: after reading the question stem - take a moment to mentally formulate your answer to the question stem.
Primary Objective #6
Rules for Family #2
Source argument AKA ad hominen
'Additional' Premise Indicators
22. 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
Rules for Family #1
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
23. 1. Opposite answers. These answers do the exact opposite of What is needed. 2. Shell game answers. Occurs when an idea or concept is raised in the stimulus and then a very similar idea appears in the answer choices - but the idea is changed just enou
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Typical assumption question stems
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
24. 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
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Family #2: Help
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
25. 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
Mistaken Negation
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
26. 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
Time shift errors
Family #1: Prove
Primary Objective #6
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
27. 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.
Numbers and percentage errors
Logical opposites
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Conclusion Identification Method
28. 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
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Mistaken Reversal
Justify the conclusion formula
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
29. 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.
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Assumption Negation Technique
Primary Objective #7
30. 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
Justify the conclusion formula
Conclusion Identification Method
Method of Reasoning questions
Conclusion definition
31. 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
Premise Indicators
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Primary Objective #1
32. Amount - quantity - sum - total - count - tally.n
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Logical negation
Primary Objective #4
33. 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
Common weakening scenarios
Exceptional case/over generalization
Logical opposites
Mistaken Reversal
34. 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
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Appeal Fallacies
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Family #2: Help
35. 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
Family #4: Disprove
Conclusion definition
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
36. Thus - therefore - hence - consequently - as a result - so - accordingly - clearly - must be that - shows that - conclude that - follows that - for this reason.
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Conclusion Indicators
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
37. 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
Rules for Family #1
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Mistaken Negation
Time shift errors
38. 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?
Counter Premise Indicators
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Primary Objective #1
39. Negates both conditions - creating a statement that does not have to be true. Given: A+ --> Study Mistaken Negation: Not A+ --> Not Study
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Mistaken Negation
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
40. Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is two disimilar to the original situation to be applicable. n
2 roles played by assumptions
Assumption Negation Technique
Mistaken Reversal
False analogy
41. 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.
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Mistaken cause and effect
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Primary Objective #7
42. An event or circumstance whose occurrence indicates that a necessary condition must also occur.
How to determine the strength of an argument
Central assumption of causal conclusions
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Sufficient Condition
43. 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+.
Time shift errors
Mistaken Reversal
Primary Objective #3
Typical assumption question stems
44. If the stimulus contains an argument - determine whether the argument is strong or weak.
Typical assumption question stems
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Weaken question signal words
Primary Objective #3
45. To logically negate a conditional statement - negate the necessary condition. Example: neither...nor becomes either...or.
Logical negation
Primary Objective #6
Weakening conditional reasoning
Probability indicators
46. 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
Uncertain use of a term or concept
False analogy
Rules for Family #3
Rules for Family #1
47. Premises + answer choice = conclusion When approaching answers - separate them into winners and losers - then apply the justify formula.
Assumption Negation Technique
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Justify the conclusion formula
Premise Indicators
48. 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
Mistaken cause and effect
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Circular reasoning
49. 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 strengthen an argument
Straw Man
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
2 speaker questions
50. 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
Primary Objective #2
Conclusion Identification Method
Mistaken cause and effect
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
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