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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. 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
Rules for Family #1
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Causal statements
2. If the stimulus contains an argument - identify the conclusion. If the stimulus contains a fact set - examine each fact.
Main Point Questions
Errors in the use of evidence
Primary Objective #2
Typical assumption question stems
3. 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
Typical assumption question stems
Family #4: Disprove
Conclusion definition
4. To logically negate a conditional statement - negate the necessary condition. Example: neither...nor becomes either...or.
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Main Point Questions
Exceptional case/over generalization
Logical negation
5. 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
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Premise definition
Causal statements
6. 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
Counter Premise Indicators
Errors in the use of evidence
Errors of composition and division
Logical opposites
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 -
Weakening conditional reasoning
Probability indicators
Rules for Family #2
Conclusion definition
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
2 speaker questions
How to attack a causal conclusion
Probability indicators
How to strengthen an argument
9. 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
Sufficient Condition
False analogy
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
10. 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
Straw Man
Premise definition
Source argument AKA ad hominen
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
11. Stimulus (accepted) --/-> answer choices (affected or determined) cannot be true.
Primary Objective #3
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Numbers and percentage errors
Family #4: Disprove
12. An event or circumstance whose occurrence indicates that a necessary condition must also occur.
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Justify the conclusion formula
Family #2: Help
Sufficient Condition
13. 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 in the use of evidence
How to determine the strength of an argument
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Conclusion Identification Method
14. 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
Counter Premise Indicators
Time shift errors
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Assumption Negation Technique
15. 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?
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Conclusion definition
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
16. 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.
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Probability indicators
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
17. Occurs when an author improperly equates a percentage with a definate quantity or vice versa. n
Appeal Fallacies
Numbers and percentage errors
Mistaken Reversal
Rules for Family #1
18. 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
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Weakening conditional reasoning
How to attack a causal conclusion
Circular reasoning
19. Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is two disimilar to the original situation to be applicable. n
How to strengthen an argument
Assumption Negation Technique
Appeal Fallacies
False analogy
20. 1. The stimulus will almost always contain an argument you must identify - isolate and assess the premises and the conclusion of the argument 2. Focus on the conclusion. Almost all correct answer choices impact the conclusion 3. The info in the stimu
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Family #4: Disprove
2 roles played by assumptions
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
21. 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
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Rules for Family #2
Appeal Fallacies
Typical assumption question stems
22. Carefully read and identify the question stem. DO NOT assume that certain words are automatically associated with certain questions types.
Premise Indicators
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Primary Objective #5
Method of Reasoning
23. An event or circumstance whose occurrence is required in order for a sufficient condition to occur.
Necessary Condition
Primary Objective #8
Circular reasoning
Family #3: Hurt
24. 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.
Weakening conditional reasoning
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Common weakening scenarios
Quantity indicators
25. 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
Errors of composition and division
How to determine the strength of an argument
Method of Reasoning questions
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
26. 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.
Family #4: Disprove
Errors of conditional reasoning
Sufficient Condition
Logical opposites
27. 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
Sufficient Condition
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Numbers and percentage errors
28. 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
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Method of Reasoning
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
How to strengthen an argument
29. Usually have one male and one female. The female uses sound reasoning and the male uses flawed reasoning or makes a mistake. This is not always true - but more often than not.n
Primary Objective #7
Common weakening scenarios
2 speaker questions
Family #1: Prove
30. At least on of the two - possibly both.
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31. 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
2 roles played by assumptions
Source argument AKA ad hominen
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Conclusion definition
32. 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
Typical assumption question stems
Appeal Fallacies
Mistaken Negation
Causal statements
33. Negates both conditions - creating a statement that does not have to be true. Given: A+ --> Study Mistaken Negation: Not A+ --> Not Study
Mistaken Negation
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Premise Indicators
34. 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.
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
2 speaker questions
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Primary Objective #9
35. Premises + answer choice = conclusion When approaching answers - separate them into winners and losers - then apply the justify formula.
2 speaker questions
Justify the conclusion formula
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
False analogy
36. 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
Conclusion Indicators
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
37. 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
Premise definition
Exceptional case/over generalization
Primary Objective #5
Causal statements
38. 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.
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Mistaken Negation
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
39. 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.
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Premise Indicators
40. 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?
Survey errors
Justify the conclusion formula
'Additional' Premise Indicators
41. 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
Straw Man
Conclusion Identification Method
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
42. 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
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
43. 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 #1
Rules for Family #2
Numbers and percentage errors
Primary Objective #7
44. Immediately look for the repeat or contrapositive in the answer choices. Avoid mistaken reversals and mistaken negations.
Conclusion Indicators
2 speaker questions
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
45. 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+.
Family #4: Disprove
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Logical negation
Mistaken Reversal
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
Sufficient Condition
Rules for Family #1
Rules for Family #3
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
47. If - when - whenever - every - all - any - people who - in order to.
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
False analogy
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
48. 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
Conclusion definition
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
49. 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
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Counter Premise Indicators
Errors of composition and division
Errors of conditional reasoning
50. 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
Appeal Fallacies
Primary Objective #6
Justify the conclusion formula
Sufficient Condition