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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. 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.
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Family #2: Help
Primary Objective #3
Premise Indicators
2. 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
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Probability indicators
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
3. Percent - proportion - fraction - ratio - incidence - likelihood - probability - segment - share. n
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Numbers and percentage errors
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
4. 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.
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Primary Objective #8
5. 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
Primary Objective #9
Straw Man
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
False analogy
6. If - when - whenever - every - all - any - people who - in order to.
Justify the conclusion formula
Conclusion Identification Method
2 speaker questions
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
7. 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
Common weakening scenarios
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Method of Reasoning questions
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
2 speaker questions
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Rules for Family #2
Justify the conclusion formula
9. 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
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Primary Objective #6
Family #4: Disprove
Errors of composition and division
10. 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
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Family #3: Hurt
Primary Objective #5
Appeal Fallacies
11. 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
Causal statements
Survey errors
Rules for Family #3
How to determine the strength of an argument
12. 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
Conclusion Identification Method
Method of Reasoning
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
13. Stimulus (affected or determined) ---> answer choices (accepted) AKA: Help Family assumption - justify the conclusion - strengthen/support - resolve the paradox.
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Family #2: Help
Rules for Family #3
Family #1: Prove
14. At least on of the two - possibly both.
15. To logically negate a conditional statement - negate the necessary condition. Example: neither...nor becomes either...or.
Logical negation
Primary Objective #1
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Sufficient Condition
16. 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
Common weakening scenarios
Premise Indicators
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
'Additional' Premise Indicators
17. 1. Any 'new' element in the conclusion will appear in the correct answer. 2. Elements that are common to the conclusion and at least one premise normally do not appear in the correct answer. 3. Elements that appear in the premises but not the conclus
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Survey errors
Family #3: Hurt
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
18. 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.
How to attack a causal conclusion
Assumption Negation Technique
Quantity indicators
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
19. 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.
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Mistaken cause and effect
Conclusion definition
20. 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
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Conclusion Indicators
Premise definition
21. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements. n
Family #4: Disprove
Assumption Negation Technique
Sufficient Condition
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
22. Stimulus (accepted) --/-> answer choices (affected or determined) cannot be true.
Errors in the use of evidence
Sufficient Condition
Weakening conditional reasoning
Family #4: Disprove
23. Occurs when an author improperly equates a percentage with a definate quantity or vice versa. n
Numbers and percentage errors
Necessary Condition
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
24. An event or circumstance whose occurrence is required in order for a sufficient condition to occur.
2 speaker questions
Mistaken Negation
Necessary Condition
Quantity indicators
25. 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?
Weakening conditional reasoning
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Assumption Negation Technique
Premise definition
26. 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
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Family #3: Hurt
27. 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
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Primary Objective #6
28. 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+.
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Rules for Family #1
Mistaken Reversal
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
29. If all 5 answer choices appear to be 'losers' - return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument.
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
2 speaker questions
Primary Objective #9
Source argument AKA ad hominen
30. 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 -
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Time shift errors
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Probability indicators
31. 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
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Exceptional case/over generalization
How to attack a causal conclusion
Errors in the use of evidence
32. 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
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Logical negation
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Primary Objective #4
33. 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
Conclusion definition
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Primary Objective #9
2 roles played by assumptions
34. Determine whether the stimulus contains an argument or if it is only a set of factual statements. MUST recognize whether a conclusion is present.
Weaken question signal words
Primary Objective #1
Primary Objective #3
Family #1: Prove
35. Then - only - only if - must - required - unless - except - until - without.
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Primary Objective #4
Errors of composition and division
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
36. Thus - therefore - hence - consequently - as a result - so - accordingly - clearly - must be that - shows that - conclude that - follows that - for this reason.
Conclusion Indicators
Mistaken Negation
Mistaken Reversal
Family #4: Disprove
37. 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
Survey errors
Primary Objective #6
Primary Objective #8
Circular reasoning
38. Amount - quantity - sum - total - count - tally.n
Family #4: Disprove
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
39. 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.
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Premise Indicators
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
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
Errors in the use of evidence
Family #3: Hurt
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Assumption Negation Technique
41. 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
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Primary Objective #1
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Primary Objective #7
42. 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
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
43. 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
Assumption Negation Technique
Primary Objective #7
Method of Reasoning
Causal statements
44. 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
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Counter Premise Indicators
Logical negation
Method of Reasoning
45. Negates both conditions - creating a statement that does not have to be true. Given: A+ --> Study Mistaken Negation: Not A+ --> Not Study
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Mistaken Negation
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
46. 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
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Assumption Negation Technique
Rules for Family #2
Common weakening scenarios
47. 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
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Causal statements
Main Point Questions
Logical negation
48. Immediately look for the repeat or contrapositive in the answer choices. Avoid mistaken reversals and mistaken negations.
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
False dilemma
Weakening conditional reasoning
49. 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 #5
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
2 speaker questions
50. Premises + answer choice = conclusion When approaching answers - separate them into winners and losers - then apply the justify formula.
Method of Reasoning
Justify the conclusion formula
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Numbers and percentage errors