SUBJECTS
|
BROWSE
|
CAREER CENTER
|
POPULAR
|
JOIN
|
LOGIN
Business Skills
|
Soft Skills
|
Basic Literacy
|
Certifications
About
|
Help
|
Privacy
|
Terms
|
Email
Search
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. Used to introduce other premises that support the conclusion but are sometimes non-essential to the conclusion furthermore - moreover - besides - in addition - whats more - after all.
2. 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
Method of Reasoning
Quantity indicators
Primary Objective #7
Exceptional case/over generalization
3. 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?
Family #4: Disprove
Premise definition
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Assumption Negation Technique
4. 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
How to determine the strength of an argument
Appeal Fallacies
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
5. Then - only - only if - must - required - unless - except - until - without.
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Errors in the use of evidence
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Weaken question signal words
6. 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
2 speaker questions
Sufficient Condition
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Errors of composition and division
7. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements. n
False dilemma
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Conclusion Indicators
Errors in the use of evidence
8. Separate the answer choices into 'contenders' and 'loser'. After completing this process - review the contenders and decide which answer correct.
Mistaken Negation
Primary Objective #8
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Logical negation
9. 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
Source argument AKA ad hominen
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
10. 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
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Logical opposites
11. Amount - quantity - sum - total - count - tally.n
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Numbers and percentage errors
12. 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
Primary Objective #6
Weakening conditional reasoning
Conclusion definition
Circular reasoning
13. Assumes that only 2 courses of action are available when there may be others. n
False dilemma
Conclusion definition
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
14. Mistaken negation and reversal exp: taking the non-existence of something as evidence that a necessary precondition for that thing also did not exist' (MN) 'mistakes being sufficient to justify punishment for being required to justify it' (MR)n
Errors of conditional reasoning
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Conclusion Indicators
15. 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
Counter Premise Indicators
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Weaken question signal words
Method of Reasoning
16. Stimulus (accepted) ----> Answer Choices (affected or determined) AKA: must be or prove family must be true - main point - point at issue - method of reasoning - flaw in the reasoning - parallel reasoning.
Primary Objective #8
Causal statements
Weaken question signal words
Family #1: Prove
17. 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
2 roles played by assumptions
How to strengthen an argument
Justify the conclusion formula
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
18. If - when - whenever - every - all - any - people who - in order to.
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Common weakening scenarios
Rules for Family #1
19. If all 5 answer choices appear to be 'losers' - return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument.
Counter Premise Indicators
Primary Objective #9
False analogy
How to attack a causal conclusion
20. 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.
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Logical opposites
Mistaken Reversal
21. 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
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Conclusion Identification Method
Survey errors
2 roles played by assumptions
22. 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
Typical assumption question stems
Primary Objective #8
How to attack a causal conclusion
Sufficient Condition
23. 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
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Primary Objective #7
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Primary Objective #3
24. 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.
2 speaker questions
Circular reasoning
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
25. If the stimulus contains an argument - determine whether the argument is strong or weak.
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Primary Objective #3
Rules for Family #1
26. Negates both conditions - creating a statement that does not have to be true. Given: A+ --> Study Mistaken Negation: Not A+ --> Not Study
Numbers and percentage errors
Counter Premise Indicators
Mistaken Negation
Mistaken Reversal
27. 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
Errors of conditional reasoning
Family #1: Prove
Primary Objective #3
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
28. 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
Mistaken Reversal
How to attack a causal conclusion
Appeal Fallacies
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
29. Carefully read and identify the question stem. DO NOT assume that certain words are automatically associated with certain questions types.
Main Point Questions
Appeal Fallacies
Primary Objective #5
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
30. 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
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Primary Objective #1
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
31. Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is two disimilar to the original situation to be applicable. n
Family #4: Disprove
False analogy
Central assumption of causal conclusions
'Additional' Premise Indicators
32. Occurs when an author improperly equates a percentage with a definate quantity or vice versa. n
Typical assumption question stems
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Mistaken cause and effect
Numbers and percentage errors
33. 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
Logical opposites
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Numbers and percentage errors
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
34. 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
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Rules for Family #3
Sufficient Condition
35. 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
Rules for Family #1
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
36. 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
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Weakening conditional reasoning
Family #4: Disprove
Conclusion definition
37. 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
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Justify the conclusion formula
Mistaken cause and effect
Sufficient Condition
38. 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
Family #2: Help
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Time shift errors
Central assumption of causal conclusions
39. 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
Primary Objective #1
Family #3: Hurt
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Rules for Family #1
40. 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
Logical negation
Exceptional case/over generalization
Method of Reasoning questions
Primary Objective #4
41. 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
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Counter Premise Indicators
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
42. 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+.
Necessary Condition
Mistaken Reversal
Weaken question signal words
Assumption Negation Technique
43. 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
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Primary Objective #6
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Primary Objective #7
44. 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
False dilemma
Primary Objective #6
Rules for Family #3
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
45. 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
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Method of Reasoning
Errors of conditional reasoning
46. To logically negate a conditional statement - negate the necessary condition. Example: neither...nor becomes either...or.
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Logical negation
47. Stimulus (affected or determined) ---> answer choices (accepted) AKA: Help Family assumption - justify the conclusion - strengthen/support - resolve the paradox.
Rules for Family #1
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Family #2: Help
Weakening conditional reasoning
48. Read closely and know precisely what the author said. DO NOT GENERALIZE!.
Primary Objective #8
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Conclusion Indicators
Primary Objective #4
49. 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
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Family #4: Disprove
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Uncertain use of a term or concept
50. 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
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Causal statements
3 logical features of conditional reasoning