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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. Determine whether the stimulus contains an argument or if it is only a set of factual statements. MUST recognize whether a conclusion is present.
Primary Objective #1
Conclusion definition
Rules for Family #2
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
2. Assumes that only 2 courses of action are available when there may be others. n
Weakening conditional reasoning
False dilemma
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
How to strengthen an argument
3. At least on of the two - possibly both.
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4. 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.
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Family #1: Prove
5. An event or circumstance whose occurrence indicates that a necessary condition must also occur.
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Mistaken Negation
Sufficient Condition
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
6. 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
Family #3: Hurt
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
7. 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
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Weakening conditional reasoning
Primary Objective #4
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
8. 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 Negation
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
False analogy
Errors of composition and division
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?
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Premise definition
Weaken question signal words
False dilemma
10. 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.
Main Point Questions
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Primary Objective #7
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
11. Amount - quantity - sum - total - count - tally.n
Uncertain use of a term or concept
How to determine the strength of an argument
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Rules for Family #1
12. 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
Primary Objective #5
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Mistaken Reversal
Method of Reasoning
13. Stimulus (affected or determined) ---> answer choices (accepted) AKA: Help Family assumption - justify the conclusion - strengthen/support - resolve the paradox.
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Necessary Condition
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Family #2: Help
14. 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
False dilemma
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Common weakening scenarios
15. 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 -
Probability indicators
Mistaken Reversal
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
16. To logically negate a conditional statement - negate the necessary condition. Example: neither...nor becomes either...or.
Logical negation
How to determine the strength of an argument
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Mistaken Reversal
17. 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
Mistaken cause and effect
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Family #3: Hurt
18. Carefully read and identify the question stem. DO NOT assume that certain words are automatically associated with certain questions types.
Family #4: Disprove
Primary Objective #5
Rules for Family #1
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
19. 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
Family #4: Disprove
Counter Premise Indicators
How to strengthen an argument
How to determine the strength of an argument
20. 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.
Primary Objective #9
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Main Point Questions
Premise Indicators
21. 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?
Circular reasoning
Typical assumption question stems
Errors of composition and division
Conclusion definition
22. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements. n
Primary Objective #3
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
23. Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is two disimilar to the original situation to be applicable. n
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
False analogy
Family #3: Hurt
24. 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
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Conclusion definition
Conclusion Identification Method
25. 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)
Straw Man
Mistaken cause and effect
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
26. 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
Circular reasoning
False dilemma
Family #2: Help
Appeal Fallacies
27. 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
Survey errors
Family #1: Prove
How to determine the strength of an argument
Appeal Fallacies
28. 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
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Primary Objective #6
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
2 speaker questions
29. 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.
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Source argument AKA ad hominen
30. 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
Appeal Fallacies
How to determine the strength of an argument
Mistaken Reversal
31. 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
Logical negation
Family #4: Disprove
False dilemma
Typical assumption question stems
32. 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.
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Common weakening scenarios
33. 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
Probability indicators
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Assumption Negation Technique
34. 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
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Rules for Family #1
2 speaker questions
Central assumption of causal conclusions
35. 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
Exceptional case/over generalization
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Method of Reasoning questions
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
36. Separate the answer choices into 'contenders' and 'loser'. After completing this process - review the contenders and decide which answer correct.
Primary Objective #8
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Family #3: Hurt
How to strengthen an argument
37. Immediately look for the repeat or contrapositive in the answer choices. Avoid mistaken reversals and mistaken negations.
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Circular reasoning
Quantity indicators
38. Negates both conditions - creating a statement that does not have to be true. Given: A+ --> Study Mistaken Negation: Not A+ --> Not Study
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
Mistaken Negation
Numbers and percentage errors
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
39. 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
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Main Point Questions
How to strengthen an argument
Rules for Family #1
40. 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
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Quantity indicators
Sufficient Condition
Errors of conditional reasoning
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
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Premise Indicators
Primary Objective #7
42. 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
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Family #1: Prove
Conclusion Identification Method
Exceptional case/over generalization
43. Premises + answer choice = conclusion When approaching answers - separate them into winners and losers - then apply the justify formula.
Justify the conclusion formula
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Main Point Questions
Assumption Negation Technique
44. 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.
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45. 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
Appeal Fallacies
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
How to determine the strength of an argument
46. 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
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Errors in the use of evidence
Appeal Fallacies
Weaken question signal words
47. Then - only - only if - must - required - unless - except - until - without.
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Primary Objective #9
Errors of conditional reasoning
Family #2: Help
48. If all 5 answer choices appear to be 'losers' - return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument.
Justify the conclusion formula
Primary Objective #9
Assumption Negation Technique
Common weakening scenarios
49. 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+.
Mistaken Reversal
Justify the conclusion formula
Rules for Family #2
Primary Objective #4
50. An event or circumstance whose occurrence is required in order for a sufficient condition to occur.
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Necessary Condition
How to determine the strength of an argument