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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. 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
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Weaken question signal words
Premise definition
Method of Reasoning questions
2. 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
Main Point Questions
Numbers and percentage errors
3. 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
Appeal Fallacies
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
Conclusion definition
Method of Reasoning
4. 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
Method of Reasoning questions
Counter Premise Indicators
Primary Objective #8
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
5. 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
Logical opposites
Method of Reasoning questions
Premise definition
6. 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
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Justify the conclusion formula
Time shift errors
Appeal Fallacies
7. 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
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Exceptional case/over generalization
Central assumption of causal conclusions
8. Stimulus (affected or determined) ---> answer choices (accepted) AKA: Help Family assumption - justify the conclusion - strengthen/support - resolve the paradox.
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Family #1: Prove
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Family #2: Help
9. 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
Rules for Family #2
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
10. 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
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Circular reasoning
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
11. 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
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
2 speaker questions
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
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
Mistaken cause and effect
Conclusion definition
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
How to determine the strength of an argument
13. 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
Mistaken Reversal
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
14. 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.
Errors of composition and division
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Primary Objective #2
Mistaken cause and effect
15. 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
Errors of composition and division
Logical opposites
Circular reasoning
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
16. 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.
Circular reasoning
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
False dilemma
Primary Objective #7
17. To logically negate a conditional statement - negate the necessary condition. Example: neither...nor becomes either...or.
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Circular reasoning
Logical negation
How to determine the strength of an argument
18. 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 strengthen an argument
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Conclusion Indicators
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
19. 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
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Primary Objective #7
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
20. Thus - therefore - hence - consequently - as a result - so - accordingly - clearly - must be that - shows that - conclude that - follows that - for this reason.
Conclusion Indicators
Main Point Questions
Rules for Family #1
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
21. 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+.
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Mistaken Reversal
Primary Objective #1
Sufficient Condition
22. 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.
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Uncertain use of a term or concept
23. 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
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Errors of composition and division
Primary Objective #3
Primary Objective #9
24. 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.
Logical opposites
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Premise definition
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
25. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements. n
Mistaken Reversal
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
26. Negates both conditions - creating a statement that does not have to be true. Given: A+ --> Study Mistaken Negation: Not A+ --> Not Study
Probability indicators
Main Point Questions
Errors of conditional reasoning
Mistaken Negation
27. If - when - whenever - every - all - any - people who - in order to.
Time shift errors
Rules for Family #1
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Common weakening scenarios
28. 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 attack a causal conclusion
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Straw Man
Logical negation
29. 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
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Necessary Condition
Errors of composition and division
2 speaker questions
30. 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.
Quantity indicators
Primary Objective #6
Rules for Family #1
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
31. 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
Exceptional case/over generalization
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
32. If the stimulus contains an argument - determine whether the argument is strong or weak.
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Quantity indicators
Primary Objective #3
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
33. 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
Rules for Family #3
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Method of Reasoning
34. An event or circumstance whose occurrence is required in order for a sufficient condition to occur.
Necessary Condition
Counter Premise Indicators
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Mistaken Negation
35. Read closely and know precisely what the author said. DO NOT GENERALIZE!.
Conclusion Identification Method
Primary Objective #4
False analogy
Errors in the use of evidence
36. 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
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Uncertain use of a term or concept
Straw Man
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
37. 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
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Primary Objective #2
Conclusion Identification Method
38. 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
Family #4: Disprove
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
2 roles played by assumptions
Rules for Family #3
39. Stimulus (accepted) --/-> answer choices (affected or determined) cannot be true.
Family #4: Disprove
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Conclusion definition
False analogy
40. They can be in the premises or conclusion. If they are in the conclusion the argument is flawed. Classic mistaken cause and effect reasoning refers to occurences when a causal assertion is made in the conclusion or the conclusion presumes a causal re
Exceptional case/over generalization
Primary Objective #4
Causal statements
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
41. Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is two disimilar to the original situation to be applicable. n
Mistaken cause and effect
False analogy
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Probability indicators
42. 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
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
43. Then - only - only if - must - required - unless - except - until - without.
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
How to determine the strength of an argument
44. An event or circumstance whose occurrence indicates that a necessary condition must also occur.
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Necessary Condition
Sufficient Condition
False analogy
45. Assumes that only 2 courses of action are available when there may be others. n
False dilemma
Primary Objective #6
Family #1: Prove
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
46. 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 #9
Probability indicators
Primary Objective #5
47. At least on of the two - possibly both.
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48. Stimulus (affected or determined)--/-> answer choices (accepted) Negative sign on the arrow reflects attacking or hurting the argument (weaken).
Family #3: Hurt
Conclusion definition
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
49. Percent - proportion - fraction - ratio - incidence - likelihood - probability - segment - share. n
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Premise Indicators
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
50. Amount - quantity - sum - total - count - tally.n
Premise definition
Family #3: Hurt
Common weakening scenarios
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?
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