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. 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 Method of Reasoning answers
Weakening conditional reasoning
Counter Premise Indicators
Mistaken Negation
2. 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
Method of Reasoning questions
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
3. 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
Family #1: Prove
Survey errors
How to attack a causal conclusion
Errors of composition and division
4. 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
How to determine the strength of an argument
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
False dilemma
Exceptional case/over generalization
5. 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
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Weakening conditional reasoning
6. Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is two disimilar to the original situation to be applicable. n
Conclusion Indicators
False analogy
Circular reasoning
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
7. 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
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Family #4: Disprove
Time shift errors
Logical opposites
8. 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
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Primary Objective #7
Exceptional case/over generalization
Conclusion definition
9. 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
How to strengthen an argument
Primary Objective #7
Counter Premise Indicators
Typical assumption question stems
10. Read closely and know precisely what the author said. DO NOT GENERALIZE!.
2 speaker questions
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Primary Objective #4
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
11. 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
How to strengthen an argument
How to attack a causal conclusion
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
'Additional' Premise Indicators
12. 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.
Family #1: Prove
Justify the conclusion formula
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
13. 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.
Assumption Negation Technique
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Quantity indicators
14. 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
Family #3: Hurt
Mistaken cause and effect
Quantity indicators
Rules for Family #2
15. 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.
Warning
: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in
/var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php
on line
183
16. Thus - therefore - hence - consequently - as a result - so - accordingly - clearly - must be that - shows that - conclude that - follows that - for this reason.
Mistaken cause and effect
Primary Objective #8
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Conclusion Indicators
17. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements. n
False dilemma
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Errors of conditional reasoning
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
18. 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
Premise Indicators
What to do when a stimulus that contains conditional reasoning is combined with a must be true question stem
Primary Objective #2
2 roles played by assumptions
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
Central assumption of causal conclusions
Errors of conditional reasoning
Primary Objective #7
20. 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
Method of Reasoning
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Sufficient Condition
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
21. 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.
Mistaken Negation
Logical opposites
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Weakening conditional reasoning
22. 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
Weaken question signal words
Rules for Family #1
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Mistaken Reversal
23. 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
'Additional' Premise Indicators
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Method of Reasoning questions
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
24. 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
Rules for Family #3
How to attack a causal conclusion
False analogy
False dilemma
25. Assumes that only 2 courses of action are available when there may be others. n
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Conclusion definition
Central assumption of causal conclusions
False dilemma
26. 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
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Primary Objective #6
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
How to strengthen an argument
27. 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
Primary Objective #2
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Straw Man
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
28. 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
Appeal Fallacies
Circular reasoning
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
29. 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
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Appeal Fallacies
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Uncertain use of a term or concept
30. 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
Common weakening scenarios
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
LSAT Conclusion trick for Method AP questions
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
31. 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 Negation
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Appeal Fallacies
32. 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
Exceptional case/over generalization
Survey errors
33. 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
2 speaker questions
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
34. 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
Rules for Family #1
Counter Premise Indicators
Main Point Questions
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
35. 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
Primary Objective #8
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Primary Objective #3
36. 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
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Primary Objective #6
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
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
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
False dilemma
Method of Reasoning
38. 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
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Primary Objective #6
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Common weakening scenarios
39. Percent - proportion - fraction - ratio - incidence - likelihood - probability - segment - share. n
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Rules for Family #3
Necessary Condition
40. 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
Causal statements
Premise definition
Weakening conditional reasoning
41. If the stimulus contains an argument - determine whether the argument is strong or weak.
Primary Objective #3
Logical negation
Primary Objective #9
Sufficient Condition
42. 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?
Incorrect answers in Point at Issue questions
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
43. At least on of the two - possibly both.
Warning
: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in
/var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php
on line
183
44. Occurs when an author improperly equates a percentage with a definate quantity or vice versa. n
Mistaken Reversal
Survey errors
Numbers and percentage errors
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
45. If all 5 answer choices appear to be 'losers' - return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument.
Common weakening scenarios
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Primary Objective #9
Primary Objective #2
46. Prephrase: after reading the question stem - take a moment to mentally formulate your answer to the question stem.
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Appeal Fallacies
Primary Objective #6
Rules for Family #2
47. Determine whether the stimulus contains an argument or if it is only a set of factual statements. MUST recognize whether a conclusion is present.
Errors in the use of evidence
Exceptional case/over generalization
Primary Objective #1
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
48. 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
Circular reasoning
Conclusion definition
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
49. 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
Errors of composition and division
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Conclusion Identification Method
Sufficient Condition
50. 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
Logical opposites
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Premise Indicators
Conclusion Identification Method