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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.
Weakening conditional reasoning
Primary Objective #1
Source argument AKA ad hominen
How to strengthen an argument
2. Assumes that only 2 courses of action are available when there may be others. n
False dilemma
Typical assumption question stems
Logical negation
Quantity indicators
3. Separate the answer choices into 'contenders' and 'loser'. After completing this process - review the contenders and decide which answer correct.
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Primary Objective #8
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
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
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Counter Premise Indicators
'Additional' Premise Indicators
False dilemma
5. Percent - proportion - fraction - ratio - incidence - likelihood - probability - segment - share. n
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Words used to introduce percentage ideas
Justify the conclusion formula
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
6. If - when - whenever - every - all - any - people who - in order to.
Appeal Fallacies
Method of Reasoning questions
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
Quantity indicators
7. Then - only - only if - must - required - unless - except - until - without.
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Premise definition
Rules for Family #2
Premise Indicators
8. If all 5 answer choices appear to be 'losers' - return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument.
Primary Objective #9
Family #3: Hurt
Conclusion Identification Method
Typical assumption question stems
9. 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
Primary Objective #3
Necessary Condition
Typical assumption question stems
10. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements. n
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
11. 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
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
3 incorrect answer traps (weaken)
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
12. 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
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Justify the conclusion formula
Central assumption of causal conclusions
13. 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
Mistaken Negation
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Common weakening scenarios
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
14. Amount - quantity - sum - total - count - tally.n
Weaken question signal words
Words used to introduce numerical ideas
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
Primary Objective #5
15. To logically negate a conditional statement - negate the necessary condition. Example: neither...nor becomes either...or.
Logical negation
False analogy
Weakening conditional reasoning
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
16. 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
'Additional' Premise Indicators
LSAT Definition of 'either/or'
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Family #4: Disprove
17. 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
Exceptional case/over generalization
Time shift errors
18. 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
Primary Objective #5
Errors of conditional reasoning
Logical opposites
Common weakening scenarios
19. Stimulus (accepted) --/-> answer choices (affected or determined) cannot be true.
Family #4: Disprove
Assumption Negation Technique
2 roles played by assumptions
How to attack a causal conclusion
20. 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
Primary Objective #4
Logical negation
Straw Man
21. 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
Words used to introduce a necessary condition
Probability indicators
Errors in the use of evidence
How to strengthen an argument
22. 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
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Exceptional case/over generalization
23. 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 #8
Source argument AKA ad hominen
Common weakening scenarios
24. 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
Counter Premise Indicators
Assumptions and causality: typical correct answer categories
Primary Objective #1
Method of Reasoning
25. 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
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Straw Man
Primary Objective #8
26. 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
Rules for Family #1
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
27. An event or circumstance whose occurrence indicates that a necessary condition must also occur.
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
Numbers and percentages Common misconceptions
Sufficient Condition
Premise definition
28. If the stimulus contains an argument - identify the conclusion. If the stimulus contains a fact set - examine each fact.
3 logical features of conditional reasoning
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
How to solve Justify questions mechanistically
Primary Objective #2
29. 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?
Necessary Condition
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices
Primary Objective #1
Conclusion definition
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
Solving Parallel Reasoning questions in the order stated
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
Sufficient Condition
Appeal Fallacies
31. Prephrase: after reading the question stem - take a moment to mentally formulate your answer to the question stem.
Quantity indicators
Primary Objective #6
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
What is the biggest reason students miss questions?
32. Read closely and know precisely what the author said. DO NOT GENERALIZE!.
How to strengthen an argument
Primary Objective #4
Words used to introduce a sufficient condition
False dilemma
33. Thus - therefore - hence - consequently - as a result - so - accordingly - clearly - must be that - shows that - conclude that - follows that - for this reason.
Primary Objective #9
Conclusion Identification Method
How to approach causality and strengthen questions?
Conclusion Indicators
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
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
'Additional' Premise Indicators
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
Primary Objective #8
35. 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
Counter Premise Indicators
2 roles played by assumptions
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Mistaken cause and effect
36. 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
Weaken question signal words
Errors of conditional reasoning
Fact test for Method of Reasoning questions
37. 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
Rules for Family #2
One of the most commonly used stimulus structures is what? How are they recognized?
Primary Objective #5
Family #3: Hurt
38. At least on of the two - possibly both.
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39. 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
Straw Man
Assumptions and conditionality: the two types of answer choices normally produced are?
Typical assumption question stems
Errors in the use of evidence
40. 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
'Additional' Premise Indicators
General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion
Survey errors
How to attack a causal conclusion
41. 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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42. 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
Errors of conditional reasoning
Weakening conditional reasoning
Sufficient Condition
Incorrect Method of Reasoning answers
43. 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.
Family #4: Disprove
Words used to introduce cause and effect relationships. (memorize)
How to identify Justify the Conclusion questions
Mistaken Reversal
44. 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
Typical assumption question stems
Resolve the Paradox question stem features
Fundamental rules for strengthen - justify the conclusion and assumption questions
Rules for Family #1
45. Stimulus (affected or determined) ---> answer choices (accepted) AKA: Help Family assumption - justify the conclusion - strengthen/support - resolve the paradox.
Family #4: Disprove
How to strengthen an argument
the unless equation (conditional reasoning)
Family #2: Help
46. 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
Prephrasing Method of Reasoning questions
Primary Objective #6
Uncertain use of a term or concept
47. Premises + answer choice = conclusion When approaching answers - separate them into winners and losers - then apply the justify formula.
Things to remember in regards to WEAKEN questions
Justify the conclusion formula
Sufficient Condition
Internal contradiction AKA self contradiction
48. 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
Logical opposites
Appeal Fallacies
Straw Man
Circular reasoning
49. 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
Common features of Resolve the Paradox
Appeal Fallacies
Assumption Negation Technique
Primary Objective #6
50. 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.
Main Point Questions
Primary Objective #1
Strengthen questions ask you to identify the answer choice that best supports the argument. 2 common features
3 quirks of assumption question answer choices