Chapter 3: The Question Stem and Answer Choices

Question 1

Must be True Questions

Answer 1

-Asks you to identify the answer choice that is best proven by the information in the stimulus
Question stem example:
-“if the statement above are true, which one of the following must be true?”

Question 2

Main point

Answer 2

-Asks you to find the primary conclusion made by the author
Question stem example:
- “The main point of the argument is that”

Question 3

Point at Issue

Answer 3

-Point of issue questions require you to identify a point of issue contention between two speakers, appears exclusively with two-speaker stimuli
Question stem example:
-“Jones and smith disagree about whether”

Question 4

Point of Agreement

Answer 4

-Point of issue questions require you to identify a point of agreement between two speakers, appears exclusively with two-speaker stimuli
Question stem example:
- “Achelle’s and Hakim’s statements provide the most support for the claim that they agree about which one of the following”

Question 5

Assumption (necessary assumption)

Answer 5

-These questions ask you to identify an assumption of the author’s argument
Question stem example:
-“Which one of the following is an assumption required by the argument above?”

Question 6

Justify the conclusion (sufficient assumption)

Answer 6

-These questions ask you to supply a piece of information that, when added to the premises, proves the conclusion
Question stem example:
-“Which one of the following, if assumed, allows the conclusion above to be properly drawn?”

Question 7

Stregthen/Support

Answer 7

-These questions ask you to select the answer choice that provides support for the author’s argument or strengthens it in some way
Questions stem example:
- “Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?”

Question 8

Resolve the Paradox

Answer 8

-Every resolve the paradox question stimulus contains a discrepancy or seeming contradiction
-You must find an answer choice that best resolves the situation
Question stem example:
-“ Which one of the following, if true, would most effectively resolve the apparent paradox above?”

Question 9

Weaken

Answer 9

-Weaken questions ask you to undermine the author’s argument
Question stem example:
-“Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?”

Question 9

Method of reasoning

Answer 9

-Method of reasoning questions ask you to describe, in abstract terms, the way in which the author made his or her argument
Question stem example
-“which one of the following describes the technique of reasoning used above”

Question 10

Flaw in the reasoning

Answer 10

-Flaw in the reasoning questions asks you to describe, in abstract terms, the error of reasoning committed by the author
Question stem example:
-“The reasoning in the mayor’s argument is flawed because this argument”

Question 11

Parallel reasoning/Parallel flaw

Answer 11

-Parallel reasoning questions asks you to identify the answer choices that contains reasoning most similar in structure to the reasoning presented in the stimulus
Question stem example
-“Which one of the following arguments is most similar in structure to the reasoning to the argument above?”

Question 12

Evaluate the argument

Answer 12

-With evaluate the argument questions you must decide which answer choice will allow you to determine the logical validity of the argument
Question stem example
-“The answer to which one of the following questions would contribute most to an evaluation of the argument”

Question 13

Cannot be true

Answer 13

-Cannot be true questions ask you to identify the answer choice that cannot be true or is most weakened based on the information in the stimulus
Question stem example:
-“if the statements above are true, which one of the following CANNOT be true?”

Question 14

Family #1 (Must be or Prove family) consists of the following question types:

Answer 14

-Must be true/Most strongly supported
-Main point
-Point at issue/Point of agreement
-Method of reasoning
-Flaw in the reasoning
-Parallel reasoning

Question 15

Family #2 (Help Family) consists of the following question types:

Answer 15

-Assumption (Necessary assumptions)
-Justify the conclusion (sufficient assumption)
-Strengthen/Support
-Resolve the Paradox

Question 16

Family #3 (Hurt Family) consists of the following question types:

Answer 16

-Weaken

Question 17

Family #4 (Disprove family) consists of the following question types:

Answer 17

-Cannot be true

Question 18

First question family

Answer 18

-Uses information in the stimulus to prove that one of the answer choices must be true
-if an answer choice references something that is not included or encompassed by the stimulus, it will be incorrect

Question 19

Second question family

Answer 19

-Based on the principle of assisting or helping the author’s argument or statement in some way, whether by revealing an assumption of the argument, by resolving a paradox, or in some other fashion
-You must accept the answer choices as given (factually correct), and the stimulus is under suspicion
-Often there are errors of reasoning present, or leaps in logic, and you are asked to find an answer choice the closes the gap

Question 20

Third question family

Answer 20

• You are asked to attack the author’s argument
  -Instead of strengthening or helping the argument, you attack or hurt the argument

Question 21

Fourth question family

Answer 21

-Based on the principle that you must use the information in the stimulus to prove that one of the answer choices cannot occur
-You instead prove that one of the answer choices cannot occur or that it disagrees with information in the stimulus

Question 22

Rules of first question family:

Answer 22

1. You must accept the stimulus information- even if it contains an error of reasoning and use it to prove that one of the answer choices must be true
2. Any information in an answer choice that does not appear either directly in the stimulus, as a combination of items in the stimulus, or under the umbrella of a concept in the stimulus will be incorrect

Question 23

Rules of second question family:

Answer 23

1. The information 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 information”. Your task is to determine which answer choice best meets the question posed in the stem

Question 24

Rules of the third question family:

Answer 24

1. The information in the stimulus is suspect. 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” information. Your task is to determine which answer choice best attacks the argument in the stimulus

Question 25

Rules of the fourth question family:

Answer 25

1. You must accept the stimulus information, even if it contains an error of reasoning, and use it to prove that one of the answer choices cannot occur
2. If an answer choice contains information that does not appear directly in the stimulus or as result of a combination of items in the stimulus, then the answer choice will directly disagree with the stimulus or a consequence of the stimulus

Question 26

Weaken EXCPET questions:

Answer 26

-You are asked to find any answer choice other than weaken
-The four incorrect answers weaken the argument and the one correct answer does not weaken the argument (could strengthen or have no effect

Question 27

Least EXCEPT questions:

Answer 27

-Least functions identically to “except”
-When you see Least four of the answer choices will meet the stated criteria, and the one correct answer will not

Question 28

Correct answer choices:

Answer 28

-There is one correct answer choice; the other four answer choices are the opposite of correct, incorrect.
Example:
1. Logical quality of the correct answer: Must be
true
Logical quality of the four incorrect answers:
-The opposite of Must be True = Not Necessarily
True (could be not necessarily the case or never
the case).

Question 29

Question approach: Primary objective #1

Answer 29

Determine whether the stimulus contains an argument or if it is only a set of factual statements

Question 30

Question approach: Primary objective #2

Answer 30

If the stimulus contains an argument, identify the conclusion of the argument. If the stimulus contains a fact set, examine each fact.

Question 31

Question approach: Primary objective #3

Answer 31

If the stimulus contains an argument, determine if the argument is strong or weak

Question 32

Question approach: Primary objective #4

Answer 32

Read closely and know precisely what the author said. Do not generalize!

Question 33

Question approach: Primary objective #5

Answer 33

Carefully read and identify the question stem. Do not assume that certain words are automatically associated with certain question types

Question 34

Question approach: Primary objective #6

Answer 34

Prephrase: after reading the question stem, take a moment to mentally formulate your answer to the question stem

Question 35

Question approach: Primary objective #7

Answer 35

Always read each of the five answer choices

Question 36

Question approach: Primary objective #8

Answer 36

Separate the answer choices into contenders and losers. After you complete thus process, review the contenders and decide which answer is the correct one

Question 37

Question approach: Primary objective #9

Answer 37

If all five answer choices appear to be losers, return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument.