Chapter 4: Must be True and Most strongly supported

Question 1

Must Be True questions

Answer 1

-Requires you to select an answer choice that is proven by the information presented in the stimulus
Question stem example:
-“If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true?”

Question 2

“Infer” also means _____

Answer 2

Must Be True
Question stem example:
“Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the statements?”

Question 3

Most strongly supported questions

Answer 3

-The right answer must at the very least, be the one that makes the most sense based on the stimulus
-Often the answer will be almost certainly true, but it may not be undeniably true
-Needs to pass a lower bar than Must Be True questions
Question stem example:
- “The statements above, if true, most strongly supports which one of the following?”

Question 4

Two features that appear in Must Be True questions:

Answer 4

1. The stem often indicates the information in the stimulus should be taken as true, as in:
   Ex: “If the statements above are true…”
   “If the information above is correct…”
2. The stem asks you to identify a single answer choice that is proven or supported, as in:

Ex: “…which one of the following must also be
true?”
“…which one of the following can be properly
inferred…”
Important to note: One or both of these features appear consistently

Question 5

1st classification of information:

Answer 5

1. The actual statements of the stimulus:

-This category of information is probably fairly obvious: In Must Be True and Most Supported questions, you can use the statements of the author without reservations

Question 6

2nd classification of information:

Answer 6

2. Commonsense assumption

-LSAC expects you to make certain assumptions that would reflect information that the average person would be expected to know

Question 7

3rd classification of information:

Answer 7

3. Consequences of the statements presented in the stimulus

-Two or more pieces of information in the stimulus can be combine to logically produce what appears to be a “new” idea, but in fact is not

Ex: - “all runners are prone to long-term knee
problems, and Jim is a runner.”
- Right answer could refer to the fact that “Jim
is prone to long-term knee problems.’’

Question 8

Negative indicator

Answer 8

-These words produce a meaning that is opposite of the meaning of the original sentence
- “no”, “not” and “never”

Ex: lets go to the store
lets “not” go to the store

Question 8

4th classification of information:

Answer 8

4. Information under the “umbrella” of the statements in the stimulus

-Certain concepts act as an umbrella, and as such they automatically imply other things.
Ex: A discussion of “all animals” thereby includes cats, lizards, zebras, etc.
-This way elements that are not explicitly stated in the stimulus can still validly appear in the right answer choice

Question 9

Triple Negatives

Answer 9

-Typically a third negative undoes or counteracts the presence of the second negative, reverting the meaning if the sentence to one that contains only a single negative

Ex: Each member of the club must vote, and
Dr.Smith is clearly “not” among the members
who will be voting “against” the “ban” on indoor
smoking

-The sentence simply means that Dr.Smith will be voting for the smoking ban (and thus against indoor smoking)

Question 10

Double negatives

Answer 10

-two negatives typically equal a positive

Ex: Let’s “never” “not” got to the store
Let’s always go to the store

Question 11

Correct answers: Answers that are the sum of two or more stimulus statements (Combination Answers)

Answer 11

Any answer that would result from combining two or more statements in the stimulus will be correct

Question 11

Correct answers: Paraphrased answers

Answer 11

-Paraphrased answers are answers that restate a portion of the stimulus in different terms.
-Because the language is not exactly the same as in the stimulus, paraphrased answers can be easy to miss

Question 11

Incorrect answers: Could be true or possibly true answers

Answer 11

Answers that only could be true or are even likely to be true are incorrect

Question 12

Incorrect answers: Exaggerated answers

Answer 12

Exaggerated answers take information from the stimulus and then stretch that information to make a broader statement that is not supported by the stimulus

Ex: “Some software vendors recently implemented more rigorous licensing procedures”

An incorrect answer would exaggerate one or more of the elements: “Most software vendors recently implemented more rigorous licensing procedures.”

Question 13

Incorrect answers: “New” information answers

Answer 13

Although these answers can be correct when they originate from one of the sources previously discussed, they are often incorrect

Question 14

Incorrect answers: The Shell Game

Answer 14

-Shell game: An idea or concept is raised in the stimulus, and then a very similar idea appears in an answer choice, but the idea is changed just enough to be incorrect but still attractive
-Important to note this type of incorrect answer occurs in all question types

Question 15

Incorrect answer: The opposite answer

Answer 15

-The opposite answer provides an answer that is completely opposite of the stated facts of the stimulus

Question 16

Incorrect answer: The Reverse answer

Answer 16

the reverse statement is incorrect because it rearranges elements to create a new, unsupported statement

Ex: “Many people have some type of security
system in their home”

Reverse: “Some people have many types of
security systems in their home”.

Question 17

Fact Test

Answer 17

-The correct answer to a Must Be True question can always be proven by referring to the facts stated in the stimulus
-All must be true answer choices must pass the fact test