CR Flashcards
if it says CONTRADICT the argument
The statement must really undermine conclusion. If there’s a perhaps, then author isn’t totally disregarding conclusion.
Need to see that the author is directly attacking
Watch out for 1 wrong word
Choice may have correct except 1 word: budget shortfall vs recycling plan effect
Negating choices -
better than –>
Some of them liked it more –>
equal to or less than (don’t forget equal)
None of them liked it more
Specific numbers in answer choices to be an assumption
Be wary of them, is that number absolutely true? If it can be another number, that assumption doesn’t have to be true
Weakening
ex: employees lose confid in viability –> quit
weaken: competitor provides health ins so that’s why they quit, not bc lose confid
Watch out for which perspective you’re proving, ex: contention by the gvt
Gvt’s perspective - even if it says contention by, that just means the disagreement made by the gvt
if you see “not more than likely”, trick is to sub
just as likely
Ron’s CR new info family method - translate into specifics
- spot every word that needs to be translated
- write out the specific question
(why opp of concl is true? other factors? reason A –> B, why something happens DESPITE? why not doing something isn’t good?) - has to tie back to conclusion!!
Ron’s CR new info family method - statistics
When you see "total", profit, quantity, etc. break it down # of hours, # of ppl, rate - don't forget other rev sources (coffee +pastries)
Ron’s CR new info family method - personal immersion
You are the person who is directly involved, has the GREATEST INFLUENCE ON OUTCOME
CR - be careful of choices that are hypothetical
You need hypothetical to be true for choice to be good
Ron’s new info family CR- translate to specific Q
- which choice shows that the connection btwn x and the result/goal/concl
- which choice offers another reason
- which choice is additional suport
- which choice shows that this will NOT happen
CR - question you ask shouldn’t include
facts already given in premise, if they talk about it previously, then you have to accept it.
Ex: Unclog st will lower cost. Problem is the cost, but the real Q is if their plan will unclog st, not lower cost
CR - always 1 correct answer
black, white white white white
dark grey, white white white white
CR - eval the arg trick
think weaken
Common CR error
Doesn’t apply or answer your specific q
Ron’s CR new info family steps
- read question stem (then read bottoms up)
- translate into specifics (pay attn to restrictions in Q)
- Create own answer - use stats or personal immersion
- **make a standard for the correct answer (elim wrong)
- pay attention to numeric qualifiers (substantial, extreme, too dense)
new info fam types of questions
weaken, strengthen, evaluate, explain some surprising fact
anything with “would” or “if true”
supply demand problems in CR - as supply increases
price decreases (think S line shifts to the right) S - starts at 0,0 goes to 10,10
For new info, CR statistics problems, make sure that once you list out the factors / components
the answer choice must address 1 of those factors
Ex: profitability –> answer must talk about rev or cost impact