Critical Reasoning

Question 1

over 70% of critical reasoning questions are based on what?

Answer 1

arguments

Question 2

What is an argument on the GMAT

Answer 2

When the author is making an attempt to persuade. For instance, “small dogs make better pets than large dogs, because small dogs are easier to clean up after”

An opinion on the other hand would just be “small dogs make better pets than large”

Question 3

Every GMAT argument is made up of 2 basic parts….?

Answer 3

1) The conclusion - the authors main point
2) Evidence - the support that the author offers for the conclusion

Success for these questions relies on identifying the argument

Question 4

Is there any rule on where the conclusion should appear?

Answer 4

no. the conclusion can appear anywhere in the paragraph

Question 5

What is a helpful way to think about finding the conclusion in a paragraph?

Answer 5

what is the one sentence the author would if he had to convey his entire passage.

Question 6

To succeed in CR, you must be able to identify the precise function of each sentence. The easiest way to do this is to use structural signals or _______

Answer 6

Key words.

Key words will help identify conclusions and evidence. While not every CR stimulus will have them, most do.

Question 7

What are 3 of the most common potential problems in CR passages…that I should look out for

Answer 7

1) Shifts of scope - In its conclusion, the argument suddenly introduces a new term or idea that is NOT mentioned in the evidence
2) Overlooked possibilities - Just because 2 things happen at the same time doesn’t mean that one caused the other
3) Plans and Predictions - Could there be something inherently self defeating about a proposed course of action? Any unintended consequences? Any important factors unaccounted for?

Question 8

Most of the wrong choices for CR question are wrong because they are irrelevant to the arguments conclusion OR in the case of inference questions, are unsupported by the stimulus…..In other words the wrong answer choices contain elements that dont match the authors ideas or that go beyond the context provided…..this is known as what?

Answer 8

the SCOPE of the stimulus.

Always keep scope in mind for identifying wrong answers. However dont always jump to quickly to eliminate.

Question 9

What is the Kaplan method for CR questions

Answer 9

1) Identify the question Type - read question first
2) Untangle the stimulus - note whether there is an argument or not
3) Predict the answer - form an idea of what to look for.
4) Evaluate the Choices

Question 10

Always read the stimulus _____ not ______

Answer 10

actively not passively. this will keep you engaged and hunting for the right things

Question 11

What are the 7 question types of CR questions?

Answer 11

1) Assumption: Identify the arguments central assumption and hunt for the answer choice that matches your prediction
2) Strength/Weaken: Identify the arguments conclusion and predict an answer that gives a reason that the conclusion is more (strengthen) or less (weaken) likely to be true.
3) Evaluation: Identify the arguments central assumption and hunt for the answer choice that identifies missing information that would help assess the validity of the assumption
4) Flaw: Identify the arguments central assumption and predict the error in the arguments reasoning.
5) Explain: predict the answer that explains how 2 seemingly discrepant facts can both be true. If its difficult to form a specific prediction, work through the answers one by one, eliminating choices that are clearly wrong, until you find the one that reconciles both parts of the supposed paradox
6) Inference: Its often difficult to form a prediction beyond :the right answer must be true based on what stimulus states”. mentally catalog what you know to be true based on the stimulus. Then work through the answers one by one, eliminating choices that contradict or dont align
7) Bolded Statement: Predict an answer based on the logic structure of the stimulus.

Question 12

Of the 7 types of CR questions on the GMAT, which are based on arguments?

Answer 12

5 are based on arguments. those are

1) Assumption
2) Strengthen
3) Weaken
4) Flaw

5) Evaluation is also but its rare to see on the test

In all of these the correct answer will depend on identifying and understanding the arguments conclusion, evidence and assumption

E+A = C

Question 13

Evidence + _______ = Conclusion

what is the definition of each

Answer 13

Assumption

Evidence - provided to support conclusion. normally facts. Data, stats, surveys, polls etc.

Assumption - the most essential step in answering CR questions based on arguments. Bridging gap between E and C. Without the assumption the argument fails.

Conclusion - authors main point and what trying to convince you of

Question 14

Assumption questions ask you for a piece of support that is ____ _______ ______ but necessary for the argument to remain valid.

Answer 14

not, explicitly, stated

Question 15

When a question asks you for whats missing from the argument or what the argument depends on, then its asking you to find what?

Answer 15

the authors assumption

Question 16

What are the 3 Ways to identify the authors conclusion of an argument?

Answer 16

1) Conclusion key words - key words/phrases that signal an arguments conclusion = thus, therefore, so, hence, consequently…
2) The one-sentence test - “if the author has to boil down the entire argument to one sentence which would it be”
3) facts vs opinion - the conclusion is always are reflects of the authors opinion. The opinion can take several forms; the authors plan, proposal, prediction, or value judgement or interpretation fo evidence. Where as evidence is normally factual by nature.

Question 17

How can you track down an assumption if it does not jump out at you.

Answer 17

1) One of the most common ways the GMAT uses assumptions is to cover over a scope shift. So when attacking a question, look closely at the terms in each part of the argument. If the scope of the evidence is different from the conclusion there its a hint there is an assumption to be made

Question 18

What is the Denial test

Answer 18

An assumption must be true in order for the conclusion to follow logically from the evidence. Therefor, in an assumption Q you can test each answer by negating it

In other words, imagine the information given in the answer choices in false. If the negation makes the argument fall apart then the answer choice is a necessary assumption. If the argument is unaffected, then the answer is wrong.

Question 19

The wording of CR reasoning question that indicates you need to find a missing but vital piece of information indicates what type of question?

Answer 19

An assumption question

Question 20

What are some common ways the test will ask assumption questions?

Answer 20

Which of the following is assumed by the author?

Which one of the following, if added to the passage, would make the conclusion logical?

The validity of the argument depends on which of the following

The argument presupposes which one of the following

Question 21

Strengthen/weaken questions rely on what…most of the time?

Answer 21

assumptions.

In most cases the authors claim rests on the validity of the assumption. Like other questions, when the author gives evidence for a claim, use assumption finding skills to bridge the gap between evidence and conclusion

the right answer to most S/W q’s reveals an assumption that is either unreasonable or untrue (weaken) or one that provides additional support (strength)

Question 22

Sometimes S/W question might not focus on an assumption, rather in a S question for example the right answer could be what?

Answer 22

an independent piece of evidence that when added to the the authors evidence makes the conclusion more likely to be true.

Question 23

what is some other wording for strengthen or weaken?

Answer 23

weaken: cast doubt, damage the argument, call into question
strengthen: provide support, be persuasive

Question 24

What are 180s regarding S/W questions?

Answer 24

180s are very common in S/W question. they have the opposite of the desired outcome. So if a strengthen Q, watch out for those answers that weaken and vice versa

Question 25

Incorrect answer choices on S/W question commonly provide what?

Answer 25

facts that are irrelevant to the argument

Question 26

Do some CR questions ever provide the conclusion in the stem?

Answer 26

Yes they do thats why always read q stem first.

Question 27

What are the 2 most common wrong answer types in S/W q’s?

Answer 27

1) 180s

2) irrelevant info

Question 28

What is an Evaluation question on the CR GMAT?

Answer 28

An Evaluation Question asks you to identify information that would help you assess an arguments strength. The correct answer wont strengthen or weaken the authors reasoning or supply a missing assumption.

Instead the right answer will specify the kind of evidence that would help you judge the validity of the authors argument.

the right answer typically fills a gap in the argument. That said it normally relates to an assumption.

Question 29

Describe flaw question on the CR section

Answer 29

Flaw questions rely on arguments in the stimuli as well. These questions are similar to weaken question, but instead of asking for some new fact that if true, would make the argument questionable, the flaw question asks whats already wrong with the argument.

So the prediction should focus on reasoning errors the author makes

Question 30

What are 2 general categories of common errors in flaw questions

Answer 30

1) Unsupportable shifts between concepts in the evidence and the conclusion
2) overlooked alternatives

Question 31

Some classic flaws (in flaw questions) include mistaking correlation for _____ and confusing actual value for _____

Answer 31

causation

percent

when you see percents in flaw questions be aware!

Question 32

What types of Questions are based on arguments?

Answer 32

1) Assumption
2) Strengthen
3) weaken
4) Evaluation
5) Flaw

Question 33

What are Explain Questions?

Answer 33

The stimuli is NOT an argument.

Instead they present a discrepancy and ask you find an explanation for the paradox

Its key to paraphrase these and pay attention to the right details.

You must try to state the nature of the contradiction

The correct answer will explain how the contradicting facts can be true

Question 34

Explain question require the test taker to choose answer that best explains why all the information in the stimulus is ______

Answer 34

true

Question 35

In many instances explain question stimulus contains a ______ or a ______. The correct answer reconciles the information in the stimulus without contradicting it

Answer 35

paradox, discrepancy

Question 36

What are Inference Questions?

Answer 36

The process of inferring is a matter of considering one or more statements as evidence and then drawing a conclusion from them.

A valid inference is something that must be true if the statements in the stimulus are true.

NOT might be true. MUST be true

Your job is to choose the inference that requires NO assumptions watsoever

Question 37

In an inference question, the valid inference is something that must/might be/never is true?

Answer 37

MUST.

Question 38

DO inference question rely on a conclusion?

Answer 38

No. in fact often inference questions dont even have a conclusion.

Question 39

What are some example of Inference question stems

Answer 39

which of the following can be inferred from the argument above

Which one of the following can be implied…

If all statements true, which of the following must also be true

The statements above, if true best support the argument that…

Question 40

Inference stimuli seldom contain complete _____. Rather, they contain statements from which you must make a _______

Answer 40

arguments, deductions

Question 41

An inference need not be based on the entire stimulus. An inference may follow from a ______ sentence or _____

Answer 41

single, fact

Question 42

Bold Statement question are usually based on stimuli that contain _______.

Answer 42

arguments

But, the way you analyze these arguments is difference from what you have learned for other argument-based questions

Question 43

Bold statement question ask what?

Answer 43

What role that the specific sentence play in the argument.

The answers to these questions will be abstract using language like “The first provides counterexample to an opinion”

Question 44

What are the 3 special advanced strategies for CR on the GMAT.

Answer 44

Causality, Representativeness, and Plans/Proposals/predictions

Causality and Representativeness are classic arguments structures

PPP - are classic argument conclusions

Question 45

Causality (Special/advanced strategy) - what is it?

Answer 45

A causal argument is an assertion that a certain cause produced a certain effect.

I.E - X caused Y, X made Y happen or Y is the result of X.

the causality might be explicit (X caused Y) or implicit (since the intro of X, Brand Y cars sales have gone up)

Usually appear in Weaken stimuli

3 ways to weaken causal arguments:

• Alternative explanation - It wasn’t X that caused Y; it was actually Z that caused Y
• Causality reversed - It wasn’t X that caused Y; it was actually Y that caused X
• Coincidence - It wasn’t X that caused Y, there relationship is a coincidence.

Question 46

Casual arguments usually appear in what kind of stimuli/question?

Answer 46

Weaken Stimuli

Question 47

Alternative Explanation is one of the ways that can be used to ______ a causal argument. What is it?

Answer 47

weaken

It wasn’t X that caused Y; it was actually Z that caused Y

Question 48

Causality Reversed is one of the ways that can be used to ______ a causal argument. What is it?

Answer 48

weaken

It wasn’t X that caused Y; it was actually Y that caused X

Question 49

Coincidence is one of the ways that can be used to ______ a causal argument. What is it?

Answer 49

It wasn’t X that caused Y, there relationship is a coincidence.

Question 50

What is Representativeness with regards to an argument question?

Answer 50

When GMAT arguments include evidence in the form of surveys, studies, polls and anecdotes, or experiments, a key issue is often the representativeness of the group used as evidence.

In order to be representative, a sample must be large enough, the survey length must cover an adequate amount of time and the population cannot be biased

In a GMAT argument the author always believes that his evidence leads to his conclusion. Therefor the author assumes the statistical evidence is relevant.

BUT in order for this to be the cause the sample MUST be representative of the group to which the conclusion is applied.

Question 51

What is Plans, Proposals and Predictions with regards to arguments questions?

Answer 51

Plans and proposals are found in conclusions that begin with “thus, we should” or “its in the companies best interest to..”

When a conclusion takes the form of a plan or proposal, the author is likely assuming that the plan or proposal is helpful and practical under the current circumstances. GMAT CR questions test whether we realize that it may not be helpful or currently practical

CR stimuli involving P/P almost invariably offer only one reason for the plan or proposal. In other words, because of X we should do Y.

So what must the author be assuming about that evidence? Thats its the ONLY, or at least the most important factor to consider. Thus any answer that introduces alternative and competing consideration weakens the argument. And answer that rules out a possible alternative consideration strengthens it

PREDICTIONS: are no diff in CR questions than in real life. they use the future tense “so and so will win the oscar.” “the economy will show modest growth” or “we will not be able to meet the production deadline” GMAT authors base their predictions on past and current trends or situation.

In order to weaken such an argument you want to find an answer choice that says the trend will change. To strengthen it, look for an answer choice that says “future events will unfold as expected”

Question 52

When you see a question regarding a statement about the future, identify assumptions about what?

Answer 52

feasibility, usefulness, and relevance of the future conditions

Question 53

To weaken an arguments whose conclusion is a plan or proposal. show what?

Answer 53

that the plan or proposal on its own terms will NOT work

Question 54

To weaken an arguments whose conclusion is a prediction, do what?

Answer 54

show why the prediction is unlikely to come to pass

Question 55

To weaken an objection to a plan or proposal or prediction do what?

Answer 55

seek evidence that it WILL work or come true