Critical Reasoning Flashcards
List the 4 family types of questions on the Critical Reasoning portion
1) Structure-Based Family
2) Assumption-Based Family
3) Evidence-Based Family
4) Complete the Argument (Minor type of Question Type)
List the 4 steps to solve a Critical Reasoning problem
Step 1: Identify the question.
Step 2: Deconstruct the argument.
Step 3: State the Goal.
Step 4: Work from wrong to right.
List the 2 question types in the Structured-Based Family
1) Describe the Role
2) Describe the Argument
List the 5 question types in the Assumption-Based Family
1) Assumption
2) Evaluate
3) Flaw
4) Strengthen
5) Weaken
Under which family base of questions can we expect to find Except questions
Assumption-based and Evidence-based questions may also be presented in negative form
ex. Each of the following, if true, weakens the conclusion EXCEPT:…
Solve by finding the odd one out answer choice
List the 2 question types in the Evidence-Based Family
1) Inference
2) Explain a Discrepancy
Describe a Complete the Argument Type Question
**Complete the Argument
Complete the Argument is a structure for writing the argument itself, and any of the previous question types could theoretically be written using this structure (mostly strengthen or assumption formats).
Correct answers could be a restatement of a premise we were already told or it may introduce a new premise.
Be sure to read negatively worded claims (ex. Producing more TVs from the basic line, however, will not necessarily help to improve profitability since …)
What are the 3 Wrong Answer Categories
1) Out of Scope - answers miss or go beyond the scope of the argument in some way
- Wrong detail
- Irrelevant distinction or comparison
- Real world distraction
2) Reverse Logic - accidentally pick the opposite of what we really want
3) The Mix Up - overlooking one word that can make an answer wrong or an answer choice uses actual wording/terminology from the argument but will switch terms around or pair things that were not paired in the argument
Describe Describe the Role Questions
**Structured-Based Family
Describe the Role - Identify the roles of the boldface portions.
ex. In the argument given, the two boldface portions play which of the following roles?
Describe Describe the Argument Questions
**Structured-Based Family
Describe the Argument - Describe the structure of the argument.
- usually one person responding to another person’s argument
ex. In the passage, the mayor challenges the council member’s argument by doing which of the following?
Describe Assumption Questions
**Assumption-Based Family
Assumption - Identify an unstated assumption.
- Negation Technique can help when stuck between two choices (the right answer, if negated, should harm the author’s conclusion)
ex. The argument depends on which of the
following assumptions?
Describe Evaluate Questions
**Assumption-Based Family
Evaluate - Identify a piece of information that would help to determine the soundness of the conclusion.
- Two Paths Strategy dictates that the correct answer should offer at least two different paths (one that strengthens the argument, one that weakens the argument)
ex. Which of the following must be studied in order to evaluate the argument above?
Describe Flaw Questions
**Assumption-Based Family
Flaw - Identify something illogical in the argument.
- Almost always contains the word flaw, but note that weaken questions can also contain “flaw”
- Can be thought of as the reserves of find the assumption (answer dependent on assumption but words the assumption in a way that hurts the argument)
ex. Which of the following indicates a flaw in
the reasoning above?
Describe Strengthen Questions
**Assumption-Based Family
Strengthen - Strengthen the author’s conclusion.
ex. Which of the following, if true, provides the most support for the argument above?
Describe Weaken
**Assumption-Based Family
Weaken - Attack the author’s conclusion.
ex. Which of the following, if true, most seriously
weakens the argument?
