General Critical Reasoning Strategies Flashcards
What are the Skills that the examiners are trying to test in Critical reasoning?
Attention to detail
Logical reasoning
Critical analysis
Vison
Good judgement
Execution of best judgement
On average how much time should you spend on a verbal question
23 questions for 45mins
1.5 mins / Question
The first thing to do when you encounter a CR passage is to ……
Identify the Heart of the passage by…
- Identifying the main point ;
- conclusion
-discrepancy - paradox
- hypothesis
- argument vs set of facts
Their words or your words?
- conclusion
- How did the author get there? what supported his/her argument (logical structure)?
- Their words or your words?
- Link the logic!!!! - if an argument, Determine whether the argument is “strong” or “weak”.
-Does the given facts support the conclusion?- Does the conclusion go beyond the scope of the premise?
4.Keep the main point and logical structure in mind when approaching question stem and answer choice.
- What does the question really ask?
- what does each option really say ? and what is its logical implication to the main point?
other tips
- Don’t jump straight to the question
- Make the upfront investment to digest the passage first. This helps you answer more efficiently, preventing back and forth.
- Read ALL the answer choices and eliminate all wrong answers until you get the right one
General CR examiner tricks 1
- Placing a highly attractive wrong answer choice immediately before the right answer choice, hoping that you will pick the wrong one and move to the next question without going through the rest of the answer options.
Strategy- Read all 5 answer choices carefully to avoid this trap
What are the parts of an argument?
Conclusion
Evidence/ Premise
Assumption
Background Information
What CR strategy is better?
Reading the passage first
Reading the Question stem first
Reading the passage First, then question stem, then 5 answer choices.. is the best strategy.
In summary its a HINDERANCE to read the question first and Not a HELP
Because;
- Understanding the passage is key to answering any question.
reading the question stem first undermines your ability to fully understand the passage - Reading the question stem first makes you waste time, as you will read quest-passage-quest again
-Some question stem add new info not in the passage and this may confuse/distract you.
-If you are a truly knowledgeable test taker, the question stem will often be predictable from understanding the passage
General CR examiner tricks 2
They use small, seemingly nitpick variations in phrasing to test your reading and attention to detail.
Strategy - read very carefully, do not skip words
General CR examiner tricks 3
They use big words/terminology (e.g in science passages) to confuse you and to make you miss the main point.
Strategy - Focus on understanding the relationship of the ideas and ignore big terminologies used. Reading passages is about seeing past the topic to analyse the structural relationships present in the stimulus.
Once you are able to see these relationships, the topic will become less important-
The CR Primary objectives (when approaching a passage)
- Determine whether the passage is an argument or a set of facts
- identifying presence /absence of a conclusion
- If the stimulus contains an argument, identify the conclusion/main point
If the stimulus contains a set of facts, examine each fact- main pont? conclusion, descripancy etc
-how did the author support its main point
- what statement supports what? and how they lead up to the main point
- look for the connection between premises - their words or my words?
- main pont? conclusion, descripancy etc
- Map the logical link in your head like a flow chart!
- Determine whether the argument is “strong” or “weak”. …. is there a logical gap?/missing link
-Does the given facts support the conclusion?- Does the conclusion go beyond the scope of the premise?
- if a conclusion is present, pre-think of the most critical assumptions.
- Read Closely and know precisely what the author said. Do not generalise! Pay attention to “modifiers”! Avoid Para-phrasing!
- Carefully read and identify the question stem. What is this question stem asking of me? Do not assume that certain words are automatically associated with certain question types.
- After reading the question stem, take a moment to mentally recap details you just gathered As is stated.
-Look for Logical connections between statements
- their words not your words
- don’t just jump to answer choices - Phrase the right question in your head that will enable you eliminate and choose the right answer with precision.
- Always read each of the five answer choices completely. Ask yourself… What is this option saying (main point?
- As you read each option and undertsand it, then ask …………….so does the {main point of option} answer my question {question you have phrased for pricision}? Yes/No
- If all five answer choices appear to be Losers, return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument.
- When deliberating the last 2, Ask yourself “do i have clear evidence to eliminate this?”. Do not select the one that feels right but the one that does not have any reason to eliminate.
CR Execution strategy
- Is it an argument or a set of facts?
- What is the main point?
- What is the logic structure of this argument?
How is it supported?
What are the logical connections? - Is the argument weakly or Strongly supported?
- What is the extent or scope of the argument?
- What is the question stem asking of me?
- As I read each answer choice, what is this choice saying?
- What is the logical implication of what this answer choice is saying?
- Do I have Clear proof why I choose to eliminate this choice?
- Is my final answer supported by the passage?
Premise indicators
- Because
- Since
- For
- For example
- For the reason that
- In that
- Given that
- As Indicated by
- Due to
- Owing to
- This can be seen from
- We know this by
Conclusion indicators
Thus
Therefore
Hence
Consequently
As a result
So
Accordingly
Clearly
Must be that
Shows that
Conclude that
Follows that
For this reason
General CR examiner tricks 4
They arrange premise and conclusions in a way to confuse you, By placing conclusion indicator and premise indicator back-to-back, separated by a come.
Therefore, since …
Thus, because …
Hence, due to …
E.g
Therefore, since higher debts has forced consumers to lower their savings, banks now have less money to loan.
Premise - higher debts ….their savings
Conclusion- banks now have….to loan
What is an Additional Premise & list its indicators
Additional premise may/may not be essential to the argument but provides additional support for the conclusion and could be, if needed, used to prove the conclusion separately (if an objection was raised to the first premise)
Indicators;
Additionally
Furthermore
Moreover
Besides
In addition
What’s more
What is a Counter-premise & list its indicators
A counter premise is a premise that contains an idea that is in contrast to the argument. Brings up points to compare and contrast, or points of opposition to a previously raised point.
Contrats Indicators;
But
Yet
however
on the other hand
admittedly
in contrast
even so (despite what has just been said)
Although
even though
still
whereas
in spite of
despite
after all
What is the “Conclusion identification Method” used for?
How is it used?
It is a trick used to identify “conclusions without indicators”
How its used;
If you have two statements A & B.
use this template -
BECAUSE “statement A”, WE CAN CONCLUDE THAT “statement B”. - Does this make sense?
if no, then reverse it
BECAUSE “statement B”, WE CAN CONCLUDE THAT “statement A”
What “clue” in a passage will make you suspect an “Opposing view” will be introduced?
Author raise a viewpoint at the beginning and then disagree with it immediately after
E.g
Some people claim…
Some people propose …
Some argue that …
Some critics claim …
Some scientists believe that…
It has been claimed that…
Strong vs Weak argument
Weak - the premise does not support the conclusion. The conclusion may go beyond the scope of the premise.
Strong - the premise clearly proves the conclusion.
Note that the strength of an argument is based solely on the degree to which the premises prove the conclusion.
Quantity Indicators
These indicators/modifiers refer to the amount/quantity in the relationship.
all
every
some
most
many
several.
a few
sole /only / exclusively
not all
none
at least one
A majority
A minority
Probability indicators
These indicators/modifiers refer to ‘likelihood of occurrence’
must
will
can
may
always
not always
probably
likely
typically
generally
usually
often
should
would
not necessarily
could
rarely
never
uniquely
What is a conclusion?
The authors statement of opinion/belief, the main point that all the information in the passage is leading up to.
In CR we can argue with the premise
True of False?
False
We never ague with the premise. It is considered as FACT.
Some
more than 1, possibly all
Many
a large number of
Several
3 or more but not many
A few
not many but more than 1
Majority
> 50%
synonymous with “most”
Minority
< 50%
Uniquely
In a way that makes something or someone the only one
Opinion indicators
Clearly
Assert
Argue that
Believe
Claim
Contend
Opinion
Propose
Should
Simple vs Complex arguments
Unlike simple arguments that contain only 1 conclusion, Complex arguments contain more than one conclusion. In
these instances, one of the conclusions is the main conclusion, and the other
conclusions are subsidiary conclusions (also known as sub-conclusions).
2 Forms of complex arguments
- one of the most commonly used complex argument forms is to place the main conclusion in the first sentence of the argument, and then to
place the sub-conclusion in the last sentence of the argument, preceded by a conclusion indicator. This form is quite useful since it tends to trick students into thinking the last sentence is the main conclusion. - Another form of complex argumentation occurs with two-speaker stimuli. In
these questions, two separate speakers are identified, and each presents his or
her own argument or comment.
Inference vs Assumption
an inference can be defined as something that must be true. Thus, if you are asked to identify an inference of the argument, you must find an item that must be true based on the information presented in the argument.
an assumption is simply the same as an unstated premise—what must be true in order for the argument to be true.
In one sense, an assumption occurs “before” the argument, that is, while the argument is being made. An inference is made “after” the argument is
complete, and follows from the argument.
Things to beware of in CR passages
- dates / numbers
- modifiers
- ## extent of passage e.g all/none, some/most, best/effective
How do you approach this question prompt
Which of the following is most supported by the passage?
- the correct answer** must be true** ( supported by facts in the passage whether it introduces new information or not)
- The correct answer may capture the main point or be an inference
- if i am stuck between 2 options that are supported by passage facts, i will look for clues in the question stem to decide which is the best answer (conclusion or inference)
List the question types in the “Prove/Must be true” family
- inference/Must be true
- Conclusion/main point
- Method of reasoning
- Flaw of reasoning
- Parallel reasoning
How do you aproach questions in the prove family?
[Stumulus] ——–> [Anwer]
accepted ————under suspicion
- The stimulus/argument proves the answer choice is correct
- The stimulus/argument** must be accepted as fact** even if it contains a flaw in the argument. You must use only what was stated in the stimulus to prove the answer choice.
- The correct answer choice must be supported by the stimulus. Any option that contains information (existing / new) not supported by the stimulus is incorrect
List the question types in the “help” family
- Assumption
- Strengthen the argument
- Resolve the paradox
- Justify the conclusion
How do you aproach questions in the help family?
[Stimulus]<——[Answer]
under supicion—–accepted
- The answer choice helps the authors argument/statement in some way
- The stimulus is under suspicion. Often there are reasoning errors or logic gaps, and you are asked to find an
answer choice that helps to close this gap. - You must accept the answer choices as fact, even if it includes new/outside information not in the stimulus.
“Which one of the following, if true,…”
By including this phrase, the test makers indicate that they wish you to treat each answer choice as factually correct.
List the question types in the “hurt” family
Weaken the argument
How do you aproach questions in the hurt family?
[Stimulus]<—/—[Answer]
- The answer choice attacks the argument
2.The stimulus is under suspicion. Often there are reasoning errors or logic gaps, and you are asked to find an answer choice that further widens this gap.
3.You must **accept **the answer choices as fact, even if it includes new/outside information not in the stimulus.
opp of “help” family
List the question types in the “Cannot be true” family
Cannot be true questions
How do you aproach questions in the Cannot be true family?
[Stimulus]—/—> [Answer]
- You use the stimulus to prove that one of the answer choices cannot occur or that the answer choice disagress with the information in the
stimulus. - 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. - The correct answer choice will directly disagree with the stimulus
Opp of “prove” family
When a passage does not contain a conclusion, suspect…
- inference/must be true
- conclusion/main point
- cannot be true
- resolve the paradox
How do you approach passages without a conclusion?
Is there a paradox/discrepancy?
- if yes, think… “resolve the paradox”
- if no, think… “** inference/must be true” or “main point/conclusion**”
When you see passages with flawed or weak arguments that contain logic gaps, think….
weaken or strengthen the argument
Method of reasoning VS Flaw in reasoning
Flaw in the Reasoning question stems explicitly note that the stimulus contains an
error of reasoning.
In a Method of Reasoning question the stimulus contains valid or invalid reasoning.
What is parallel reasoning?
Parallel Reasoning questions are a one-step extension of Method of
Reasoning questions in that you must first identify the type of reasoning
used and then parallel it.
How do you approach this question stem …
“Which of the following most weakens the argument”
Which of the following most strengthens the argument
Which of the following Most ……
Most is a trigger to suspect …..
You may have 2 or more choices that answers the question type. you have to pick the option that best answers/strengthens/weakenns (and with valid proof)
Normally, the difference between the last two
answers is significant enough for you to make a clear
distinction as to which one is superior.
Evaluate the argument fits into which family?
it fits into both “help” and “hurt” family
What question type is this?
“Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the viewpoint of the
historians described above?”
Resolve the paradox
Explanation:
The presence of the phrase “Which one of the following, if true,”indicates that this question stem must be from either the help or hurt question family. Because the hurt family is Weaken, and the question stem asks you to “explain,” the question cannot be from the hurt family. Thus, the question must be from the help family and can only be an Assumption, Justify,Strengthen, or Resolve question.
The idea of explaining is most closely aligned with Resolving the Paradox.
What are the keywords that signal assumption questions?
Required/necessaryfor the conclusion
Required/necessary assumption
Identify the question type
“The advertisement proceeds by”…
By asking how the advertisement “proceeds,” the test makers
wish to know the way in which the argument is made, in other words, the method of the reasoning.
Identify th question type
“Which one of the following, if assumed, would allow the conclusion to be properly
drawn?”
the presence of the words “if” and
“properly drawn” along with “assumed” normally indicate a Justify question, as they do here.
What is the strategy for seeing Except in the question stem?
“Each of the following weakens the argument EXCEPT,”
One correct answer: Does not weaken
Four incorrect answers: weakens
so in options A to E
A weakens- > ❌
B weakens- > ❌
C weakens- > ❌
D weakens- > ❌
E doesn’t weaken- > ✅
E (no) —> correct answer.
so in normal question, if the option weekens you keep it,
in “except” if the option weakens , you eliminate.
In Except , you do the oposite of the original question
How to you approach a “Least” in the question stem
when “least” appears in a question stem you should treat it exactly the same as“except.”
Note: this advice holds true only when this word appears in the question stem!
“Which one of the following, if true, helps LEAST to resolve the apparent discrepancy described above?”
One correct answer: Does not Resolve the Paradox
Four incorrect answers: Resolve the Paradox
