Important Tools/Things to Remember

Question 1

Negation test

Answer 1

negating the assumption of an argument invalidates the argument; this test helps to determine whether you truly have identified an essential assumption

-negate the assumption (answer choice) and ask: could the conclusion still be possible? If yes, eliminate; if not, that is the correct answer. Only for Necessary Assumptions, not Sufficient Assumptions

Question 2

Nots on right

Answer 2

Slots on right

Question 3

Nots on left

Answer 3

Slots on left

Question 4

No nots

Answer 4

No slots

Question 5

Conclusion clue words

Answer 5

-therefore
-thus
-hence
-clearly
-so
-conclude
-it follows that
-as a result
-clearly
-obviously
-nevertheless
-nonetheless

Question 6

Premise clue words

Answer 6

-because
-since
-for example
-after all
-on the grounds that
-given that
-for
-as shown by

Question 7

Why test?

Answer 7

used to correctly identify the conclusion and the premises; ask yourself: “why does the author believe this statement is true?”; the other text should answer that question, and if doesn’t make sense, then you probably chose the wrong statement as the conclusion

Question 8

Purposes of an argument

Answer 8

1) Interpret: these arguments take a simple set of facts and jump to a conclusion that assumes the facts are enough to validate the conclusion
2) Solve: these arguments seek to remedy a problem and assume that the proposed solution will solve the entire problem without creating any new harms (assumes the solution will work, that it is the only solution, and that it will not cause problems)
3) Disagree: these arguments argue that a commonly held belief is or may be wrong, and people should instead believe the author’s point (assumes that the facts are enough to discredit the opposition)

Question 9

Process of Elimination reasons

Answer 9

• Irrelevance: avoid choices that don’t address the specific question task
• Wrong tone/force: be wary of extreme language
• Doesn’t match: eliminate anything that doesn’t match details in the argument
• Partly right: partly wrong - all wrong! one words can invalidate an answer
• Wrong direction: watch out for answer choices that are opposite of what you intent
• Just plain confusing: leave these alone! don’t eliminate a confusing answer immediately, or choose automatically either

Question 10

Two-pass method

Answer 10

Use for POE in Reading Comprehension, with the first pass working quickly and the second pass being more specific/attention to detail

Question 11

Common distractors for POE in RC

Answer 11

-Not supported
-Wrong scope
-Doesn’t answer question
-Contradicts the passage
-Wrong direction
-Strength of language
-Topic/relevance
-Different points of view

Question 12

Bottom Line

Answer 12

1) Main Point
2) Purpose
3) Tone

Question 13

Sufficient Assumption when the question stem says…

Answer 13

conclusion properly drawn, conclusion follows logically

Question 14

Necessary Assumption when the question stem says…

Answer 14

depends, assumption/assumes, relies on, takes for granted, required

Question 15

For NA questions look for….

Answer 15

Language shifts, potential obstacles, or flaws; the correct answer will bridge the gap , rule out obstacles, and be essential

Question 16

For SA questions look for….

Answer 16

Language shift; the correct answer will supply the missing link, or seal the deal on the conclusion; no Negation Test

Question 17

Must be true EXCEPT

Answer 17

Could be false

Question 18

Could be true EXCEPT

Answer 18

Must be false

Question 19

Could be false EXCEPT

Answer 19

Must be true

Question 20

Must be false EXCEPT

Answer 20

Could be true

Question 21

Deductions

Answer 21

Figure out what cannot happen which tells us what could happen and won’t happen

Question 22

Logic game questions (in order of approach)

Answer 22

1. Grab a Rule
2. Specific (“if”)
3. General (“which”)
4. Complex

Question 23

Order of preparing a logic game

Answer 23

Game task, inventory, diagram, symbolize/double check, deductions

Question 24

Types of clues

Answer 24

range, block, antiblock, spider, slash, branching

Question 25

Inference

Answer 25

a conclusion that you can draw from a single statement or by combining two or more statements

Question 26

Argument questions will ask you to…

Answer 26

1) Help ( find an answer choice that supports the conclusion), 2) hurt (find an answer choice that weakens the conclusion), 3) match (find an answer choice that matches the conclusion or part of the conclusion), 4) extract (find an answer choice that you know to be true based on the information given in the argument)

Question 27

Two parts of argument

Answer 27

Premise (facts of the argument) and conclusion (main point that the author is trying to convince)

Question 28

one or more/atleast one X

Answer 28

X= inventory

Question 29

Distribution requirement

Answer 29

a clue that restricts the relative qualities of elements

Question 30

“should or should not” in the argument

Answer 30

Almost any time an author says that someone should or shouldn’t do something, that’s the main point

Question 31

Strong words (POE)

Answer 31

all, always, every, whenever, none, no, never, only, necessary, requires, needs

Question 32

Weaker words (POE)

Answer 32

some, many, at least, at most, may, might, could

Question 33

Transition clue words

Answer 33

however, but, yet (indicate a change of direction or contrast)

Question 34

Continuation clue words

Answer 34

Furthermore, additionally

Question 35

Tone/opinion clue words

Answer 35

finally, fortunately, thankfully, sadly

Question 36

Emphasis clue words

Answer 36

primarily, chiefly, most important, crucial, etc.

Question 37

Comparison and contrast clue words

Answer 37

similarly, like, analogy, unlike, in contrast, later, and before

Question 38

Example clue words

Answer 38

for example, because, since, in this

Question 39

takes for granted, purports presupposed without justification =

Answer 39

assumes

Question 40

fails to consider, ignores the possibility =

Answer 40

assumes not

Question 41

Strong language is better for arguments that:

Answer 41

strengthen, weaken, sufficient assumption, principle strengthen

Question 42

For concluding sentence questions in RC:

Answer 42

the concluding sentence should conclude/wrap up the ENTIRE passage, not just that paragraph

Question 43

Question types that almost always have a conclusion & premise:

Answer 43

-Assumption (NA and SA)
-Flaw
-Strengthen
-Weaken
-Match the flaw
-Match the structure
-Identify the role
-Identify the technique
-Identify the conclusion

Question 44

It is helpful to predict for which type of questions?

Answer 44

Flaw, Inference, and reasoning (and sometimes you will also have to translate the answer choices because of this)

Structure for RC

Question 45

Easier games…

Answer 45

-Only grouping or only ordering
-1 dimensional setups
-Lots of rules
-1:1 correspondance between elements and slots
-Single category of elements
-Concrete clues

Question 46

Harder games…

Answer 46

-2 dimensional setups
-Empty slots in diagram
-Repeated elements
-Elements that don’t have to be used
-Few rules
-Multiple categories of elements
-Flexible clues