Lesson Ten: Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension

Question 1

–LOGICAL REASONING–

Question 2

Point at Issue Questions

Answer 2

• Involves stimulus w/ 2 speakers that have differing viewpoints.
• The positions each of the speakers take is usually ethical, or decision oriented, but almost never factual.
• Question stem asks you to identify the statement to which the speaker’s views might disagree.

Question 3

Point at Issue Questions are a variant of ________ ___ _______ questions that: You can only use the information provided in the ___________ to evaluate an answer choice.

Answer 3

Must Be True; stimulus

Question 4

Point at Issue Question Stem Examples:

“Alia and Martha disagree on whether…”
“The issue that Morris uses in objecting to Lewis is whether…”
“Which one of the following is a point at issue between Harris and Vogel?”
“On the basis of their statements, Ilana and Gustav are committed to disagreeing over whether…”

Question 5

When doing Point at Issue Questions, the first thing you should do is identify each of the speakers _____________ _____________. Once you know, exactly what the differing view points are, answering the questions will be a lot easier: you’ll be able to more easily dismiss answers where __________ authors ___________ or when the both ___________.

Answer 5

differing viewpoints; both; agree; disagree

Question 6

In Point at Issue questions, one of the speakers will use _____________ or ___________ language in expressing their view point, and in others both speakers’ language will be relatively ___________.

Answer 6

strong; extreme; neutral

Question 7

Incorrect Answers in Point at Issue Questions:

1. Ethical v. Factual Disagreement

Answer 7

If the stimulus (more specifically, the viewpoints held by the speakers in the stimulus) is ethical, then an answer choice where the point at issue is factual is wrong.

Ex.
- Speakers in the stimulus argument takes separate viewpoints in an ethical dispute about whether doctor’s should inform their patients of terminal illnesses.
- Answer choice that says “all doctors are required to learn ethics in medical school” would be wrong; it’s factual.

If the stimulus is factual in nature, then an answer choice where the point at issue is ethical is wrong.

Ex.
- Speaker A: WW1 began in 1910.
- Speaker B: No, WW1 began in 1914.
- Answer Choice: Should nations be allowed to go to war? (wrong: ethical, not factual)

Question 8

Incorrect Answers in Point at Issue Questions:

2. Dual Agreement and Dual Disagreement

Answer 8

Dual Agreement:
- An answer choice where both of the author’s agree on a certain viewpoint is wrong (that wouldn’t constitute a point at issue).

Dual Disagreement:
- An answer choice where both author’s would disagree on a certain viewpoint is wrong (that would constitute a point at issue).

With Point at Issue questions, one author has to agree with a certain viewpoint, whilst the other author disagrees with that viewpoint.

Question 9

Incorrect Answers in Point at Issue Questions:

3. The View of One Speaker is Unknown

Answer 9

This is an incorrect answer choice where the views of only one speaker is known.

• The views of the other speaker are unknown because their views are not addressed in the answer choice (they don’t have views on that certain subject)

Any time there’s only one speaker’s viewpoint addressed, it is incorrect.

Question 10

The Agree / Disagree Test

Answer 10

• This test is only supposed to be used when you have 2-3 remaining answers.
• The test states that one speakers should be able to respond to your answer choice with, “Yes, I agree. This statement is correct.”
• The other speaker should be able to respond with, “No, I disagree. This statement is incorrect.”
• If the two speakers wouldn’t be able to respond like this to your answer choice, then it’s incorrect.
• This test is a variation of the Fact Test used to Answer Must Be True Questions (the correct answer is one that refers to the facts of the stimulus).
• The correct answer choice can be found by referring to what the speakers said in the stimulus.

Question 11

Point of Agreement Questions

Answer 11

Questions stems asks you to find the point in the argument that both speakers agree on.

Question 12

How can you find the answer to Point of Agreement questions?

Answer 12

The Agree / Agree Test.

If each author can reply to the answer choice with “I agree. This statement is correct,” then your answer is correct.

Question 13

In Point of Agreement questions, look for something that is ________________ to the main point that the authors end up _____________ on.

Answer 13

tangential; agreeing

Question 14

Resolve the Paradox Questions

Answer 14

(Help Family [#2] : Based on this answer choice → demonstrate stimulus follows)
With Resolve the Paradox questions the stimulus presents you with a contradiction or a paradox.

The question stem asks you to resolve this paradox.

Question 15

These questions types are generally pretty easy to spot because the ___________ _______ makes it apparent your dealing with a Resolve the Paradox question.

Answer 15

question stem

Question 16

*THE STIMULUS TO A RESOLVE THE PARADOX QUESTION DOES _______ HAVE A ____________!

If you have a stimulus that simply has a set of _____________ (_______ sets), then you can be sure you’re likely either dealing with a ________ ______ _________ , _________ ____ _________ , or ___________ _____ ________ question.

Answer 16

NOT; CONCLUSION; premises; fact; Must Be True; Resolve the Paradox; Cannot Be True

Question 17

Resolve the Paradox: Question Stem Features (2)

Answer 17

1) The question stem will ask you to assume the answer choice is true.

Remember, Resolve the Paradox questions are in Family #2, where based on the answer choice, we demonstrate the stimulus must follow, so it makes sense why you should assume the the truth of the answer choice; you want to be able to test if the stimulus follows.

If the stimulus doesn’t follow from the answer choice, the answer choice is likely incorrect.

You will see indicators of this concept as the question stem usually starts with “Which one of the following, if true…”

2) There will be words in the question indicating it’s a Resolve the Paradox question: specifically, words indicating the action that must be taken (Resolve) and words describing the Paradox (problem).

Action:
- Resolve
- Reconcile
- Explain

Problem:
- Paradox
- Discrepancy
- Conflict
- Puzzle

Question 18

Plainly, what is the point of Resolve the Paradox questions?

Answer 18

“To make it make sense.”
You want to show how the paradox / discrepancy in the stimulus is not a true contradiction, and why the two sides of the paradox can occur at the same time.

Question 19

Counter Premise indicators:

• Definition
• Examples

Answer 19

Words used to indicate logical tension between two sentences / claims.

Counter premise indicators exists where there are conflicting statements in a set of premises. In a Resolve question, you’ll see these indicators as the other side of a paradox is explained.

Examples:
- Yet
- But
- However
- Despite
- Although
- Nevertheless

Question 20

Resolve the Paradox Question Stem Examples:

“Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy in the passage above?”

“Which one of the following, if true, would resolve the apparent paradox above?”

“Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the puzzling fact cited above?”

Question 21

Correct Answers in Resolve the Paradox Questions:

1. Contains Active Resolution

Answer 21

The correct answer will explain how the paradox came into being, or how the two sides of the paradox can coexist.

Question 22

Correct Answers in Resolve the Paradox Questions:

2. Shows How the Situation Arose

Answer 22

*REMEMBER, WE ARE NOT TRYING TO DISPROVE ANYTHING!

The goal of Resolve the paradox question to identify the contradiction and resolve it. And because Resolve the paradox questions are family #2 (help) questions, we do this by finding the answer choice that would allow the stimulus to follow.

So, any answer choice that allows the discrepancy or paradox to follow, is the correct answer choice. Meaning, any answer choice that is causal, in that the paradox would be a cause of the answer choice is correct.

Question 23

Correct Answers in Resolve the Paradox Questions:

3. Addresses the Facts

Answer 23

When trying to resolve the problem in the stimulus, you should look to the facts in the stimulus.
An answer choice that adheres / closely tied to the facts of the stimulus is correct.

There will be some answer choices that provide information / reasonable solutions that are not closely tied to the facts of the stimulus. These are trap answers, mean to lure test takers.

Question 24

Incorrect Answers in Resolve the Paradox Questions:

1. Explains only one side of the paradox

Answer 24

An answer choice that only explains why one side of the paradox exists is incorrect.

As we saw with correct answers, the answer choice that resolves the problem contains active resolution that explains the coexistence of the TWO Sides of a paradox.

Question 25

Incorrect Answers in Resolve the Paradox Questions:

2. Misstated the Facts:

Answer 25

Any answer choice that misstates the facts of the stimulus is incorrect.

Question 26

Incorrect Answers in Resolve the Paradox Questions:

3. Similarities and Differences

Answer 26

If the paradox in the stimulus poses similarities between the two sides of the paradox, then answer that resolves the paradox can’t start talking about the differences between the two sides to the paradox.

Works the other way as well…

If the paradox in the stimulus poses differences between the two sides of the paradox, then the answer that resolves the paradox shouldn’t talk about the similarities between the two sides to the paradox.

Similarities can’t explain differences.
Differences can’t explain similarities.

Question 27

–READING COMPREHENSION–

Question 28

Law - Related Passages: Test makers treat the law as a positive, benevolent, dynamic, and at times __________ system. It’s fair to see the legal system as having __________, seeing it’s ____________ wherein confusion, uncertainty, or changes arise.

Test makers happily engage in discussion of the issues related to improving any aspect of the judicial system.

Test makers also discuss the law as a positive force, and as a __________ to right social injustice. (Ex. Benefits of bankruptcy law, Native American property rights, Regulation of International waters).

A number of law - related reading passages focus on ____- ________ related issues:
- legal theory,
- how to interpret law,
- how to model legal reasoning on computers,
- the basis for punishment within the legal system.

Test makers may also talk about law systems outside the United States.

In sum, the LSAT will test on the ________, ___________, and theoretical underpinnings (theories of law that work more so in principle than they do in real life application) of the system.

Answer 28

flawed; flaws; complexity; remedy; big-picture; faults; benefits

Question 29

Plainly, what is Regulation in Law-Related Reading Passages?

Answer 29

Regulation is a special law-related topic in reading comprehension, that mainly refers to government regulation of the marketplace, borders, and industries.

Question 30

With these Regulation passages, the viewpoint of the author is almost always the same: either regulations _________ to be __________ and enforced, or existing regulations need to be ____________.

Answer 30

need; made; expanded