Logical Reasoning Flashcards
3 Key Strategies for Logical Reasoning
- Read the question and mark or underline important words
- Read the passage actively by marking the main point and conclusion, along with the logic of the statement.
- Look for key words in choices: spot the essence of the choice and realize how it differs from other choices.
Solving an Author’s main point or main idea
Focus on the major issue: it’s often stated in the first sentence.
Try to mentally summarize the paragraph in a few words.
Notice the particular attitude the writer holds toward the argument.
Look for: author’s main idea, the writer makes which of the following arguments, the main point in the passage
Solving information or author’s purpose
First look for the values and attitudes of the author (where is the author coming from?)
Watch for author’s choice of words.
Finally decide the author’s point of view, but don’t overread: keep within the context of the passage.
Be aware of who, what, when, where, why, and how.
Look for: the author of this argument would most likely be…,, the purpose of the teacher’s statement to the class was probably to…
Solving Form of Argumentation
Carefully follow the author’s line of reasoning while also focusing on the purpose.Consider what has been argued
Watch for if-then, cause and effect, general to specific,
Look for: to make the point,the author uses…, Which of the following is a questionable technique used in the writer’s argument?
Solving Strengthening or Weakening the Author’s statement or conclusion
- Review the question first so you can then focus on the author’s strengths in the statement.
Read actively.
Look for: would most strengthen, weaken, undermine, or support the author’s statement or conclusion.
Solving the Author’s assumptions, presuppositions, and underlying principles
Read the question actively. Note where the question is referring to (conclusion, opening statement)
Remember that assumptions are things taken for granted or supposed as facts.
An underlying principle is the basis for the original statement.
Look for: the author’s possible assumptions, presuppositions, or underlying principles.
Solving inferences and implications
Reading between the lines: drawing or inferring something from the passage
Focus on the main idea, what the author is suggesting but not actually saying, and what information you can be drawing.
Look for the most direct answer that is not explicitly stated, but the one that most directly ties back into the passage.
Look for: which of the following can be reasonably inferred, the author implies that…
Solving deductions
Deductions are arrived at or attained from general premises- drawing information from a specific piece of information- from general laws to specific cases.
If the general premises are true, then the deduction is necessarily true.
Focus on the general premises to see where they lead.
Look for: which of the following can be deduced?, it must be true that…
Solving parallel reasoning or similarity of logic
Selecting the statement that most nearly parallels the original or uses similar logic.
Your choice must preserve the same relationship or comparison.
Examine the direction of connections: general to specific, quality to thing.
Understand the tone: negative or positive slants.
Examine the structure and order .
Perhaps try substituting letters.
Reproduce the reasoning.
Look for: which of the following most parallels?
Solving argument exchange
2 people are arguing
First evaluate the strengths and completeness of the statements: general or specific, absolutes, consistent.
Then evaluate the relationship between responses.
Then evaluate the intentions of the author in making his remarks.
Look for: choose the statement that would most strengthen/weaken the argument, find the inconsistency or flaw in the argument, identify the form of argument.
Solving Syllogistic Reasoning
Has two premises and a conclusion.
May need to avaluate assumptions.
First simplify the propositions to assist your understanding.
Second, draw a diagram if possible.
Third, replace phrases or words with letters to help yourself follow the logic.
Solving conclusions
Given a list of conditionals, statements, and asked to follow the logic and reach a valid conclusion.
Underline key terms
Second, mark the direction of each statement.
Third, Look for the “kicker” statement: starts the chain reaction
Find the key statement that leads you as close to the conclusion as possible.
Look for: which of the following is the best conclusion to the passage, which can be concluded from this statement.
Solving logical flaws
Be sure to read the question first because the logic will be flawed.
Look for: which of the following describes the flaw in reasoning, a major flaw in reasoning is that…
Solving situation analysis
this involves selecting a situation that most appropriately illustrates a principle expressed by the analysis of the passage’s situation.
Focus on the analysis and how it applies to the situation
Look for: the analysis provided would be most appropriate for which situation
Solving Passage completion
Choose the phrase or sentence that best completes the passage
First, preserve the meaning of the passage.
Second, choose the word that would fit stylistically.
Some answers just won’t sound good.
Look for: which is the best completion of the sentence according to the passage, in this passage the word ________ refers to…
