Logical Reasoning

Question 1

What are the four objectives of figuring out a logical reasoning question?

Answer 1

Primary Objective #1: Determine whether the stimulus contains an argument or if it is only a set of factual statements

Primary Objective #2: If the stimulus contains an argument, identify the conclusion of the argument. If the stimulus contains a fact set, examine each fact.

Primary Objective #3: If the stimulus contains an argument, determine whether the argument is strong or weak. Do the given premises entail the conclusion?

Primary Objective #4: Read closely and know precisely what the author said. Do not generalize

Primary Objective #5: Carefully read and identify the question stem. Do not assume that certain words are automatically associated with certain question types.

Question 2

Additional Premise

Answer 2

a premise that is non-essential to the argument but provides additional proof for the conclusion. Sometimes additional premises dismiss counter-premises.

Question 3

Counter-Premise

Answer 3

a premise that contains an idea that is counter to the argument, and would generally weaken it. When a counter-premise appears, the author usually indicates that the counter-premise is not relevant or is outweighed by other considerations.

Question 4

Inference

Answer 4

something that must be true based on the information presented in the argument. It is what follows from an argument.

Question 5

Assumption

Answer 5

an unstated premise – what must be true in order for the argument to be true. It is what is taken for granted while making an argument.

Question 6

LR Primary Objective #2:

Answer 6

If the stimulus contains an argument, identify the conclusion of the argument. If the stimulus contains a fact set, examine each fact.

Question 7

LR Primary Objective #4:

Answer 7

Read closely and know precisely what the author said. Do not generalize!

Question 8

LR Primary Objective #5:

Answer 8

Carefully read and identify the question stem. Do not assume that certain words are automatically associated with certain question types.

Question 9

LR Primary Objective #6:

Answer 9

Prephrase: after reading the question stem, take a moment to mentally formulate your answer to the question stem.

Question 10

LR Primary Objective #8:

Answer 10

Separate the answer choices into Contenders and Losers. After completing this process, review the contenders and decide which answer is the correct one.

Question 11

LR Primary Objective #9:

Answer 11

If all five answer choices appear to be Losers, return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument.

Question 12

Must Be True/Most Supported (summary)

Answer 12

Must Be True questions ask you to identify the answer choice that is best proven by the information in the stimulus. Question stem examples: “If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true?” and “ Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the passage?”

Question 13

Main Point (summary)

Answer 13

Main point questions are a variant of Must Be True questions. A Main Point question asks you to find the primary conclusion made by the author. Question stem example: “the main point of the argument is that”

Question 14

Point at Issue/Point of Agreement (summary)

Answer 14

Point at Issue questions require you to identify a point of agreement between two speakers, and thus these questions appear almost exclusively with two-speaker stimuli. Question stem example: “Jones and Smith disagree about whether:”

Point of Agreement questions require you to identify a point of agreement between two speakers, and thus these questions appear almost exclusively with two-speaker stimuli. Question stem example: “Achelle’s and Hakim’s statement provide the most support for the claim that they agree about which one of the following”

Question 15

Assumption (summary)

Answer 15

These questions ask you to identify an assumption of the author’s argument. Question stem example: “Which one of the following is an assumption required by the argument above?”

Question 16

Justify the Conclusion (summary)

Answer 16

Justify the Conclusion questions ask you to supply a piece of information that, when added to the premises, proves the conclusion. Question stem example: “Which one of the following, if assumed, allows the conclusion to be properly drawn?”

Question 17

Strengthen/Support (summary)

Answer 17

These questions ask you to select the answer choice that provides support for the author’s argument or strengthens it in some way. Question stem examples: “Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?” and “Which one of the following, if true, most strongly supports the statement above?”

Question 18

Resolve the Paradox (summary)

Answer 18

Every Resolve the Paradox stimulus contains a discrepancy or seeming contradiction. You must find the answer choice that best resolves the situation. Question stem example: “Which one of the following, if true, would most effectively resolve the apparent paradox above?”

Question 19

Weaken (summary)

Answer 19

Weaken questions ask you attack or undermine the author’s argument. Question stem example:
“Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?”

Question 20

Method of Reasoning (summary)

Answer 20

Method of Reasoning questions ask you to describe, in abstract terms, the way in which the author made his or her argument. Question stem example: “Which one of the following describes the technique of reasoning used above?”

Question 21

Flaw in the Reasoning (summary)

Answer 21

Flaw in the Reasoning questions ask you to describe, in abstract terms, the error of reasoning committed by the author. Question stem example: “The reasoning in the mayor’s argument is flawed because this argument”

Question 22

Parallel Reasoning/Parallel Flaw (summary)

Answer 22

Parallel Reasoning questions ask you to identify the answer choice that contains reasoning most similar in structure to the reasoning presented in the stimulus.

Question stem example: “Which one of the following arguments is most similar in its pattern of reasoning to the argument above?”

Question 23

Evaluate the Argument

Answer 23

With Evaluate the Argument questions you must decide which answer choice will allow you to determine the logical validity of the argument. Question stem example: “The answer to which one of the following questions would contribute most to an evaluation of the argument?”

Question 24

Cannot Be True

Answer 24

Cannot Be True questions ask you to identify the answer choice that cannot be true or is most weakened based on the information in the stimulus. Question stem example: “If the statements above are true, which one of the following CANNOT be true?”

Question 25

Logical Reasoning Families:

Answer 25

Prove, Help, Hurt, Disprove

Question 26

Logical Reasoning Family #1: Prove

Answer 26

Must Be True/Most Strongly Supported, 
Main Point, 
Point at Issue/Point of Agreement, 
Method of Reasoning,
Flaw in the Reasoning, 
Parallel Reasoning/Parallel Flaw

Question 27

Logical Reasoning Family #2: Help

Answer 27

Assumption, Justify the Conclusion, Strengthen/Support, Resolve the Paradox

Question 28

Logical Reasoning Family #3: Hurt

Answer 28

Weaken

Question 29

Logical Reasoning Family #4: Disprove

Answer 29

Cannot Be True

Question 30

Rules that apply to LR Family #1

Answer 30

1) 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 must be true.
2) Any information in answer choice that does not appear either directly in the stimulus, as a combination of items in the stimulus, or under the umbrella of a concept in the stimulus will be incorrect.

Question 31

Rules that apply to LR Family #2

Answer 31

1) The information presented in the stimulus is suspect. There are often reasoning errors present, and depending on the question, you will help shore up the argument in some way.
2) The answer choices are accepted as given, even if they include “new” information. Your task is to determine which answer choice best meets the question posed in the stem.

Question 32

Rules that apply to LR Family #3

Answer 32

1) The information in the stimulus is suspect. There are often reasoning errors present, and you will further weaken the argument in some way.
2) The answer choices are accepted as given, even if they include “new” information. Your task is to determine which answer choice best attacks the argument in the stimulus.

Question 33

Rules that apply to LR Family #4

Answer 33

1) 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.
2) If an answer choice contains information that does not appear directly in the stimulus or as the result of a combination of items in the stimulus, then that answer could be true and it is incorrect. The correct answer choice will directly disagree with the stimulus or a consequence of the stimulus.

Question 34

Which question types generally have stimuli that do not contain conclusions?

Answer 34

Must Be True, Cannot Be True, and Resolve the Paradox.