Logical Reasoning: Family #1 Flashcards
Fact Test
The correct answer to a Must Be True question can always be proven by referring to the facts stated in the stimulus.
Features of Must Be True questions
1) The stem often indicated the information in the stimulus should be taken as true, as in: “If the statements above are true…” “The statements above, if true…” and “If the information above is correct”
2) The stem asks you to identify a single answer choice that is proven or supported, as in: “…which one of the following must also be true?” “…which one of the following conclusions can be properly drawn on the basis of it” “which one of the following can be properly inferred…”
In each case, the question stem indicates that one of the answer choices is proven by the information in the stimulus.
Features of Most Strongly Supported questions
1) Very similar to Must Be True questions, but the question stem reduces the degree of certainty needed by substituting “most strongly supported” for “must be true” or one of its synonyms. The correct answer choice no longer has to pass the Fact Test (although in many caes it will). The right answer will be the one which is most likely based on the stimulus, but not necessarily provable beyond a doubt.
2) Use the same approach you use with Must Be True questions (just be aware that the correct answer needs to pass a lower bar than in Must questions)
Classification of information in stimulus–
1) The actual statements of the stimulus
2) Commonsense assumptions – assumptions that would reflect information that the average person would be expected to know.
3) Consequences of the statements presented in the stimulus - two or more pieces of information in the stimulus can combine to logically produce what appears to be a “new” idea, but in fact is not. A.K.A. a statement deduced validly from two of the statements.
4) Information under the “umbrella” of the statements in the stimulus – categories such as “all animals” thereby include lizards, dogs, cats, etc. These elements fall under the umbrella of “all animals”
Each of these meet the Fact Test. As you analyze each answer, make certain to consider whether a statement that appears “new” may be derived from one of these information sources.
Correct Answer Types for Must Be True and Most Strongly Supported
1) Paraphrased answers are answers that restate a portion of the stimulus in different terms. When these answers mirror the stimulus, they are correct.
2) Combination answers result from combining two or more statements in the stimulus.
Incorrect Answer Types for Must Be True and Most Strongly Supported
1) Could be true,
2) Exaggerated,
3) New information,
4) The shell game,
5) The opposite answer,
6) The reverse answer.
Could Be True (incorrect) answers
Could Be True (incorrect) answers are attractive because they can possibly occur but are incorrect because they do not have to be true
Exaggerated answers
Exaggerated (incorrect) answers take information from the stimulus and then stretch that information to make a broader statement that is not supported by the stimulus.
New Information answers
New Information (incorrect) answers include information not explicitly mentioned in the stimulus. First examine the scope of the stimulus to make sure the “new” stimulus does not fall under the umbrella of a term or concept in the stimulus. Second, examine the answer to make sure it is not the consequence of combining stimulus elements.
The Shell Game answers
The Shell Game (incorrect) answers occur when an idea or a concept is raised in the stimulus, and then a very similar idea appears in the answer choice, but the idea is changed just enough to be incorrect while remaining attractive.
The Opposite answer
The Opposite (incorrect) answers are completely opposite of the facts of the stimulus
The Reverse answer
The reverse (incorrect) answer is attractive because it contains familiar elements from the stimulus, but the reversed statement is incorrect because it rearranges those elements to create a new, unsupported statement.
Features of Main Point Questions
The Main Point is the same as the conclusion of the argument. By prephrasing the question, you should already have the answer to a main point question by the time you read the question stem.
The correct answer must not only be true according to the stimulus, it must summarize the author’s point.
Incorrect Answers for Main Point Questions –
answers that are true but miss the point of the author’s argument.
Note: Paraphrased answers are always correct in Must Be True Questions. Answers that paraphrase the conclusion are correct in Main Point questions.
