LSAT Terminology Flashcards
Term
Definition
Analogy
A stated or implied comparison between two things that are different; situations that are similar enough to draw the same conclusion about both.
Appositive
A phrase, usually set off by commas or dashes, used to describe or define a preceding term.
Assumption
Unstated evidence; the missing link between evidence and conclusion.
Basis of, based on
Indicates a necessary element.
Beautiful Mind (verb)
To act in an attempt to wrangle through a games question or setup by keeping everything in one’s mind rather than jotting down on scratch paper.
Cause
To increase the likelihood of something.
Composed of
To be formed from something; to consist of or be made up of.
Comprise
To form or make something.
Concede
To grant, admit, or acknowledge the truth of something that serves as potential counterevidence.
Conclusion
A statement supported by the evidence of an argument.
Conditional Qualifier
A qualifier stated as an if-then statement that narrows a statement to a hypothetical situation.
Consistent/Compatible
Not contradictory; does not conflict; statements that can be true simultaneously.
Consists of
To be made up or fully composed of.
Constitute
To form or make something.
Contemporary
A person, thing, or event occurring or existing at the same time as another person, thing, or event.
Contradiction
A combination of claims that cannot be true simultaneously; inconsistent.
Contrapositive
The reversed and negated version of an if-then statement.
Correlation
Any relationship between two things, usually in time or space.
Counter-evidence
Evidence that tends to weaken the author’s conclusion.
Counterexample
A member of a group that does not share an important property of the group; refers to something that is in opposition to a statement.
Denied causality
A statement that shows the lack of a causal relationship.
Disanalogy
Situations that are different enough to avoid drawing the same conclusion about both.
Enough
As much or as many as a situation requires; context-relative term that serves as a dichotomy.
Ensure
To make certain that something will happen.
Evaluate
To provide an overall assessment.
Evidence
Information that supports something.
Example
A specific instance of a broader population, group, or a general rule.
Experiment
A scientific process used to discover, test, or support a fact or theory.
False Contrapositive
1) An if-then statement that is negated but NOT reversed, or 2) an if-then statement that is reversed but NOT negated.
Foremost
Prominent in importance or rank.
Functionally Same AC
Two answer choices with no discernable differences.
Functionally Same Entity
Two entities in a game that possess no functional differences.
Grant
To admit or concede the truth of something that serves as potential counterevidence.
Humanities
Any artistic endeavor, in the broadest sense possible.
Ignore
To not acknowledge or not know something.
Illustrate
To provide an example, analogy, or detailed description.
Impact
A change in the real world brought about by new information. Synonym: Implication.
Impetus
A gentle nudge that has some level of impact at the beginning of a process or idea; weak language.
Implication
A change in the real world brought about by new information. Synonym: Impact.
Implicit
Unstated.
Important
Some value; at least 1%. Weak subjective language.
In principle
In essence or in substance; fundamentally; in theory.
Inconsistent
A combination of claims that cannot be true simultaneously; contradictory.
Indirect cause
A cause that produces an effect, which in turn produces a third effect.
Indistinguishable
Exactly the same in every distinguishable way. 100% strong language.
Inherent
Permanent attribute of something.
Intent
State of mind that directs one towards a goal.
Intermediate Conclusion (CONC)
A statement that 1) is supported by evidence and 2) supports the main conclusion.
Internal Inconsistency
A combination of actions or claims made by one person that cannot be true simultaneously; to contradict oneself; self-contradiction.
Mechanism
The physical process that underlies a phenomenon.
Misguided
Vague description of an argument as unsound; there is something wrong with the argument.
Modeled upon
An attempt to roughly or closely copy a work and execute it in reality.
Mutually exclusive
Two options that cannot coexist.
Myth
A statement that is false.
Overdeduce
To deduce beyond that which can be deduced based on given information, resulting in false deductions.
Premise
Evidence; information that supports the conclusion.
Qualifier
A term, usually a descriptive phrase, that limits the scope or narrows the applicability of another term.
Rather than
‘And not.’
Recognize
To acknowledge or know truth in reality.
Relative
In relation to something else.
Respectively
Separately or individually, and in the order referenced by a previous statement.
Salad Bar Approach
To treat the TPG LSAT® program much like a salad bar, utilizing only the tools that are immediately palatable and leaving behind the more difficult or foreign tools.
Self-contradiction
A combination of actions or claims made by one person that cannot be true simultaneously; to contradict oneself; internal inconsistency.
Significant
At least some; at least 1%. Subjective weak language.
Substantial
At least some; at least 1%. Subjective weak language.
Suggested
Supported in some way.
Tacit
Unstated.
Tantamount
Virtually the same as.
Temporal
Pertaining to time.
Underdeduce
To deduce less than what can (and should) be deduced based on given information, resulting in a lack of relevant information.
Word Salad (verb)
To read an answer choice as one big blurb or ‘word salad,’ rather than breaking it down into smaller, more manageable pieces.
Word Salad (noun)
A dense answer choice composed of multiple elements, such as Evidence to Conclusion Flow Language or vague reference terms, that the test makers build to punish sloppy test takers who engage in the word salad reading style.
Assure
To tell someone that something will happen.
Cautious
A reason exists to avoid something.
Cohort
A group of people sharing a certain characteristic.
Concern
A thought in someone’s mind that happened at least once for at least one millisecond.
Dearth
Lack of something; insufficient amount.
Dilemma
A problematic choice.
Disguise
To intentionally hide something.
Dismay
Deep distress caused by a new or sudden negative event or revelation.
Draconian
Excessively harsh or severe.
Ethnographer
A person who researches or studies other peoples or cultures.
Flippant
Superficial, hasty, or thoughtless.
Historiography
The study of how history was written, who wrote it, and the factors that influenced the writing.
Indignation
A state of feeling offended, disrespected, or strongly annoyed at treatment perceived as unfair.
Inertia
A tendency to remain unchanged or to remain in its existing state.
Innate
Born with it; not acquired after birth through any learning process; NOT learned.
Insure
Covered by insurance.
Learn
To gain knowledge through study or experience.
Nostalgia
A state of looking back on the past with rose-colored glasses; an unrealistic recollection of the past that downplays or omits certain negative aspects.
Novelty
New, original, or unusual.
Optimism
Positivity toward the future.
Pessimism
Negativity toward the future.
Popularize
Bring to the people, the public.
Preclude
Prevent, make impossible.
Reluctant
A reason exists to avoid something.
Revolution
A sudden, marked change in something that goes beyond one instance.
Revolutionize
An action with two characteristics: 1) Being the first one to do it, and 2) Having followers.
