LSAT Vocabulary Flashcards
First Family
Question types that use the stimulus to prove that one of the answer choices must be true. No info outside the sphere is allowed in the correct answer.
- must be true/most strongly supported
- main point
- point at issue/point of agreement
- method of reasoning
- flaw in the reasoning
- parallel reasoning
Third Family
Question types that take the answer choices as true and uses them to hurt the stimulus. Info outside the sphere is allowed in the correct answer choice.
* weaken
Second Family
Questions that take the answer choices to be true and uses them to help the stimulus. Info outside the sphere is allowed in the correct answer choice.
- assumption
- justify the conclusion
- strengthen/support
- resolve the paradox
Inference
Something that must be true. If asked to identify the inference of an argument, you must find an item that must be true BASED on the information presented in the argument.
Fourth Family
Question types that use the stimulus to prove that one of the answer choices cannot occur. No info outside the sphere is allowed in the correct answer choice.
* cannot be true
Least
Treat it exactly as “except “, ONLY when it appears in the question stem.
Except
Turns the question stem upside down. It negates the question.
Four of the answers will meet the stated criteria, ONE will not (that one will be the correct answer).
Assumption
An unstated premise of the argument. Left unsaid by the author.
Premise Indicators
- because
- since
- for
- for example
- for the reason that
- in that
- as indicated by
- due to
- owing to
- this can be seen from
- we know this by
- thereafter
Premise
A fact, proposition, or statement from which a conclusion is made.
Additional Premise
May be central to the argument or may be secondary.
Additional Premise Indicators
- furthermore
- moreover
- besides
- in addition
- what’s more
- after all
How can you tell if an argument is WEAK or STRONG ?
1) suppose all premises are true
2) would the conclusion then be likely to be true?
3) if YES = Strong Argument
if NO = Weak Argument
What does an argument require?
A conclusion.
INCORRECT answers for Must Be True and Most Strongly Supported questions
1) COULD be true or POSSIBLY true
2) exaggerated answers
3) “new” information in answer choice
4) She’ll: similar idea changed slightly
5) opposite answer
6) reverse answer: takes two words and switches them
Cannot Be True Question
Family #4- identify the answer choice that cannot be true or is most weakened based on the stimulus.
Commonly Used Construction
Argument constructions raises raises one viewpoint at the beginning and then immediately disagrees with it.
Complex Argument
Arguments that contain more than one conclusion.
Conclusion
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Conclusion/Premise
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Premise
Conclusion Indicators
- thus
- therefore
- hence
- consequently
- as a result of
- so
- accordingly
- clearly
- must be that
- shows that
- conclude that
- follows that
- for this reason
Main Point Questions
A variation of Must be True questions. The question will ask you to find the PRIMARY conclusion made by the author.
Repeat Form
Restates the elements of the original statement in the original order.
Method of Reasoning Question
Questions that ask you to describe the way in which the author made his/her argument.
Flaw In The Reasoning
A question that asks you to describe the error of reasoning committed by the author.
Mistaken Negation
Negates both sufficient and necessary condition. We cannot infer what happens to the necessary condition when the sufficient condition is NOT true.
Mistaken Reversal
Reverse of the original statement.
We can’t infer anything about what happens when the necessary condition IS true.
Conclusion/Premise Indicators
- Therefore, since…
- Thus, because…
- Hence, due to …
Most Supported/Most Strongly Supported
(diff than Must Be True)
Questions that ask you to use the information in the stimulus to prove one of the answers as decisively as possible.
Must Be True
A question that asks you to identify the answer choice that is BEST proven by the info in the stimulus.
Parallel Flaw Question
A parallel Reasoning stimulus that contains flawed reasoning.
Parallel Reasoning Question
A question that asks you to identify the answer choice that contains reasoning most similar in structure to the reasoning present in the stimulus.
Probability Indicators
- must
- will
- always
- not always
- probably
- likely
- would
- not necessarily
- could
- rarely
- never
Quantity Indicators
- all
- every
- most
- many
- some
- several
- few
- sole
- only
- not all
- none
Introducing a Sufficient Condition
- if
- when
- whenever
- every
- all
- any
- each
- in order to
- people who
Introducing a Necessary Condition
- then
- only if
- only
- must
- required
- unless
- except
- until
- without
Strengthen/Support Questions
These questions ask you to select the answer choice that provides support for the author’s argument or strengthens it in some way.
Resolve the Paradox Question
A R.P.Q stimulus contains a discrepancy or seeming contradiction. You must find the answer choice that best explains the situation.
Point of Issue Question
Questions that require you to identify a point of connection between two speakers, and thus these questions appear almost exclusively with two-speaker stimuli.
Point of Agreement Question
Questions that ask you to identify the issue or statement that the two speakers would both AGREE upon. Appear with two-speaker stimuli.
Conditional Reasoning
Presents a relationship between two different conditions.
Composed of a sufficient and a necessary condition to draw a conclusion.
Counter Premise
A premise that contains an idea that is counter to the argument.
Bring up points of opposition or comparison.
Counter Premise Indicators
- but
- yet
- however
- on the other hand
- admittedly
- in contrast
- although
- even though
- still
- whereas
- in spite of
- despite
- after all
Contapositives
Conditions that are both switched AND negated. Valid answer choice.
