Question Stem Types & Their Corresponding Families

Question 1

Each of the ___ question stem types belongs to 1 of ___ different ___________:
- Family #1: __________
- Family #2: __________
- Family #3: __________
- Family #4: __________

Answer 1

13; 4; families; prove; help; hurt; disprove

Question 2

Family #1: Prove

• Model (& what it means)
• Question Stem Types

Answer 2

Stimulus
↓
Answer Choice

• Use information from the stimulus to prove the correct answer choice.

Question Stem Types:
1. Must Be True
2. Main Point
3. Point at Issue / Point of Agreement
9. Method of Reasoning
10. Flaw in the Reasoning
11. Parallel Reasoning

Question 3

1) Must Be True Question:

Answer 3

Family #1: Prove

Question stem asks you to choose answer choice that directly follows from information in the stimulus.

• Cannot choose could be true / likely to be true answers.
• Cannot introduce new / outside info.
• Questions are easily identified: The stimulus connected to Must Be True questions is don’t have a conclusion.

Question 4

2) Main Point Question:

Answer 4

Family #1: Prove

Question stem asks you to choose the answer the summarizes the author’s point of view.

• If an answer choice gives correct information, but doesn’t summarize the authors point of view, it’s incorrect.

Question 5

3) Point At Issue Question:

Answer 5

Family #1: Prove

Connected to a stimulus with 2 speakers, each of whom have differing viewpoints that are either ethical, or decision oriented; their disagreeing views are never factual.

Question stem asks you to identify the statement that the authors views disagree are true.

Question 6

3) Point of Agreement Question:

Answer 6

Family #1: Prove

Connected to a stimulus with 2 speakers, each of whom have differing viewpoints that are ethical, or decision oriented; their disagreeing views are never factual.

Question stem asks you to identify the statement that both author’s views would agree on.

Question 7

9) Method of Reasoning Question:

Answer 7

Family #1: Prove

Method of Reasoning (Argument Part) Question:
- Question stem asks you to identify what role the cited portion of the text plays in relation to the whole argument.

• (There will always be an argument with Method of Reasoning Questions)

Method of Reasoning Question:
- Abstract Must Be True Question
- Question stem asks you to depict/understand the logical organization argument, and using the information the stimulus, choose the answer choice that reflects that logical organization

Question 8

Characteristics of Method Questions (2):

Answer 8

• Like Abstract Questions.
• ALWAYS have an argument.

Question 9

How are Method questions like Abstract MBT questions?

Answer 9

1. To solve method questions you can only rely on the facts of the stimulus.
2. (Fact Test) an answer choice describes a situation or event that did not occur in the stimulus, is incorrect.

Question 10

How to Use the Fact Test for Method Questions:

Answer 10

Because Method Questions are so similar to MBT questions, we will use a version of the fact test to solve them.

Fact Test for Method Questions: an answer choice that describes events / situations that didn’t occur in stimulus are incorrect.

Question 11

How to Prephrase for a Method Question:

Answer 11

Prephrasing for Method questions is a pretty tall order, especially since they are the most abstract questions on the LSAT.

When prephrasing, you wan to make a general, abstract prephrase of what happened in the argument (more accurately, how the argument proceeds), then rigorously examine your answer choices.
Look for answer choices that paraphrase your prephrase. Whichever answer choice does this is the correct answer.

Question 12

What must right answers look like for Method questions?

Answer 12

For method questions, EVERY PART of the answer choice must be able to be found in the stimulus.

Ex. If an answer choice says “___________ disagree with the analogy used by the critic.” we need to see BOTH the disagreement AND the analogy. Having one and not the other is an incorrect answer.

If you have answer choice that describes the disagreement with the critic, excellent. But the answer should NOT be accepted unless you see the disagreement with the analogy as well.

Question 13

Incorrect Answers:

Answer 13

• Answers that only say part, none, or more than what the stimulus says.

Because Method questions are so much like MBT questions, the several of the wrong answers will be the same as well.

1. Half Right, Half Wrong Answers.
   - Test makers LOVE to construct answers where the first half of information is right, but the second half is wrong. Half wrong is ALL wrong. These answers are incorrect.
2. Exaggerated Answers.
   - Author takes information from the stimulus take make an extreme statement that is not supported by the stimulus.
   - BUT REMEMBER: just because an answer choice is extreme, does not mean it’s wrong. It’s wrong when this extreme statement says something that is not supported by the stimulus.
3. New Element Answers.
   - Answers that describe elements that didn’t occur in the stimulus OR new elements are incorrect.
4. Reverse Answers.
   - These are answers that seem correct because they have the same elements from the stimulus, but reverse these elements. Because the stimulus doesn’t state these elements in reverse, these are incorrect answers.
5. Opposite Answers.
   - Answers that say the opposite of what is correct (say the opposite of what is in the stimulus) are incorrect.

Question 14

10) Flaw in the Reasoning Question:

Answer 14

Family #1: Prove

• Like a Method of Reasoning Question in that you have to understand the underlying logical organization of the argument, except here there is an inherent flaw in the argument.
• Question stems asks you to, using the information in the stimulus, choose the answer that identifies the flawed reasoning of the argument, and describes the flaw in general terms.

Question 15

11) Parallel Reasoning Question:

Answer 15

Family #1: Prove

• Question stem asks you to identify an answer choice whose reasoning is most similar, in structure, to the reasoning in the stimulus.

Question 16

Characteristics of Parallel Reasoning Questions

Answer 16

There is always an argument.

If you want to parallel the reasoning, then you should be able to identify the Method of Reasoning.

You should never assume the argument is valid.

Question 17

Parallel Flaw Questions

Answer 17

Derivative of Parallel Reasoning Questions

(Like Parallel and Method Questions, they follow the Family #1 format).

Question stem asks you to find the answer choice with reasoning that most closely resemble the reasoning in the stimulus, but that parallel the flaws of the stimulus as well.

Question 18

To correctly answer a Parallel Flaw question, you need to know what kind of ___________ the stimulus is making. Fortunately, the flaws in Parallel questions are the same _____________ _________________ errors in __________ questions.

Answer 18

flaw; common reasoning; flaw

Question 19

Talk about the trick LSAT Test makers play w/ students on Parallel Flaw questions

Answer 19

SOMETIMES, the test makers will omit telling the test taker that the question is a parallel flaw; they may leave out the indicator word/phrase that lets the student know it’s a parallel flaw question. This is, AGAIN, why you should NEVER assume the argument is valid.

Question 20

Considerations that Don’t Matter to Parallel Questions (2)

Answer 20

1. Subject Matter: The subject matter is irrelevant to what the right answer should be. Test Makers put these on here (answers dealing w/ same subject matter as stimulus) to lure in students who aren’t paying attention to structure, validity, reasoning of the argument.
2. Order of Presentation: The order in which premises or conclusion are presented have no bearing on the logical relationship between them.

Question 21

Ways to solve Parallel Question (Listed based on most useful to least)

Answer 21

1. Parallel the Reasoning
   - Whatever kind of reasoning is used in the stimulus should be used in the correct answer choice (conditional, causal, circular, analogy etc.). Once you recognize the form of reasoning used by the author (don’t Prephrase), move to the answer choices and eliminate those that don’t use same reasoning.
2. Double the Conclusion
   - The conclusion in the stimulus should “match” the conclusion in the premises.
   - They should match in absoluteness (“never, will, always”), language (i.e. “should” language), and the type of reasoning they’re using (conditional, causal, circular, analogy).
3. The Premise Test
   - In all of the ways the conclusion of the answer choice should match that of the stimulus, the premises of the answer choice should do the same with the premises of the stimulus (match in absoluteness, “should” language, type of reasoning).
4. The Validity Test
   - Whatever validity the argument has in the stimulus is the same validity that should be in the correct answer choice. If the prior 3 methods didn’t work, test the validity: if the stimulus’ reasoning is poor, the answer choice’s argument should be poor. If the stimulus’ reasoning is valid, the answer choice’s argument should be valid.
5. Parallel the Abstract Structure:
   - (Last Resort) If you can’t seem to have success with any of the prior strategies, employ the Abstraction Test. Extract the subject matter info away from the stimulus’ argument, and, in general terms, prephrase the general, abstract structure of the argument. Leave the language vague too (e.g. what was once subject matter info, substitute that with “it” so you can fill that in with the answer choices). Evaluate your prephrase against each of the answer choice, and which ever doesn’t match your prephrase is incorrect.

Question 22

Remember, when encountering Parallel Flaw questions, the procedure is no different. Use the same aforementioned tactics on Parallel Flaw questions.

Question 23

2 Things that you should NOT consider when eliminating answers.

Answer 23

Wording
- A word said differently in an answer choice may serve functionally the same purpose as a word stated in the stimulus.
- Ex. “The majority of voters voted to endorse the amendment.”
- If I had an answer choice that reworded “majority” to “most,” or “more than half,” this new wording serves functionally the same purpose.

Opposite Language
- If the stimulus uses positive language and the answer choice uses negative language to describe the same thing (or vice versa), then the negative language serves functionally the same purpose.
- Ex. “The council member must be present at the meeting.” This is positive language in the stimulus. Now let’s say we had an answer choice that said “The council member cannot be absent from the meeting.” It uses negative language but serves functionally the same purpose.

Question 24

Remember, you don’t have to apply these tactics in a 1, 2, 3, 4 fashion. Based on what’ readily obvious to you about the stimulus, apply the first strategy that comes to mind.

Keep in mind, the LSAT is like a waterfall. Everything’s coming at once. Your ability to succeed on the LSAT is largely attributed to your ability to adapt and solve questions in quick fashion.

Apply whatever strategy first comes to mind. The idea is that you’ll use all of them, but there’s no rigid order in which you do.

Question 25

Family #4: Disprove

• Model (& what it means)
• Question Stem Types

Answer 25

Stimulus
⍖
Answer Choice

• Using the information in the stimulus to disprove the correct answer.

Question Stem Types:
13) Cannot Be True

Question 26

13) Cannot Be True Question:

Answer 26

Family #4: Disprove

• The stimulus will attack one of the 5 answer choices.
• Question stem asks you to identify the answer choice that cannot be true, or is most weakened by the information in the stimulus.

Question 27

Family #2: Help

• Model (& what it means)
• Question Stem Types

Answer 27

Stimulus
↑
Answer Choice

• Using the answer choice to show that the information in the stimulus follows.

Question Stem Types:
4) Assumption
5) Justify the Conclusion
6) Strengthen / Support
7) Resolve the Paradox

Question 28

4) Assumption Question

Answer 28

Family #2: Help

Question stem that asks you to identify the unstated premise that, if stated, would make the argument true.

• Necessary Assumption: pretty much the baseline requirement for what the author has to assume for the argument to be true.

Question 29

5) Justify the Conclusion

Answer 29

Family #2: Help

Question stem that asks you to identify the assumption that is sufficient to prove the conclusion logically follows (100%).

• Sufficient Assumption

Question 30

What kind of assumption must be made in a Justify question?

Answer 30

Sufficient assumption

(assumptions that suffice/ they’re enough to prove that the conclusion follows 100%).

Question 31

How to Recognize Justify Question stem (3).

Answer 31

1. Questions Stem Phrasing:
   “allows the conclusion to be properly drawn/inferred.”
   “enables the conclusion to be properly drawn /inferred.”
2. Uses a sufficient condition indicator:
   “Which one of the following IF true allows…”
3. Doesn’t use degrees to justify:
   - Questions stems that say which one the following “does the most,” or “most justifies” is functionally a strengthen question.
   - Justify questions support the conclusion 100%. Strengthen questions support the conclusion 1-100%.

(1 and 2 won’t always happen in every Justify question. 3 will always happen in every Justify question)

Question 32

How to Solve Justify Questions (3)

Answer 32

1. Justify Formula
   - Premises + Answer Choice = Conclusion
2. Solving Mechanistically (personal favorite)
   - Requires you break up argument into conclusion and premises.
   - Elements from premises but not conclusion are likely in correct answer (but don’t have to be).
   - Elements already common to both premises and conclusion are not apart of correct answer (bc, elements of conclusion already in premise indicates that that can’t be used to prove anything about the conclusion).
   - DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND ELIMINATE ANSWER CHOICES THAT TALK ABOUT ELEMENTS ALREADY COMMON TO PREMISES AND CONCLUSION; THEY’RE WRONG
   - Elements common to conclusion but not premises MUST be in correct answer.
3. Attack answer choices by placing them between premises and conclusion.
   - Find your premises and conclusion, and separate them.
   - Place the answer choices between the premises and conclusion and evaluate whether the answer choice, alongside the premises, logically proves the conclusion.
   - If it doesn’t, cross it out (L).

Question 33

Wrong Answer Choices:

Answer 33

• Necessary Assumptions
• Answers that talk about elements already common to both premises and conclusion.

Question 34

What stimulus scenarios are common to Justify questions, and why?

Answer 34

Most Justify questions either have Conditional reasoning, or numbers and percentage ideas.

This is because Justify questions make CERTAIN determinations that allow the conclusion to follow.

Conditional reasoning and numbers and percentage ideas are things in stimulus scenarios that make certain determinations that allow the conclusion to be properly drawn.

Question 35

Justify Questions Test-Maker Tricks: Rewording

Answer 35

LSAT Test makers tried to circumvent student’s ability to solve a Justify question mechanistically by introducing a subject/word one way, and subsequently mentioning that word in different terms when it reappears in the stimulus.

Ex. So, what was “boycott” in one part of the stimulus, is “action” in another part.

Ex. What was “creative genius” in one part of the stimulus, becomes “rare innovators” in another part.

Ex. What was “cannot reliably determine” becomes “highly susceptible to inaccuracy” in another part

KEEP IN MIND: if an element looks like it’s new/rogue, that element could be somewhere else in the stimulus just in reworded form.

Question 36

Justify Questions Test-Maker Tricks: Distractor Elements

Answer 36

Elements in the stimulus that don’t functionally prove the conclusion.

Test takers put these distractor elements into to throw off students, and have them consider the distractor element amongst the other elements they are supposed to focus on.

Premise: A→ B
Conclusion: A → C
Answer choice: B →C

Now take this original argument and add a new, second premise as a distractor element:

Premise: A → B
Premise: D → B
Conclusion: A → C

The answer to the question is STILL B→C. D → B really does not contribute to the conclusion so don’t focus on it.

Question 37

Justify Fill in the Blank (FIB) Questions

• What they are
• How to recognize them (2)

Answer 37

Yeah, normally you’d see FIB questions in MBT and MP questions, but they appear in Justify questions as well.

You need to be able to differentiate Justify FIB’s from MBT and MP FIB’s.
1. A premise indicator will always appear before the blank space (this is an indication that the problem is looking for the unstated PREMISE the would allow the conclusion to be logically drawn).

2. Question stem will still have the hallmark features of a Justify question (Ex. The conclusion of the argument is PROPERLY DRAWN IF which one of the following completes the passage?)
   - It still retains the “argument proving language” and sufficient condition language.

Question 38

6) Strengthen / Support

Answer 38

Family #2: Help

Question stem asks you to identify the answer that would strengthen the argument 1-100%

Question 39

7) Resolve the Paradox

Answer 39

Family #2: Help

Stimulus presents you with a 2 sides/ events that are a contradiction, a paradox.

Question stem asks you to choose the answer choice that would resolve the paradox.
- make it make sense explain why the two 2 things that seemingly contradict each other does not constitute a true contradiction.

(choose the answer that…
1. presents an active resolution: explains why the thing came into being or why the 2 sides of the paradox coexist,
2. show how it arose: demonstrate how the correct answer choice caused the events of the stimulus,
3. addresses the facts: choose the answer choice that uses the information in the stimulus to resolve the discrepancy).

Question 40

Family #3: Hurt

• Model (& what it means)
• Question Stem Type

Answer 40

Stimulus
⍏
Answer Choice

• Uses the information in the answer choice to show that the information in the stimulus does not follow.

Question Stem Types:
8) Weaken

Question 41

8) Weaken

Answer 41

Family #3: Hurt

Question stem asks you to identify the answer that would most weaken the information in the stimulus.