Reasoning

Question 1

Implication Family

Answer 1

Take stimulus as true (MBT, SMBT, MBF)

Question 2

Operations Family

Answer 2

Take answer choices as true, will affect the stimulus (Strengthen, weaken, crux, resolve, explain)

Question 3

Characterization Family

Answer 3

Describe some element of the stimulus (main point, how conclusion is reached, disagreement, flaw)

Question 4

Propositions

Answer 4

Declarative statements that are either true for false. Sentences can have 1 or more propositions

Question 5

Arguments

Answer 5

A proposition (conclusion) supported by other (premises)

Question 6

Conclusion Indicator Words

Answer 6

Thus, therefore, so hence, as a result, consequently, it follows that, accordingly, clearly

Question 7

Premise indicators

Answer 7

since, because, for, after all, given that

Question 8

Assumption

Answer 8

Must be true for the conclusion to be be proven by the premises, but wasn’t stated in the argument

Question 9

Logical Validity

Answer 9

Valid: Conclusion must be true based on the premises
Invalid: Truth of premises doesn’t guarantee truth of conclusion

Question 10

Reasoning Steps

Answer 10

1. Identify conclusion and premisses
2. Evaluate validity of argument
3. If invalid, spot assumptions/mistakes

Question 11

Absolute Statement

Answer 11

Asserts a concrete fact: John is a Dr.

Question 12

Conditional statement

Answer 12

Hypothetical Relationship (If…Then)

Question 13

Necessary Condition

Answer 13

Required for event to occur, but does not guarantee it will
ie: If you’re a Dr. then you like people - liking people is necessary, just because you like people, doesn’t mean you’re a dr.

Question 14

Sufficient Condition

Answer 14

If present, the event will occur, but the event could still occur without the SC
ie: If you’re a Dr. then you like people. - The dr. is the sufficient condition because being a dr. means you do like people

Question 15

Valid Inferences

Answer 15

1. Affirmation: SC allows us to conclude NC (Dr -> Like People)
2. Contrapositives: Negate & Reverse (Don’t Like People -> Not Dr.)

Question 16

Invalid Inferences

Answer 16

1. Converse: Reversing SC and NC (Like People -> Dr.)
2. Inverse: Negating both conditions (If Not Dr. -> Don’t Like People)

Question 17

Sufficient Condition Indicator Words

Answer 17

If, when, all, every, each, the only, if and only if

Question 18

Necessary Condition Indicator Words

Answer 18

Only if, only, unless, without, until, except, no, none, depends, needs, must, essential, requires

Question 19

Transitive Property

Answer 19

When you can make connections between two conditions in statements with multiple conditions. The NC of one statement must match the SC of another statement (Remember contrapositive)

ie: If Kids have phones -> short attention spans. If Short attention spans -> like tv more than books.

Can be concluded if Kids have phones -> like tv more than books.

Question 20

Steps for conditional statements

Answer 20

1. Diagram statements - also diagram CP if needed
2. See if the transitive property can be applied
3. Guess the best answer before looking at answer choices

Question 21

Logical Force

Answer 21

How weak or strong a proposition is - focus on small, easily overlooked words, rather than the big intimidating ones.
2 Types: Modality, Quantification

Question 22

Modality

Answer 22

Degree of necessity expressed by a proposition - how certain it is something will occur (weak, moderate, strong)

Question 23

Weak Modality

Answer 23

More than 0% (possibility)
Support weak conclusion - easiest to support
KW: may, could, might, can, occasionally

Question 24

Moderate Modality

Answer 24

More than 50% (probability)
Support moderate/weak conclusion
KW: probably, likely, usually

Question 25

Strong Modality

Answer 25

100% chance (necessity)
Supports all types of conclusions
KW: will, must, definitely, is/are

Question 26

Quantification

Answer 26

Proportion of a group w/ a given property - how many things have a certain quality (weak, moderate, strong)

Question 27

Weak Quantification

Answer 27

At least 1 (possibility)
KW: some, a few, several, many, a significant number, occasionally

Question 28

Moderate Quantification

Answer 28

More than 1/2 (probability)
KW: most, majority, over 1/2

Question 29

Strong Quantification

Answer 29

100% (necessity)
KW: all, any, each, every, the best

Question 30

Most vs. The Most

Answer 30

Most - absolute claim over 50%
The most - comparative claim

Question 31

Must Be True (Implication)

Answer 31

Presents statements and asks what must be true (aka supply a conclusion)
Tips: make no assumptions, no outside info, accept stimulus as true,