Verbal Question Types

Question 1

Assumption

Answer 1

argument

identify argument’s central assumption and hunt for answer choice that matches prediction

identify evidence and conclusion first, then make assumption that will bridge the gap between the two

if not able to identify central assumption, use DENIAL TEST on each answer choice

Question 2

Strengthen/Weaken

Answer 2

argument

identify argument’s central assumption and predict an answer explaining why that assumption is more (for strengthen) or less (for weaken) likely to be true

weakening an argument is not the same as disproving conclusion and strengthening and argument is not the same as proving it

Question 3

Flaw

Answer 3

argument

identify the argument’s central assumption and predict the error in the argument’s reasoning

Question 4

Inference

Answer 4

often difficutl to form a prediction beyond “the right answer MUST BE TRUE based on what the stimulus states”

work through answers one-by-one, eliminating answers that are clearly wrong

Question 5

Explain

Answer 5

predict the answer that explains how two seemingly discrepant facts can both be true

work through answer choices to eliminate wrong answers until you find one that reconciles the paradox

Question 6

Bolded Statement

Answer 6

predict an answer based on the logic and structure of the stimulus

Question 7

Evaluation

Answer 7

argument

identify the argument’s central assumption and hunt for answer choice that identifies missing information (kind of evidence) that would help asses the validity of that assumption