LR Question Types: Correct vs. Incorrect Answer Language

1. Main Conclusion (MC)

• Correct Answer: Mirrors author’s conclusion, moderate-to-weak language (restates/clarifies).
  
  

• Incorrect Answer: Strong/extreme wording (“always,” “never”), premises disguised as conclusions, or minor subsidiary claims.

2. Role in Argument

• Correct: Neutral, descriptive language (“provides evidence,” “supports conclusion”).
  
  

• Incorrect: Strong evaluative language (“proves,” “establishes,” “refutes”).

3. Role of a Statement

• Correct: Weak/neutral descriptors of function (premise, assumption, intermediate conclusion).
  
  

• Incorrect: Strong/absolute role labels that exaggerate function (e.g., calling background info “the conclusion”).

4. Point at Issue

• Correct: Statement with direct disagreement; neutral/moderate phrasing.
  
  

• Incorrect: Extreme/universal phrasing; statements neither explicitly addressed nor mutually exclusive.

5. Point of Agreement

• Correct: Soft/moderate phrasing reflecting overlap between speakers.
  
  

• Incorrect: Extreme phrasing (“always,” “never”), or statements one speaker never addresses.
  
  

6. Point of Dispute

• Correct: Neutral phrasing, directly disagreed on.
  
  

• Incorrect: Strong/extreme phrasing; tangential issues neither side discussed.
  
  

7. Flaw in Reasoning

• Correct: Moderate, abstract phrasing capturing logical gap (“assumes correlation proves causation”).
  
  

• Incorrect: Strong/extreme exaggerations (“always,” “cannot ever”), flaws not present.
  

8. Parallel Reasoning

• Correct: Same logical form, often weak/moderate in modality.
  
  

• Incorrect: Extreme modality differences, mismatched scope, or irrelevant reasoning structure.
  
  

9. Parallel Flaw

• Correct: Same flawed logic, often soft/moderate language.
  
  

• Incorrect: Extreme claims, unrelated flaws, or valid reasoning.
  
  

10. Parallel Principle

• Correct: Moderate principle aligned with reasoning.
  
  

• Incorrect: Overly strong principles (“always,” “never”), irrelevant principles, or principles applied differently.
  
  

11. Necessary Assumption

• Correct: Weak language (“at least some,” “possible,” “not all”), because necessity requires minimal commitment.
  
  

• Incorrect: Strong/absolute phrasing (“always,” “must”), or irrelevant assumptions.
  
  

12. Sufficient Assumption

• Correct: Strong, sweeping language bridging the entire gap (“if A then definitely B”).
  
  

• Incorrect: Weak language that only partly connects; overly narrow.
  
  

13. Strengthen

• Correct: Moderate phrasing (plausibly supports, not proves).
  
  

• Incorrect: Extreme claims, irrelevant support, or weak language too detached.
  
  

 Strengthen – Principle

• Correct: Moderate-to-strong principle aligning with reasoning.
  
  

• Incorrect: Extreme/absolute principle, or principle outside scope.
  
  

15. Strengthen – Assumption

• Correct: Moderate phrasing directly filling the assumption gap.
  
  

• Incorrect: Extreme phrasing, irrelevant assumptions, overly broad.
  
  

16. Weaken

• Correct: Moderate phrasing undermining the reasoning.
  
  

• Incorrect: Extreme (“destroys”), irrelevant attacks, or soft claims with no effect.
  
  

17. Weaken – Principle

• Correct: Moderate principle that contradicts reasoning.
  
  

• Incorrect: Strong/absolute principles; irrelevant principles.
  
  

18. Principle (Identify)

• Correct: Neutral/moderate phrasing capturing general rule.
  
  

• Incorrect: Overly specific, extreme, or irrelevant principles.
  
  

19. Principle (Apply)

• Correct: Neutral/moderate phrasing applying rule to facts.
  
  

• Incorrect: Strong/absolute rules, or rules applied in ways that don’t match scenario.
  
  

20. Principle (Justify)

• Correct: Strong principle that makes argument valid (similar to Sufficient Assumption).
  
  

• Incorrect: Weak/moderate principles that don’t guarantee.
  
  

21. Strengthen with a Principle

• Correct: Moderate-to-strong principle aligning with reasoning.
  
  

• Incorrect: Extreme principle, irrelevant principle, or too weak.
  
  

22. Weaken with a Principle

• Correct: Moderate principle that challenges reasoning.
  
  

• Incorrect: Strong/absolute principles, irrelevant principles.
  
  

23. Must Be True

• Correct: Weak/moderate phrasing directly tied to passage.
  
  

• Incorrect: Strong/extreme wording, broad generalizations, new information.
  
  

24. Inference

• Correct: Weak/moderate phrasing; logically follows, even if narrow.
  
  

• Incorrect: Strong/absolute claims, or unrelated conclusions.
  
  

25. Most Strongly Supported

• Correct: Weak/moderate phrasing closely tied to evidence.
  
  

• Incorrect: Extreme statements or speculative extrapolations.
  
  

26. Soft Must Be True

• Correct: Very weak phrasing (“likely,” “some support”), tethered to text.
  
  

• Incorrect: Strong/absolute statements not required by passage.
  
  

27. Must Be False / Cannot Be True

• Correct: Strong statement directly contradicted by text.
  
  

• Incorrect: Weak/soft statements consistent with text.
  
  

28. Resolve the Paradox / Discrepancy

• Correct: Moderate explanation reconciling both sides.
  
  

• Incorrect: Extreme, irrelevant, or one-sided answers.
  
  

29. Paradox

• Correct: Moderate language resolving tension.
  
  

• Incorrect: Strong/extreme, irrelevant, or restating paradox.
  
  

30. Explain the Phenomenon

• Correct: Moderate explanatory phrasing.
  
  

• Incorrect: Extreme language, irrelevant explanations.
  
  

31. Complete the Passage

• Correct: Neutral-to-moderate phrasing continuing logic.
  
  

• Incorrect: Extreme or irrelevant continuations.
  
  

32. Evaluate the Argument

• Correct: Neutral language identifying a missing piece/question.
  
  

• Incorrect: Strong/excessive, irrelevant questions.
  
  

33. Fill in the Blank

• Correct: Neutral/moderate phrasing consistent with structure.
  
  

• Incorrect: Extreme/absolute language inconsistent with tone.
  
  

34. Reasoning Conforms To

• Correct: Neutral/moderate phrasing describing reasoning abstractly.
  
  

• Incorrect: Extreme phrasing, mischaracterizations, or irrelevant reasoning.
  
  

Rule of Thumb 1:

Weaker language is almost always correct for Necessary Assumption, Inference, Must Be True, MSS, Resolve, Point at Issue, Agreement, Principle-Apply.

Rule of Thumb 2:

Stronger language is correct for Sufficient Assumption, Justify, Principle-Justify, Must Be False.

Rule of Thumb 3:

Moderate language dominates Strengthen, Weaken, Parallel, Flaw.