Logical Reasoning Ch 12

Why are answer choices the hardest part of Logical Reasoning?

They test both logical thinking and language skills, with exceptions due to language complexity, requiring careful selection of the most Powerful or Provable option.

What is the Powerful-Provable Spectrum for answer choices?

All correct answer choices are either Powerful or Provable, placed on a spectrum guiding which types suit specific question types, serving as general guidelines, not strict rules.

How should you use answer choice types?

Use as a starting point to be skeptical or favor answers, but choose an answer you’re warned about if you have a strong reason to believe it’s right. Select the most Powerful or Provable option available.

What are the characteristics of Red Flag answers?

Red Flags are dangerous, landing in the middle of the Powerful-Provable Spectrum, being neither powerful nor provable.

What is a Best Way answer?

Uses “best way” or keywords combining superlatives (e.g., best, only) with value judgments (e.g., approach, method), sounding impressive but weak, not powerful or provable unless the stimulus is about the best way.

What are examples of Best Way answer keywords?

Superlatives (best, most efficient, only, least) combined with value judgments (approach, method, solution).

What is an Important answer?

Identifies something as “important” or uses related keywords, vague and misleading, neither clearly Powerful nor Provable unless the stimulus explicitly mentions importance.

What are examples of Important answer keywords?

Primary, primarily, foremost, crucial, critical, imperative, paramount, significant, pressing, vital.

What is a Crazy Nonsense answer?

Has nothing to do with the stimulus, easy to spot as unrelated, neither powerful nor provable, common in Logical Reasoning.

When might a Crazy Nonsense answer be considered?

If all other answers are eliminated, it may be a Loophole or Omitted Option (e.g., New Factor Causing one or both) clearly connected to the stimulus, not truly random.

What is a Grouped Extreme answer?

Focuses on the most extreme part of a group (e.g., best, worst, most successful) mentioned in the stimulus, irrelevant unless the stimulus specifically discusses that quality.

What is an Almost answer?

Seems correct except for one clearly incorrect word or phrase, making it neither powerful nor provable. Every word must be acceptable; one wrong word ruins it.

What is the strategy for handling Almost answers?

Read every word carefully, avoid averaging a 95% right answer, choose a safe answer over a known wrong one, as there’s no “important part” of an answer choice.

What is an Opposite Claim answer?

Negates the argument’s conclusion, closer to the powerful side but dangerous, viable in simple Weaken or Counter questions, common in Principle Conform with “should” recommendations.

What is a Dormant Conditional answer?

A conditional never activated by the stimulus’s premises, useless as its sufficient condition or contrapositive isn’t triggered, neither powerful nor provable.

What is the difference between Comparatives and Absolutes in answer choices?

Comparative: Relative relationship (e.g., X is more than Y). Absolute: Adjective without comparison (e.g., X is great). Mismatches between them are red flags unless the stimulus supports the comparison.

What are examples of Comparative keywords?

More, Less, Better, Worse, -er endings.

Why can’t Comparatives and Absolutes be mixed in answers?

Comparatives require comparison in the stimulus to be strong or provable; Absolutes don’t. Crossing them (e.g., Absolute stimulus, Comparative answer) lacks evidence, creating loopholes.

What is a Strong Answer?

Contains bold language and Certainty Power Players (e.g., All, Never, Only), ideal for Powerful Questions but risky for Provable Questions unless the stimulus supports the claim.

What are examples of Strong Answer keywords?

All, Every(time), None, Never, Always, Only, Required.

When can a Strong Answer work in Provable Questions?

When it’s a Necessary Assumption closing a loophole, using bold language but provable by ruling out a specific issue, not truly strong.

What is a Stepladder answer?

Outlines a directly proportional relationship (e.g., more X, more Y), powerful for linking ideas in Strengthen and SA questions, but not provable due to unrealistic certainty at extremes.

What is a Powerful Conditional answer?

Connects premises to the conclusion or other premises, using forms like premise → premise or premise → conclusion, activated by premises, ideal for Powerful Questions.

What is a Grouped Opposite answer?

Discusses the opposite group (e.g., not X) from the stimulus, useful in causal arguments but not provable, falling in the middle of the Powerful-Provable Spectrum.

When can a Grouped Opposite answer be provable?

In rare, simple conditionals where the contrapositive (e.g., ~X → ~Y) proves the opposite group, but only when clearly supported by the stimulus.

What is a Weak Answer?

Contains flexible language and Possibility Power Players (e.g., Could, Not Necessarily), cautious and provable, ideal for Provable Questions but not powerful.

What are examples of Weak Answer keywords?

Could, (At least) one, Varies, Not Necessarily, May, Can, Tend to, Usually, Possibly, Does not depend on, (at least) some, Not all, Possible, Sometimes, A chance.

Why are Weak Answers ideal for Provable Questions?

They make small, qualified claims that are easy to prove, handling the provable burden without requiring much evidence, unlike powerful answers.

What is a Provable Conditional answer?

Restates a conditional chain from the stimulus or a necessary assumption, often with the conclusion as the sufficient condition in Necessary Assumption questions, ideal for Inference and MSS questions.

What is the strategy for evaluating answer choices?

Know answer types, use the Powerful-Provable Spectrum when stumped, choose the best available answer, don’t add/subtract elements, and rate answers 1–5 during practice.

How should you handle the first read of answer choices?

Cross out answers ranking 1, spend no more than 10 seconds per answer, leave undecided answers open, and lower standards if no exact fit is found.

What is the Hyper-Skip strategy for tough questions?

Answer immediately with your gut, use Powerful-Provable Spectrum to eliminate Red Flags, return later if time allows, and don’t waste time on one question.

When should you change an answer choice?

Only when you know the original is wrong and the new one is right, as late changes often ignore your initial gut feeling.

How should you approach Except questions?

Find the one answer that doesn’t meet the question’s goal, not necessarily the opposite. Use process of elimination with the Except Mark to avoid picking answers that satisfy the Mission.

What is the Except Mark process for Except questions?

Highlight “Except” with orange highlighter, mark the first word of answers that fulfill the Mission, and choose the unmarked answer, ensuring only one correct choice remains.

How does “Least” function in LSAT questions?

Works like “Except,” requiring the answer that doesn’t fit the question’s goal. Use the Except Mark to identify and eliminate answers that meet the requirement.

What is a practice tip for handling question types?

Write down the question type next to the question stem during practice to reinforce identification and avoid mistakes.