LSAT Logical Reasoning Question Types

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing each LSAT Logical Reasoning question type and its typical stem wording.

Ask for the author’s primary conclusion; stems include “Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the argument?”

Main Point Questions

Test how a cited claim, fact, or statement functions within an argument; stems ask “The claim that X plays which one of the following roles in the argument?”

Role-of-Statement Questions

Focus on the technique or strategy the arguer uses (e.g., analogy, elimination, counterexample); stems ask “The argument proceeds by…”

Method of Argument Questions

Require selecting an argument whose logical pattern matches the original; stems state “Which one of the following is most similar in its reasoning to the argument above?”

Parallel Reasoning Questions

Seek an argument that commits a reasoning error similar to that in the stimulus; stems add words like “flawed” or “questionable reasoning.”

Parallel Flaw Questions

Ask for an unstated premise that the argument depends on; stems use “required,” “relies upon,” or “depends.”

Necessary Assumption Questions

Look for an extra premise that, if true, guarantees the conclusion; stems include “Which one of the following, if assumed, enables the conclusion to be properly drawn?”

Sufficient Assumption Questions

Test ability to identify a logical error in the reasoning; stems say “The argument is flawed because…” or “reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that…”

Flaw Questions

Ask for information that most supports the argument’s reasoning; stems use “Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument?”

Strengthen Questions

Seek information that most undermines the argument; stems ask “Which one of the following, if true, most calls into question the argument?”

Weaken Questions

Require choosing a statement that must be true or is most strongly supported by the stimulus; stems include “If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true?”

Inference Questions

Concern what two speakers agree or disagree about; stems reference both speakers and ask what they are committed to disagreeing over.

Point-at-Issue Questions

Ask for a general rule or principle that best fits the given situation; stems include “Which of the following propositions conforms to the statements above?”

Infer a Principle Questions

Seek a broad principle that underlies or justifies the argument’s reasoning; stems ask “The reasoning above conforms most closely to which one of the following propositions?”

Principle-Assumption Questions

Present a principle that, if valid, provides strong support for the argument; stems say “Which one of the following principles, if established, provides the strongest justification for the argument?”

Principle-Strengthen Questions

Give a principle and ask for a case that best illustrates or conforms to it; stems use “Which one of the following judgments most closely conforms to the principle described above?”

Apply Principle Questions

Provide an argument illustrating a principle and ask for a different scenario illustrating the same principle; stems say “Which one of the following best illustrates the principle illustrated by the argument above?”

Parallel Principle Questions

Paradox

Paradox (Resolve–Explain) Questions

Ask which piece of information would be most useful in assessing the argument’s validity; stems say “Which of the following would be most useful in evaluating the argument?”

Evaluate-the-Argument Questions

The point of…is that

Main point question

The claim…figures in the argument

Role question

Function in the argument/serves which function

Role question

Person 2 responds to Person 1 by

Method of Argument

Person 2 does which of the following against person 1

argument

Method of Argument

Person 2 uses which argumentative technique against person 1

Method of Argument

Employs which one of the following techniques?

Method of Argument

Person 1’s argument proceeds by

Method of Argument

Which is the technique of reasoning used

Method of Argument

Derives its conclusion by

Method of Argument

The argument seeks to do

Method of Argument

Person 1 argues by

Method of Argument

Which one of the following exhibits flawed reasoning most nearly parallel to that exhibited in the argument above?

Parallel flaw (has to do with how answer parallels stimulus)

Which one of the following is most similar in its reasoning to the argument above?

Parallel (has to do with how answer parallels stimulus)

The flawed pattern of reasoning in the argument above is most similar to that in which one of the following?

Parallel flaw (has to do with how answer parallels stimulus)

Which one of the following contains questionable reasoning that is most similar to that in the argument above?

Parallel flaw (has to do with how answer parallels stimulus)

Which one of the following decisions is based on flawed reasoning that is most similar to the…?

Parallel flaw (has to do with how answer parallels stimulus)

Which one of the following is an assumption required by the…

Necessary Assumption

Which one of the following is an assumption needed by the…?

Necessary Assumption

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

Necessary Assumption

Which of the following is an assumption made by the author?

Necessary Assumption

Which one of the following is an assumption that the argument above relies upon?

Necessary Assumption

Which one of the following is an assumption that the argument above makes?

Necessary Assumption

The reason/argument assumes that…?

Necessary Assumption

Which one of the following must X assume in order to conclude that…?

Necessary Assumption

The argument relies on which one of the following assumptions? 


Necessary Assumption

Which one of the following is an assumption that would allow the conclusion above to be properly drawn? 


Sufficient Assumption

Which of the following enables the conclusion above to follow logically?

Sufficient Assumption

Which one of the following is a reasoning error made in the argument?

Flaw

Sid’s argument is questionable in that it

Flaw

The inference drawn above is unwarranted because 


The attorney’s argument is fallacious because it reasons that

Which one of the following points to a weakness in the reasoning in the press release’s argument? 


Which one of the following is the logically strongest counter that person 1 can make?

Strengthen question

Which one of the following, if true, would cast the most doubt on the argument above?

Weaken question

Which one of the following, if true, most calls into question the nutritionist’s argument?

Weaken question

Which one of the following statements, if added to the argument, most helps to justify its conclusion?

Stengthen question

Which one of the following, if true…might be ineffective?

Weaken question

Which one of the following, if true, provides the strongest support ?

Strengthen question

Which one of the following, if true, would most call into question?

Weaken question

The statements above, if true, most support which one of the following?

Inference (how stimulus affects accuracy of answers?)

If all of the statements above are true, which one of the following CANNOT be true?

Inference

Which one of the following inferences is most strongly supported by the rules described above?

Inference

Which one of the following most logically completes the passage?

Inference

Which one of the following statements follows logically from the statements above?

Inference

f the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true on the basis of them?

Inference

Which one of the following is a conclusion that can be properly drawn from the information above?

Inference

The observations above provide most evidence for the conclusion that

Inference

The passage above best supports which one of the following conclusions?

Inference

Person 1 and Person 2 disagree over?

Point at issue

The main issue in dispute between Person1 and Person 2 is

Point at issue

Which of the following propositions (in answer) conforms to the statements above (in stimulus)?

Infer A Principle

Which of the following generalizations conforms to the situation above?

Infer A Principle

The situation above most closely conforms to which of the following propositions?

Infer A Principle

Which one of the following propositions is best illustrated by the passage? 


Infer A Principle

The information above conforms most closely to which one of the following principles?

Infer A Principle

The reasoning above ( in stimulus) conforms most closely to which one of the following propositions ( in answers)?

Principle-Assumption

Conforms to which one of the following principles?

Principle-Assumption

Which of the following best expresses the principle that underlies the argument above?

Principle-Assumption

Which one of the following principles, if established, provides a basis for the advocate’s argument?

Principle-Strengthen

Which one of the following principles, if valid, justifies the argument?

Principle-Strengthen

Which one of the following principles, if established, provides the strongest justification?

Principle-Strengthen

Which one of the following generalizations, if valid, provides the most support for the argument above?

Principle-Strengthen

Which one of the following judgments most closely conforms to the principle cited above?

Apply A Principle

Which one of the following is an application of the person’s principle of X?

Which one of the following judgments most closely conforms to the principle described above?

Apply A Principle

The principle above, if valid, most strongly supports one of the following arguments?

Apply A Principle

The principle above, if valid, most justifies which one of the following judgments?

Apply A Principle

Which one of the following violates what’s cited above?

Apply A Principle

Which one of the following best illustrates the principle illustrated by the argument above?

Parallel principle

Which one of the following best illustrates the principle illustrated by the argument above?

Parallel principle

Which of the following illustrates a principle that is most similar to the one illustrated above?

Parallel principle

Of the following, which one illustrates a principle that is most similar to the principle illustrated by the passage?

Parallel principle

Which one of the following, if true, does the most to reconcile the apparent conflict described above

paradox

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the difference…?

paradox

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy in the information above?

paradox

Each of the following, if true, helps to resolve the apparent conflict in the passage EXCEPT:

Paradox except

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent paradox?

paradox

Which one of the following, if true, best explains the discrepancy in the information above?

paradox

Which one of the following most helps account for the apparent contradiction above?

paradox

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain…?

paradox