How to Answer Question Type

Flaw in Reasoning

There is a flaw in the stimulus. You are not checking validity, but you are IDENTIFYING the flaw. Review Cards for common reasoning flaws.

Assumption

Assumption is an unstated premise of the argument. 2 Roles: 1) Supporter: link together "new" or "rogue" elements in the stimulus or fill logical gaps in the argument 2) Defender: statements that eliminate ideas or assertions that would undermine the conclusion. Assumption Negation Technique: Logically negate answer choice, the one that attacks the argument is the correct answer. When reading stimulus, look for a leap in logic, if so it the answer choice fills that leap.

Strenghthen

Identify the conclusion and strengthen it. Look for weaknesses in the argument, if you see a flaw, look for answer choice that eliminates the flaw. If Stimulus contains analogies/surveys/statistics that rely on those for validity, look for answers that establish the soundness of them. Correct Ans: 1) touches a hole in arg positively or 2) touches the Conclusion positively

Justify the Conclusion

Justify Formula: Premises + Answer Choice = Conclusion Correct answer will strengthen so well that the conclusion MUST follow. They will strengthen the argument 100%

Weaken

Key is you must ATTACK the CONCLUSION. Answers that Weaken argument conclusions will attack assumptions made by the author. Always look for answers that attack "HOW" the author arrived to the conclusion. Watch for Shell Games If you see a GAP or HOLE in argument, prephrase that to be the correct answer. Correct Ans: 1) touches HOLE negatively or 2) touches the Conclusion negatively

Principle Questions

Often contain conditionality. You must take a BROAD or global proposition and apply it to a specific situation. MBT PR- Find answer that FOLLOWS the APPLICATION of the principle Strength/Justify PR- Each answer choice contains a principle that acts as an additional, broad premise that SUPPORTS or PROVES conclusion.

Main Point

Summarize authors point of view. Correct answer will be a REPHRASING of the conclusion in the stimulus. Incorrect Answers: 1) Answers that do not encapsulate the author's point 2) Answers that repeat premises of the argument

Resolve the Paradox

The correct answer will RESOLVE the contradiction. Correct answer will resolve making both sides positively correct. You must address the facts of the situation, do not be lured by "reasonable solutions". Correct answer will resolve BOTH sides.

Parallel Reasoning

You must IDENTIFY answer choice that contains reasoning most similar in structure to that of the stimulus. You must understand structure of reasoning in both stimulus and answer choices. Keep in mind elements of argument: intent of conclusion, force & use of premises, relationship of premises to conclusion, conclusion, validity of argument.

Method of Reasoning

You must focus on the FORM of argument not facts. When prephrasing, think about STRUCTURE of argument. Fact Test: "Answer choice describes event that did not occur in stimulus, it is incorrect" Watch for answers that are partially true, ALL PARTS of answer choice must be IDENTIFIABLE in the stimulus.

Cannot be True

You must identify answer choice that cannot be true or is most weakened by the info in the argument. Answer choice contains outside information, it is incorrect. Correct answer choice will DIRECTLY disagree with the stimulus or a consequence of the stimulus. Eliminate answers that "could" be true.

Point at Issue

comprise of 2 speakers. You must choose the answer that describes the POINT of disagreement between the 2 speakers, or identify statement that 2 would disagree is true. Agree/Disagree Test: Correct answer choice, one speaker says "I agree with statement" and the other will say "I disagree with statement."

Evaluate the Argument

find answer choice with information that would best help determine the LOGICAL VALIDITY of the argument. Select answer choice that decides whether the argument is good or bad. There MUST be a flaw in argument, correct answer choice reveal the flaw or eliminate it. Variance Test: Supply POLAR opposite responses to the question posed in answer choice, and then analyzing how varying responses affect the conclusion. If different responses produce different conclusions, answer is correct.

Must Be True

the stimulus proves answer choice. Incorrect Answers: 1) Could be true 2) Exaggerated Answers 3) New Information 4) Shell Game 5) Opposite Answer 6) Reverse Answer Correct Answers: 1) Paraphrased Answers; answers that restate a portion of stimulus in different terms. 2) Combination Answers; an answer choice that would RESULT from combining 2 or more statements in the stimulus.