April 15 LSAT Prep

Question 1

List of Premise Indicator Words

Answer 1

Since
Because
For
As
After all
Moreover
In addition
Given that

Question 2

List of Conclusion Indicator Words

Answer 2

Therefore
Thus
Hence
So
As a result
Consequently
It follows that
It is clear that

Question 3

What is the Step-by-Step approach to breaking down arguments?

Answer 3

1) Locate the conclusion
2) Find the relevant premises
3) Identify any assumptions in the argument

Question 4

What are the three types of modality?

Answer 4

Necessity
Probability
Possibility

Question 5

What key words indicate a strong modality (necessity)?

Answer 5

Must
Is / Are
Will
Do / Does
Always

Question 6

What key words indicate a moderate modality (probability)?

Answer 6

Probably
Likely
Usually

Question 7

What key words indicate a weak modality (possibility)?

Answer 7

May
Might
Could
Can
Occasionally

Question 8

What are key words that indicate strong logical force?

Answer 8

Will
Must
Is
Are
Do
Does
Always
Any
Every
Almost all

Question 9

What are key words that indicate moderate logical force?

Answer 9

Probably
Likely
Usually
Most of the time
Majority of the time
Most
Majority

Question 10

What are key words that indicate weak logical force?

Answer 10

May
Might
Can
Could
Often
Sometimes
Occasionally
Significant number
Several
Many
Few
Some

Question 11

What are some key words for a sufficient condition?

Answer 11

If
When
Whenever
All
Any
Each
Every

Question 12

What are some key words for a necessary condition?

Answer 12

Then
Only
Only if
Only when
Needs
Requires
Must

Question 13

What does the phrase “only if” introduce?

Answer 13

A necessary condition (B)

Question 14

How do you diagram an “unless” statement?

Answer 14

Replace “unless” with “if not”

Eg. “Unless Rick goes to school, he will fall behind” becomes “If Rick does not go to school, he will fall behind.”

Question 15

How do you diagram a “no” statement?

Answer 15

The “no” always negates the second term

Eg. “No men wear cologne” becomes “All men do not wear cologne”

Question 16

What are the two types of Valid Inferences?

Answer 16

Valid Affirmation (satisfaction of sufficient condition satisfies necessary condition)
Contrapositive ( flip it and reverse it)

Question 17

What are the two types of Invalid Inferences?

Answer 17

Converse (switch order of terms)
Inverse (negate both terms)

Question 18

Does the LSAT use the inclusive or exclusive or?

Answer 18

Inclusive, unless specified by the words “but not both”

Question 19

How do you disprove a conditional statement?

Answer 19

Negate by affirming the sufficient and deny the necessary condition

Eg. the sufficient condition can occur without the necessary condition having been met, providing a counterexample

Question 20

What does a “most” statement imply for diagramming?

Answer 20

A majority, or more than half

Question 21

What are the 4 types of quantifiers and their definitions?

Answer 21

All - Every one - 100%
Most - More than half - >50%
Some - At least one - >0%
None - Not any - 0%

Question 22

What is the highlighting key for Logical Reasoning?

Answer 22

Yellow = Conclusions
Orange = Conditional Keywords
Pink = Strong Language

Question 23

What is the highlighting key for Reading Comprehension?

Answer 23

Yellow = Author’s opinions and strong language
Pink = Other viewpoints aside from the author’s
Orange = Secondary structures and other major details