LSAT Words: Causal Words

Question 1

“Causality” as working definition for LSAT: something will increase the likelihood of something else happening. Not a guarantee, but increase. Not even necessarily a significant increase.

• Note that if-then statements are is 100% language. Strong.
• Note that causal language is weaker than if-then, it doesn’t even mean a significant effect
• But correlation is even weaker than causality

Question 2

boost

Answer 2

Causal: treat as very direct “this causes that” form and consider it to be relatively strong language

Question 3

raises

Answer 3

Causal: treat as very direct “this causes that” form and consider it to be relatively strong language

Question 4

predisposes

Answer 4

Causal: treat as very direct “this causes that” form and consider it to be relatively strong language

Question 5

successful,

Answer 5

Causal: treat as very direct “this causes that” form and consider it to be relatively strong language

Question 6

results from

Answer 6

Causal: treat as very direct “this causes that” form and consider it to be relatively strong language

Question 7

genetic predisposition

Answer 7

Causal: treat as very direct “this causes that” form and consider it to be relatively strong language

Question 8

induce, yields

Answer 8

Causal: treat as very direct “this causes that” form and consider it to be relatively strong language

Question 9

benefits

Answer 9

Causal: treat as very direct “this causes that” form and consider it to be relatively strong language

Question 10

responsible for

Answer 10

Causal: treat as very direct “this causes that” form and consider it to be relatively strong language

Question 11

effective, was effective was probably effective (yes probably)

Answer 11

Causal: treat as very direct “this causes that” form and consider it to be relatively strong language

Question 12

affect

Answer 12

Causal: treat as very direct “this causes that” form and consider it to be relatively strong language

Question 13

affects

Answer 13

Causal: treat as very direct “this causes that” form and consider it to be relatively strong language

Question 14

leads to

Answer 14

Causal: treat as very direct “this causes that” form and consider it to be relatively strong language

Question 15

promotes

Answer 15

Causal: treat as very direct “this causes that” form and consider it to be relatively strong language

Question 16

explains

Answer 16

Causal: treat as very direct “this causes that” form and consider it to be relatively strong language

Question 17

produce, reduce, the reason for

Answer 17

Causal: treat as very direct “this causes that” form and consider it to be relatively strong language

Question 18

cause, allow

Answer 18

Causal: treat as very direct “this causes that” form and consider it to be relatively strong language

Question 19

explanation

Answer 19

Causal: treat as very direct “this causes that” form and consider it to be relatively strong language

Question 20

revolutionize (from PT 62)

Answer 20

must be first to do something AND have followers

Question 21

Causal-Correlation flaw with WKN question can be a very fast pick n go! why?

Answer 21

TMs love Alt Explanations for CausCorr WKN – if you have symbolized the Conclusion as Trigger –C–> Result, just find the AC which provides some for of an alternative trigger for the same Result!

Question 22

generally not because, not the reason

Answer 22

anti-causal! *note if you have an anti-causal language situation (XXX generally is NOT because of, or not the reason of YYY), draw the C arrow crossed out to symbolize, but know it is NOT AN CORR_CAUS flaw

Question 23

helps to…

Answer 23

causal (or anti-causal if not help to…)

Question 24

harm

Answer 24

this is like X –C–> Ywithdownarrow

Question 25

Usually the causality symbolization and if-then symbolization of a stmt are the same, except for the C on the arrow. But when can they be different?

Answer 25

Only harsh criticism will cause the person criticized to change. See attached. And it is totally ok to have them like this.

But realize, if this is the Conclusion, the form that you need to use (if-then? or causality?) depends on the Evidence. If the Evidence is a bunch of Correlations, then you use the Causality form of the C. Causal relationship does not use “only” as a “then” indicator. Not all if-then is causal.

If the Evidence is a bunch of other if-then stmts, then you use the If-Then form of the C.

Question 26

“we can conclude, it encourages (i.e. causes)”

Answer 26

see PT 64.sec2 #5 about kennels. Causality between discipline and misbhevior is implied

Question 27

“This is why I have so many things in my studio”

Answer 27

implicitly the “this is why” shows causality: things in studio –> not hinder creativity per PT 76.3.2

Question 28

“save fuel and promote safety”

Answer 28

–C—> save fuel & promote safety

Question 29

“makes”

Answer 29

Causal: treat as very direct “this causes that” form and consider it to be relatively strong language

Question 30

Causal “because” as opposed to conclusion identifier “because”

Answer 30

Simply depends on context - because can serve as conclusion identifier but it can also just be causal language elsewhere in the argument (i.e. it can be a CID misdirection)

Causal because (think “due to”): (note that Causal because here is difft from Conclusion-Evidence ID because, which is not causal). Must look at context to distinguish. Example of “causal “because: Those who became involved in student government did so precisely because they are outspoken.

Conclusion identifier because:

Question 31

would have more success

Answer 31

causal

Health experts would have more success in enouraging people to eat wholesome foods if they emphasized how flavorful those foods truly are rather than how nutrious they are.

E.F. –C–> increase eating of wholesome foods