Khan Academy - LSAT Prep: Logical Reasoning (Examples)

Main Conclusion Identify the Role: Sarah will probably receive a job offer, because she has ten years of experience. That means that she’ll soon pay me back for the money I lent her. Background Identify the Role: One of this neighborhood’s residents has been complaining about his sister Sarah having been unemployed for so long. She’s applying for programming jobs at many companies, but she only received her first interview invite last week. She’ll probably receive a job offer because she has ten years of experience. In a job market like the current one, anything over eight years of experience gives a candidate a great advantage. 00:08 01:28 Evidence Identify the Role: Sarah will probably receive a job offer, because she has ten years of experience. That means that she’ll soon pay me back for the money I lent her. Sub Conclusion Identify the Role: Sarah will probably receive a job offer, because she has ten years of experience. That means that she’ll soon pay me back for the money I lent her Comparison Identify the Conclusion Type: It's clear that this year's candidate is stronger than last year's candidate. Comparison Identify the Conclusion Type: It's clear that this year's candidate understands the public's wishes better than she did a year ago. Causation Identify the Conclusion Type: Last night, I took cough medicine and today I feel much better. So that cough medicine is really effective. (Cause: cough medicine; effect: feeling better) Causation Identify the Conclusion Type: Jonathan gets good grades without trying very hard, and his teachers have said multiple times how much they like him. The only possible way that Jonathan maintains his good grades is because of how much his teachers like him. (Cause: teachers liking Jonathan; effect: good grades) Assessment Identify the Conclusion Type: The flower is beautiful. Assessment Identify the Conclusion Type: This policy is very helpful. Assessment Identify the Conclusion Type: The outcome will be important. Recommendation Identify the Conclusion Type: In treating this disease, then, physicians should favor Treatment X. 00:00 01:28 Recommendation Identify the Conclusion Type: It's likely that extending the warranty is the only way to gain new customers. Predictions Identify the Conclusion Type: Obviously, the tennis match will be rescheduled. Predictions Identify the Conclusion Type: Our homeless population may not be reduced by next year. Simple Belief Identify the Conclusion Type: It's clear that the student cheated on the test. Simple Belief Identify the Conclusion Type: The thief is probably still in the house somewhere. Examples Identify the Evidence Type: [Paola is the best athlete in the state.] After all, Paola has won medals in 8 different Olympic sports. Examples Identify the Evidence Type: Paola beat last year's decathlon state champion on Saturday, so [she is the best athlete in the state]. Hearsay Identify the Evidence Type: [Paola is the best athlete in the state.] We know this because the most highly-acclaimed sports magazine has named her as such. Hearsay Identify the Evidence Type: Because the population voted Paola the Best Athlete in the state in a landslide, [it would be absurd to claim that anyone else is the best athlete in the state]. Precedent Identify the Evidence Type: [Paola is the best athlete in the state.] She must be, since she won the state championships last year, two years ago, three years ago, and four years ago. Analogies Identify the Evidence Type: [Paola is the best athlete in the state], because she won the most athletic awards. Look at Jude, who's currently the Best Chef in the State because he won the most cooking awards. Generalization Identify the Evidence Type: [Paola is the best athlete in the state], because she won every local tournament in every spring sport. Counterexample Identify the Evidence Type: Robert: Everyone's favorite food is pizza. Brianna: That's not true. My favorite food is paella. Possibilities Identify the Evidence Type: Robert: X will lead to Y. Brianna: Why can't X couldn't lead to Z instead? Conditional Identify the Evidence Type: Penguins win - Flyers make big mistakes; Flyers make big mistake - coach tired; Friday - coach is not tired Causation Identify the Evidence Type: The flood last week was due to climate change. Causation Identify the Evidence Type: This kind of culture fosters resentment. Causation Identify the Evidence Type: The incorrect prescription was responsible for the patient's death. Alternate Causation Identify the Flaw Type: Last summer, ice cream sales decreased while homicide rates more than doubled in this region. We should look into selling more ice cream in order to keep people safer. Sampling Identify the Flaw Type: Everyone I know wants to quit their job, so this country is headed for an employment crisis. Ad hominem Identify the Flaw Type: My doctor tells me it's bad for your lungs to smoke cigarettes, but I know he's lying. I saw him furtively smoking a cigarette the other day.