Strengthen Questions ASK: You to identify possible gaps

between the evidence presented in a

ASK: You to identify possible gaps stimulus and the conclusion drawn, and
between the evidence presented in a then widen those gaps by adding new
stimulus and the conclusion drawn, and evidence.
then narrow those gaps by adding new
evidence. QUESTIONS TO LOOK FOR:
● Which one of the following, if
QUESTIONS TO LOOK FOR: true, would most weaken the
● Which of the following, if true, logic of the argument?
most strengthens the ● Which one of the following, if
argument? true, most seriously calls into
● Which of the following, if true, questions the conclusion of
adds the most support to the the argument?
conclusion? ● Which of the following, if true,
● The conclusion is most most seriously undermines the
strongly supported if which of reasoning in the argument?
the following is true? ● Which of the following, if true,
● Which of the following, if true, would provide evidence
argues most strongly for [the against the conclusion?
conclusion]? ● Each of the following, if true,
● Each of the following, if true, directly undermines the claim
supports the argument that [something is true]
EXCEPT… EXCEPT…
● Which of the following would
account for the evidence
without supporting the
conclusion?
PHRASES: “IF TRUE”
PHRASES: *”IF TRUE” PLUS
Some form of the word
TRICK: Identify that the question is “WEAKEN” or “UNDERMINE”
asking you to provide a piece of
information that is not explicitly stated, TRICK: identify that the question is
but that helps to narrow any gaps asking you to provide a piece of
between the evidence and the information that is not explicitly stated,
conclusion. but that calls attention to any gaps
between the evidence and the
conclusion.

Weaken Questions
Flaw Questions
ASK: You to identify an error in the only the information provided in the
reasoning of an argument stimulus.

QUESTIONS TO LOOK FOR: QUESTIONS TO LOOK FOR:

● The argument is most ● Which one of the following
vulnerable to criticism on the answer choices is most
grounds that it… strongly supported by the
● Which one of the following is information above?
an error in the argument’s ● Which one of the following can
reasoning? be properly inferred from the
● A flaw in the reasoning of the statements above?
argument is that… ● If all of the above statements
● A questionable technique used are true, then which one of the
in the argument is that of… following must also be true?
● The reasoning in the argument ● The statements above, if true,
is misleading because it… most logically support which of
● Which one of the following the following conclusions?
most accurately describes ● Which one of the following
[some person]’s criticism of most logically completes the
the argument made by [some sentence above?
other person]?
PHRASES: Some form of the word
PHRASES: “FLAW,” “VULNERABLE,” “INFERENCE” or some form of “MOST
“CRITICISM,” or “QUESTIONABLE. STRONGLY SUPPORT(ED)

TRICK: Describe the nature of an error, TRICK: We don’t really care about the
rather than identifying ways to address real-world accuracy of the facts provided
the error, as you are in Assumption, because the stimulus will support an
Strengthen, and Weaken questions. answer choice. We just need to pretend
they’re the whole truth and nothing but
the truth, and roll with it.

Paradox Questions (easiest)

Inference Questions
ASK: You to provide an explanation for a
pair of facts that seem to contradict
ASK: You to determine which answer
each other.
choice is most likely to be true given
QUESTIONS TO LOOK FOR: ● Which of the following is an
● Which one of the following, if assumption that is required by
true, most helps to resolve the the argument?
apparent discrepancy in the ● The argument requires the
information above? assumption that…
● Each of the following, if true, ● The conclusion can be
helps to resolve the apparent properly drawn if which one of
paradox in the statements the following is assumed?
above EXCEPT… ● The conclusion is properly
● Which one of the following, if drawn if which one of the
true, most helps to explain following completes the
why… argument?
● Which one of the following, if ● [Person 2]’s response most
true, most contributes to a strongly supports the claim
resolution of the discrepancy that he understood [Person
above? 1]’s argument to be that…

PHRASES: some form of “RESOLVE” PHRASES: some form of the word

or “EXPLAIN” along with “APPARENT,” “ASSUME” in the prompt.
“PARADOX,” and/or “DISCREPANCY.”
TRICK: 1. We don’t ultimately care
TRICK: find a piece of information that about the actual accuracy of the
just makes sense assumption. All we care about is this: if
the assumption is false, does the
conclusion hold?
2. Identify that the question is asking
you to provide a piece of information
that is not explicitly stated, but that must
be true in order for the argument in
question to make sense.

Parallel Flaw Questions (maybe 2 on test)

ASK: You to identify the answer choice

Assumption Questions containing the same flaw as the original

ASK: You to find a gap between the QUESTIONS TO LOOK FOR:

evidence presented in a stimulus and ● The pattern of flawed
the conclusion drawn. reasoning exhibited by the
above argument most closely
parallels that exhibited by
QUESTIONS TO LOOK FOR: which one of the following?
 ● Which one of the following ● Which one of the following is
contains flawed reasoning that most similar in its reasoning to
most closely parallels that in the argument above?
the argument above? ● The logical structure of which
● Which one of the following one of the following is most
arguments is vulnerable to similar to that of the argument
criticism most similar to that above?
which can be applied to the ● The argument above most
argument above? closely parallels the reasoning
● The argument above exhibits in which one of the following?
flawed reasoning most similar
to the flawed reasoning in
which one of the following? PHRASES: “PARALLEL” or “SIMILAR.”
PLUS
They also typically refer to an
PHRASES: “PARALLEL” or “SIMILAR”
argument’s STRUCTURE,
PLUS
PATTERN, or REASONING
“FLAWED REASONING” or
“VULNERABLE TO CRITICISM.”
TRICK: These questions are similar in
form to Parallel Flaw questions, except
TRICK: The sentences in the correct
that the latter will specify that the
answer choice don’t have to appear in
original argument (the stimulus)
the same order as they did in the
contains flawed reasoning, as does the
stimulus. They just need to be the same
correct answer.
pieces, so that you can construct a
similarly flawed argument by
rearranging the order of the statements,
if necessary.

Parallel Reasoning Questions (rare on

Principle Questions VARIATION#1
test)
(roughly 1-3 per section)
ASK:You to select an answer choice
containing a different scenario with a similar ASK: you to identify a principle that
chain of reasoning justifies the decision made in the
scenario
QUESTIONS TO LOOK FOR:
● The pattern of reasoning QUESTIONS TO LOOK FOR:
displayed above most closely ● Which one of the following
parallels that in which one of principles, if valid, most helps
the following arguments? to justify the decision by
[Jimmy’s parents to pay him
 his allowance while he’s away according to the principle
at camp]? stated above?
● The situation as described ● Which one of the following is
above most closely conforms an application of the principle
to which one of the following cited above?
principles? ● Which one of the following
● The argument most closely most closely conforms to the
conforms to which one of the proposition offered above?
following generalizations?
● Which one of the following
general propositions, if valid, PHRASES:“PRINCIPLE,”
most supports the argument “GENERALIZATION,” or
above? “PROPOSITION.
PLUS
PHRASES: “PRINCIPLE,” They also feature some ELEMENTS OF
“GENERALIZATION,” or PARALLEL REASONING LANGUAGE
“PROPOSITION.
PLUS TRICK: 1.Locate an answer choice that
They also feature some ELEMENTS OF describes a scenario in which someone
PARALLEL REASONING LANGUAGE, correctly followed the principle given in
the stimulus.
TRICK: 1. Look for an answer choice 2. Remember that the stimulus will be a
that describes the logic used in the principle, whereas the answer choices
stimulus. will contain scenarios.
2. Remember that the stimulus will be a
scenario, whereas the answer choices
Method of Argument Questions
will contain the principles.
ASK: you to analyze the structure of an
Principle Questions VARIATION2#
argument the same way you might
(rare 1-2 per exam)
analyze the composition of a painting or
the plot of a movie.
ASK: asks you to select a scenario in
which that principle is applied most
QUESTIONS TO LOOK FOR:
accurately.
● The [Speaker] uses which one
of the following methods to
QUESTIONS TO LOOK FOR: craft his response to the
● The principle above, if valid, critics’ claims?
most strongly supports which ● The argument above proceeds
one of the following by…
arguments? ● [Speaker #2] responds to
● Which one of the following [Speaker #1] by… (this counts
describes a scenario in which as Method of Argument
[some decision was made] because it’s asking how the
 second half of the stimulus is ● Which one of the following is
different from the first half) the most accurate evaluation
● The argument above does of the statement that…
which one of the following?
● Which one of the following
describes a technique used by PHRASES: will have the word “ROLE”
[Speaker] in the argument in them, though “RELATIONSHIP” or
above? “FUNCTION” appears occasionally as
well.
PHRASES: some form of “METHOD” or
“TECHNIQUE. TRICK: Identify that the question is
asking you what function a particular
TRICK: Rather than asking whether a sentence plays in the argument.
given statement is true or false, focus on
whether it supports or contradicts the *Just ask yourself whether the
conclusion. question is asking about a specific
sentence (Role of Statement) or the
*Just ask yourself whether the overall structure of the stimulus
question is asking about a specific (Method of Argument).
sentence (Role of Statement) or the
overall structure of the stimulus
(Method of Argument). Evaluate the Conclusion Questions
Role of Statement Questions
ASK: you to determine what information
ASK: you to pick the answer choice that would be necessary in order to
best describes the function of (typically) determine the accuracy of a conclusion.
one sentence within the argument.
QUESTIONS TO LOOK FOR:
QUESTIONS TO LOOK FOR: ● Which one of the following
would be most useful to know
● Which of the following most
in order to evaluate the logic of
accurately describes the role
the argument above?
played in the argument by the
● The answer to which of the
claim that…
following questions would
● The claim that [some claim]
most assist in the evaluation of
plays which one of the
[some person]’s argument?
following roles in the
● Which one of the following
argument?
considerations is LEAST
● Which one of the following
helpful in determining the
most accurately describes the
validity of the claim made by
relationship between [Person
[someone in the argument]?
1]’s statements and [Person
2]’s statements?
PHRASES: some form of “EVALUATE” stated in the argument. All you have to
in them, but not all of them do is differentiate between evidence and
conclusion.
TRICK: 1. you are not being asked to
make an evaluation; instead, you’re
merely being asked to identify a
question you would need to answer
before making that evaluation.

2. The correct answer will present a

question to which you must know the
answer in order to decide whether you
agree with the conclusion.

Point of Contention Questions

(Common)

Main Idea/Conclusion Questions ASK: You to identify a point on which the

two speakers disagree.
ASK: you identify the conclusion of the
argument. QUESTIONS TO LOOK FOR:
● [Speaker #1]’s and [Speaker
#2]’s statements most strongly
QUESTIONS TO LOOK FOR: support the claim that they
● Which of the following most would disagree with each other
accurately expresses the on which one of the following?
overall conclusion of the ● The point at issue between
argument [Speaker #1] and [Speaker #2]
● Which of the following most is whether…
clearly states the main idea of ● An issue in dispute between
the argument? [Speaker #1] and [Speaker #2]
● In the argument, the statement is…
that [some premise] is offered ● Which one of the following
in support of the claim that… most accurately expresses a
point of disagreement between
[Speaker #1] and [Speaker #2]?
PHRASES: “CONCLUSION” or the ● Based on [Speaker #1]’s and
“OVERALL CONCLUSION” [Speaker #2]’s comments, it
can be concluded that they
TRICK: Remember that you are being disagree that…
asked to point out something explicitly
PHRASES: “DISAGREE,” “DISPUTE,”
“ISSUE,” and “CONTENTION”. ASK:
PLUS
They will all contain some kind of QUESTIONS TO LOOK FOR:
language denoting conflict between the
speakers

TRICK: The 1st speaker will express an PHRASES:

opinion on a topic and somehow
rationalize that opinion. The 2nd TRICK:
speaker will then typically focus on the
rationalization used by the first speaker
rather than on the central point being made.

Point of Agreement Questions

(uncommon)

ASK: You to identify a point on which the

two speakers agree.

QUESTIONS TO LOOK FOR:

● [Speaker #1]’s and [Speaker
#2]’s statements most strongly
support the claim that they
would agree with each other on
which one of the following?
● Based on [Speaker #1]’s and
[Speaker #2]’s comments, it
can be concluded that they
agree that…

PHRASES: “AGREE”

TRICK: they should look very similar to

Point of Contention questions but you’ll
have to do a little inferring to figure out
where there’s agreement and where
there’s disagreement between the two
speakers.