Inference must be true
53 flashcards covering Inference must be true for the LSAT Logical Reasoning section.
An inference that must be true is a conclusion drawn directly from given information, where the result is absolutely certain and unavoidable. Unlike mere possibilities or guesses, it relies solely on the facts or arguments presented, without introducing any outside assumptions. This skill is essential for evaluating arguments and evidence, helping you build logical thinking that's vital for real-world decision-making and, of course, succeeding on exams like the LSAT.
On the LSAT, these questions typically appear in the Logical Reasoning section as "Must Be True" or inference problems, where you're given a stimulus and must select the answer that logically follows from it. Common traps include choices that are plausible but not guaranteed, or those that overextend the information provided. Focus on identifying statements that are directly supported by the passage, paying close attention to keywords like "all," "some," or "none" to avoid misinterpretations. A concrete tip: Always verify that an answer couldn't possibly be false based on the evidence.
Terms (53)
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Must Be True Question
A type of Logical Reasoning question on the LSAT where the correct answer is a statement that must logically follow from the information provided in the passage, without any possibility of being false.
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Inference
A conclusion drawn from the given information that is necessarily true based on the premises, requiring no additional assumptions beyond what's stated.
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Necessary Inference
An inference that absolutely must be true if the premises are true, distinguishing it from possibilities or probabilities in LSAT passages.
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Sufficient Condition
A condition that, if met, guarantees the occurrence of another event, often used in inferences to determine what must follow logically.
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Necessary Condition
A condition that must be true for another event to occur, helping to identify inferences that are required by the passage.
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Conditional Statement
A statement in the form 'If A, then B' that forms the basis for many inferences, where B must be true if A is true according to the passage.
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Contrapositive
The logically equivalent reversal of a conditional statement, such as changing 'If A, then B' to 'If not B, then not A', which must also be true if the original is.
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Logical Implication
A relationship where one statement leads directly to another, meaning the second must be true if the first is, as tested in inference questions.
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Premises and Conclusions
The building blocks of an argument where premises are the given facts, and conclusions are what must logically follow, forming the core of must-be-true inferences.
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Drawing Inferences
The process of deriving a statement that must be true from the passage by combining or analyzing the provided information without adding external knowledge.
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Avoiding Assumptions
In must-be-true questions, refraining from introducing unstated ideas, as only what is directly supported by the passage can be inferred.
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Common Wrong Answer Types
Answers that might seem plausible but are not guaranteed, such as those that are possible but not necessary, often appearing in inference questions.
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Scope of the Passage
The specific range of topics covered in the passage, where inferences must stay within this scope to be considered true.
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Keywords for Inferences
Words like 'all', 'some', 'none', or 'if-then' that signal logical relationships, helping determine what must be true from the text.
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Negation Technique
A method to test answer choices by negating them; if negating makes the passage contradictory, the original statement must be true.
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Diagraming Arguments
Creating visual representations of logical structures, such as charts for conditional statements, to clarify what must follow in inference questions.
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Evaluating Answer Choices
Systematically checking options against the passage to ensure they must be true, eliminating those that rely on unsupported extensions.
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Universal Quantifiers
Terms like 'all' or 'every' that indicate statements applying to all cases, making certain inferences necessarily true across the board.
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Existential Quantifiers
Terms like 'some' that indicate at least one instance, where inferences must account for the possibility without assuming universality.
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Syllogisms
A form of deductive reasoning where two premises lead to a conclusion that must be true, commonly featured in LSAT inference questions.
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Analogies in Inferences
Comparisons in passages that imply similarities, where the inferred conclusion must hold based on the established parallels.
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Causation vs. Correlation
Distinguishing between events that cause each other (implying necessity) and those that merely coincide, to avoid faulty inferences.
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Hidden Assumptions in Inferences
Unstated elements that might seem implied but aren't necessarily true, which should be avoided when drawing must-be-true conclusions.
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Rebuttals to Inferences
Potential challenges to an inference that could make it false, helping identify whether a statement truly must be true.
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Counterexamples
Instances that disprove a general statement, used to check if an inference holds universally as required.
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Formal Logic Basics
The foundational rules of logic, such as modus ponens, that ensure inferences are valid and must be true based on structure.
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Deductive Reasoning
A type of reasoning where the conclusion must be true if the premises are true, central to must-be-true questions on the LSAT.
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Inductive Reasoning
A form of reasoning that suggests probabilities rather than certainties, contrasting with the necessary truths sought in inference questions.
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Validity of Arguments
The property of an argument where the conclusion logically follows from the premises, making it a must-be-true inference.
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Soundness
An argument that is both valid and has true premises, ensuring the inference is not only logical but also factually necessary.
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Paradox Resolution
Resolving apparent contradictions in a passage by inferring a unifying explanation that must be true to reconcile the elements.
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Principle Questions
Questions that require inferring a general principle from specific examples, where the principle must align perfectly with the details.
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Role of Statements
Identifying whether a statement in the passage is a premise, conclusion, or evidence, to accurately determine what must follow.
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Parallel Reasoning
Drawing inferences from structures similar to those in the passage, ensuring the parallel leads to a necessary conclusion.
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Method of Reasoning
Analyzing how the passage builds its argument, so inferences can be drawn about the logical steps that must have occurred.
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Point at Issue
The central disagreement or focus in a passage, where inferences must directly relate to resolve or clarify that point.
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Flawed Arguments
Arguments with errors that might mislead inferences, requiring identification of what still must be true despite the flaws.
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Evaluate the Argument
Assessing the strength of an argument to infer what must be true about its components, like assumptions or implications.
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Cannot Be True Questions
The counterpart to must-be-true questions, where answers are statements that contradict the passage, aiding in contrastive understanding.
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Most Strongly Supported
A question type similar to must-be-true but allowing for the strongest possible inference, though still requiring necessity.
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Strategy for Eliminating Choices
A method to rule out answers that are not guaranteed by the passage, focusing on those that must be true.
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Reading Comprehension Tie-ins
How inference skills from Logical Reasoning apply to drawing necessary conclusions from reading passages in other LSAT sections.
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Advanced Inference Techniques
Sophisticated methods, like combining multiple premises, to derive inferences that must be true in complex arguments.
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Multi-Layer Inferences
Drawing a series of inferences where each step must be true, building to a final necessary conclusion from the passage.
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Inferences from Complex Premises
Handling passages with intertwined statements, ensuring the inferred conclusion accounts for all relevant details.
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Using Diagrams for Inferences
Employing visual aids to map out relationships, making it clearer what must logically follow from the given information.
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Modus Ponens
A rule of inference where if 'If A, then B' is true and A is true, then B must be true, commonly used in LSAT logic.
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Modus Tollens
A rule where if 'If A, then B' is true and not B is true, then not A must be true, aiding in necessary inferences.
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Disjunctive Syllogisms
Inferences from statements like 'A or B' where if A is false, B must be true, as per the passage's logic.
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Categorical Syllogisms
Arguments with categories, like 'All A are B', where the conclusion must follow from the categorical premises.
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Venn Diagrams for Inferences
Visual tools to represent sets and relationships, helping confirm what must be true about overlaps or exclusions.
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Probability in Inferences
Distinguishing probabilistic statements from those that must be true, ensuring inferences are based on certainty.
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Ethical Inferences
Drawing necessary conclusions from moral or value-based passages, staying true to the provided ethical framework.