Strengthen weaken in RC
58 flashcards covering Strengthen weaken in RC for the LSAT Reading Comprehension section.
Strengthen and Weaken questions in Reading Comprehension involve evaluating how new information impacts an argument in a passage. For instance, you might be asked to identify evidence that makes the author's claim more plausible or less credible. This type of question tests your ability to spot assumptions and logical flaws, which is crucial for developing the critical thinking skills needed in law school and on the LSAT.
On the LSAT, these questions typically appear in passages with argumentative content, asking you to choose options that either bolster or undermine the main point. Common traps include selecting answers that seem relevant but don't directly affect the core argument, or confusing correlation with causation. Focus on pinpointing the passage's key assumptions and evidence to avoid these pitfalls and select the most precise response.
Always identify the main argument before evaluating options.
Terms (58)
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Strengthen question in RC
A question type in LSAT Reading Comprehension that asks how a statement or evidence supports or reinforces the author's argument or a specific claim in the passage.
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Weaken question in RC
A question type in LSAT Reading Comprehension that asks how a statement or evidence undermines or challenges the author's argument or a specific claim in the passage.
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Argument structure in RC
The organization of an author's reasoning in a passage, typically including premises that provide evidence and a conclusion that the author aims to establish or defend.
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Premise in an RC argument
A statement in a Reading Comprehension passage that serves as evidence or support for the author's conclusion, often based on facts, examples, or observations.
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Conclusion in an RC argument
The main claim or point the author is trying to prove in a Reading Comprehension passage, which is typically inferred from the premises provided.
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Assumption in RC passages
An unstated belief or connection in a Reading Comprehension argument that the author relies on, which can be targeted to strengthen or weaken the overall reasoning.
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Evidence that strengthens an argument
Information in a passage that directly supports the author's conclusion by providing additional confirmation, such as data, examples, or expert testimony.
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Evidence that weakens an argument
Information that contradicts or casts doubt on the author's conclusion in a Reading Comprehension passage, such as counterexamples or conflicting data.
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Counterexample in RC
A specific instance or case in a passage that disproves a general claim made by the author, often used to weaken an argument.
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Analogy in RC arguments
A comparison between two things in a passage to illustrate a point, which can strengthen an argument if the analogy is apt or weaken it if the comparison is flawed.
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Causal relationship in RC
A link in a passage where one event is claimed to cause another, which can be strengthened by evidence of direct causation or weakened by showing alternative causes.
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Correlation vs. causation trap
A common error in RC passages where the author assumes that because two things are correlated, one causes the other, which can weaken the argument if this assumption is challenged.
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Flawed reasoning in passages
Logical errors in a Reading Comprehension argument, such as jumping to conclusions without sufficient evidence, that can be exploited to weaken the author's claims.
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Strengthening by analogy
Using a well-supported analogy in a passage to bolster the author's main point, making the argument more persuasive by drawing parallels to familiar situations.
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Weakening by counterevidence
Introducing evidence in a passage that directly opposes the author's claims, such as data that contradicts their premises, to undermine the argument.
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Role of statistics in RC arguments
Numerical data in a passage that can strengthen an argument if accurately presented and relevant, or weaken it if the stats are misinterpreted or biased.
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Expert opinion in RC
Statements from authorities in a passage that can strengthen an argument by lending credibility, but weaken it if the expert's qualifications or biases are questioned.
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Hypothetical scenarios in RC
Imaginary situations in a passage used to support an argument, which can be strengthened if realistic or weakened if they rely on unlikely assumptions.
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Identifying the main point
The process of locating the central thesis in a Reading Comprehension passage, essential for determining what evidence would strengthen or weaken it.
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Supporting details vs. main argument
Elements in a passage where supporting details back up the main argument, and questions may ask how these details strengthen or weaken the overall claim.
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Question stem for strengthen
Typical phrasing in LSAT RC questions, such as 'Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the author's argument?' that signals a need to find supporting evidence.
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Question stem for weaken
Common wording in RC questions like 'Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the passage's conclusion?' indicating a search for contradictory information.
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Strategy for predicting answers
Anticipating what type of evidence would strengthen or weaken an RC argument by first identifying key assumptions and gaps in the author's reasoning.
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Common wrong answer types
Distractors in strengthen/weaken questions that might seem relevant but actually strengthen the wrong part of the argument or fail to address the core issue.
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Strengthening through additional evidence
Adding new information in a passage that fills gaps in the argument, such as confirming a premise, to make the author's conclusion more solid.
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Weakening through alternative explanations
Providing a different reason for the events described in a passage, which challenges the author's causal claims and thus weakens their argument.
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Scope of the argument
The range or limits of what the author claims in an RC passage, which can be strengthened by evidence within that scope or weakened by evidence outside it.
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Generalization in arguments
Broad statements in a passage based on limited evidence, which can be weakened by showing exceptions or counterexamples that don't fit the generalization.
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Exceptions to rules
Cases in a passage that contradict a rule or principle stated by the author, serving as a way to weaken their overall argument.
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Circular reasoning
A flaw in RC passages where the conclusion restates the premise, which can be weakened by pointing out that it doesn't provide real evidence.
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Ad hominem in passages
An attack on a person rather than their ideas in a passage, which weakens the argument by shifting focus from the evidence to personal characteristics.
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Appeal to authority
Relying on an expert's opinion in a passage without questioning its relevance, which can be weakened if the authority is shown to be unreliable.
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False dilemma
Presenting only two options in a passage when more exist, which can weaken the argument by introducing a third, viable alternative.
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Slippery slope
A chain of events predicted in a passage without evidence, which can be weakened by showing that the predicted outcomes are unlikely or unfounded.
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Post hoc fallacy
Assuming in a passage that because one event followed another, the first caused the second, which can be weakened by evidence of coincidence.
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Begging the question
Arguing in a passage by assuming the conclusion is true, which weakens the reasoning by lacking independent support.
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Red herring
Introducing irrelevant information in a passage to distract from the main argument, which can weaken the overall coherence when exposed.
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Straw man
Misrepresenting an opposing view in a passage to make it easier to attack, which weakens the author's credibility when the distortion is revealed.
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How to evaluate author’s claims
Assessing the strength of an RC argument by checking for solid evidence and logical connections, or identifying weaknesses like unsubstantiated claims.
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Strengthening by confirming assumptions
Providing evidence in a passage that verifies an unstated assumption, thereby making the author's conclusion more robust.
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Weakening by challenging assumptions
Disputing the underlying beliefs in a passage, such as by offering counterassumptions, to undermine the author's entire argument.
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Role of the passage's tone
The author's attitude in an RC passage, which can strengthen an argument if confident and evidence-based, or weaken it if overly speculative.
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Contradictory evidence
Information in a passage that directly opposes the author's points, serving as a key tool for weakening questions.
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Consistent evidence
Data in a passage that aligns with the author's claims, helping to strengthen the argument by reinforcing its premises.
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Inference questions related to strengthen/weaken
Questions that require drawing conclusions about how new information might strengthen or weaken the passage's argument based on implied logic.
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How RC differs from LR in these questions
In Reading Comprehension, strengthen/weaken questions focus on passage content, while in Logical Reasoning, they often involve standalone arguments with hypothetical additions.
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Passage mapping for arguments
Outlining the key elements of an RC passage, such as premises and conclusions, to quickly identify points that could be strengthened or weakened.
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Key phrases indicating conclusions
Words like 'therefore,' 'thus,' or 'consequently' in a passage that signal the author's main claim, helping to target strengthen/weaken strategies.
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Key phrases indicating premises
Terms such as 'for example,' 'because,' or 'since' in a passage that introduce supporting evidence for the argument.
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Predicting the effect of new information
Anticipating in RC how a hypothetical statement would impact the argument, such as strengthening it by filling a gap or weakening it by creating a contradiction.
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Worked example: Simple strengthen
In a passage claiming a policy reduces crime, evidence showing a drop in crime rates after implementation strengthens the argument by directly supporting the claim.
If a passage says a new law decreased theft, stats proving fewer thefts would strengthen it.
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Worked example: Complex weaken
For a passage arguing a diet cures illness, an alternative explanation like genetic factors causing recovery weakens the argument by attributing results to something else.
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Trap of irrelevant information
Focusing on details in a passage that don't affect the core argument, which can lead to incorrect answers in strengthen/weaken questions.
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Importance of context in RC
The surrounding information in a passage that provides necessary background, as ignoring it can weaken an otherwise strong argument or vice versa.
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Author’s perspective
The viewpoint the author holds in a passage, which can be strengthened by evidence aligning with that view or weakened by evidence from opposing perspectives.
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Opposing viewpoints
Alternative opinions presented or implied in a passage, which can be used to weaken the author's main argument by highlighting conflicts.
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Balancing evidence
Weighing pros and cons in a passage, where unbalanced evidence can weaken an argument if counterpoints are not addressed.
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Quantitative vs. qualitative evidence
Numerical data versus descriptive information in a passage, where quantitative might strengthen claims of trends, while qualitative could weaken them if anecdotal.