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Correct Answer Choices

This document provides guidance on different types of logic and critical reasoning questions found on the GMAT, including assumptions, strengthening arguments, weakening arguments, inferences, resolving paradoxes, and evaluating arguments. For each type, it identifies the goal, outlines the process for solving it, and describes characteristics of correct answer choices. The key points are to identify the conclusion, premises, and logical connections or gaps; and determine what additional information would strengthen or weaken the argument as directed by the question.

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srinivasa varma
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40 views

Correct Answer Choices

This document provides guidance on different types of logic and critical reasoning questions found on the GMAT, including assumptions, strengthening arguments, weakening arguments, inferences, resolving paradoxes, and evaluating arguments. For each type, it identifies the goal, outlines the process for solving it, and describes characteristics of correct answer choices. The key points are to identify the conclusion, premises, and logical connections or gaps; and determine what additional information would strengthen or weaken the argument as directed by the question.

Uploaded by

srinivasa varma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A.

Assumptions
• An assumption is merely an unstated (implied) premise.
• In logically correct arguments which contain an assumption, the premise +
assumption = conclusion.
• An assumption bridges the gap between argument’s stated premises and
conclusion.

• Remember, since the assumption is an UNSTATED premise, any answer choice that
comes from the passage to support your assumption is necessarily incorrect.

• For assumption questions, find the conclusion and determine which answer choice
needs to be true for a conclusion to be valid.(It must be a statement that completely
supports the conclusion)

CORRECT ANSWER CHOICES:


• Will be supporter or defender
• Supporters help to link unrelated information presented in the stimulus and fill
logical gaps
• Defenders eliminate possibilities of weakness and attack to the
stimulus/conclusion.

B. Strengthen the Argument


Identify the conclusion—this is what you are trying to strengthen!
Find the logical gap and fix it with additional information. This is the ONLY type of
GMAT question where additional information (outside of the question) can/should
be used.

Correct answers to this question type will:


• Connect evidence with conclusion better
• Make conclusion stronger.
• Strengthen the evidence with new information (perhaps an assumption is needed
to make the argument work)
C. Weaken The Argument

To solve these questions, you first need to identify the premise and the conclusion.
In this question type, we assume an answer choice presented to be true – even if it
introduces new information (obviously, the information has to be relevant to the
stimulus)

ANSWER CHOICE QUALIFICATION:


• Should rebuke the conclusion of the stimulus
• Answer choices are taken to be true, even if there is new information provided.
• Will either break down causality or show an obvious error in reasoning in
formation of the conclusion

CORRECT ANSWER CHOICES:


• Will point out an obvious reason for the illogical conclusion
• Enumerate a wrong generalization
• Point out improper comparisons between two scenarios that the author assumed

D. MUST BE TRUE/ INFERENCE/ MAIN POINT/CONCLUSION


Consider the evidence, draw a conclusion.
An inference is an extension of an argument, not a necessary part of it.
A valid inference is a conclusion, but not necessarily the conclusion, of a set of
statements.

For inference questions, determine which answer choice must absolutely, positively
be true based on what you’ve read.
• Pick the obvious answer choice.
• Avoid extreme answers (too strong or too weak)
CORRECT ANSWER CHOICES:
• Restatement of the conclusion
• Combination of one or more premises
• Should be the main point of the stimulus, not just a premise (for Main Point
questions-Repeat premises are wrong )

E. Resolve the Paradox


To solve this type of question, look for a logically contradictory discrepancy.
• Often the correct answer will take a similar format (in terms of answer length or
argument structure).

F. Evaluate the Argument

-The question stem will likely use some form of the word “evaluate,” “determine,”
or “useful / important to know.”

-Find the conclusion and identify the main supporting premise. If you can articulate
any gaps between the main premise and the conclusion, do so. Think of the
conclusion as the author’s hypothesis; your job is to find the answer choice that can
test that hypothesis. The answers will provide a “whether or not” type of statement,
indicating information that might or might not be so. The correct answer will be able
to both slightly strengthen and slightly weaken the hypothesis, depending upon
whether the information in that choice is true or is not true.

-Know what you’re not trying to do as well. We’re not trying to strengthen the
conclusion or make it more likely that the author’s hypothesis is correct.

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