LSAT Critical Reasoning Questions & Answers 2023 - Insider Tips & Tricks

Reader's Digest - Cracking the LSAT's Critical Reasoning questions can seem challenging, right? But what if I told you that with the right strategies & expert tips, you could master these LSAT Analytical Reasoning questions & boost your overall score?

Talking about the importance of the LSAT Critical Reasoning questions makeup nearly half of the exam. Keep in mind that your scores in this section play a significant role in securing a spot at the nation's top LSAT India colleges, so it's essential to be diligent with your LSAT preparations.

Since the LSAT doesn't have negative marking, aim to attempt all the LSAT reasoning questions. By familiarizing yourself with the question patterns, you'll find pinpointing and selecting the correct answers easier. So, here are the answers to your doubts:

• What is the main focus of LSAT Critical Reasoning questions? The focus is on evaluating your ability to analyze and complete arguments found in everyday language.
• What are the common question types in the LSAT Critical Reasoning section? Common question types include assumption, strengthen/weaken, inference, and main point questions.
• Are there any proven strategies for tackling LSAT Critical Reasoning questions? Yes, strategies like identifying the conclusion, understanding the reasoning, and pre-phrasing answers can help.

Download FREE LSAT Logical Reasoning Practice Questions PDF by LegalEdge

Tips to Solve LSAT Logical Reasoning Questions 2023 - Overview

Critical reasoning questions can be quite the hurdle for many LSAT aspirants.

The LSAT Exam is divided into four sections: Analytical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Logical Reasoning 1, and Logical Reasoning 2.

Both Logical Reasoning sections feature around 24 to 26 questions each. With only 35 minutes allotted per section, you're left with roughly 1 minute and 25 seconds to tackle each question. 

Identify the Types of LSAT Critical Reasoning Questions 

Refer to the list below for critical reasoning questions for LSAT:

(i) Find the “Flaw” Questions - These types of questions require you to identify the fundamental flaw in the provided argument. 

Q: The number of cars on the road has increased, so there must be more car accidents.

A: The flaw is assuming that more cars automatically lead to more accidents without considering other factors like safety improvements or driver education.

(ii) Assumption Questions - In these types of questions, you must discover the discrepancy between the evidence presented and the conclusion made. The correct choice will be the statement required to move from the evidence to the conclusion. 

Q: All swans are white; therefore, no white bird cannot be a swan.

A: The assumption is that there are no non-white swans.

(iii) Inference Questions - These questions require you to discover the assertion best supported by the argument, given that all of the arguments' claims are correct. 

Q: John is taller than Sarah, and Sarah is taller than Peter. What can be inferred?

A: John is taller than Peter.

(iv) Strengthen Questions - Identify the statement that best supports the author's argument and conclusion. 

Q: Reading every day improves vocabulary. Which statement strengthens this argument?

A: Studies show that consistent reading leads to an increased vocabulary over time.

(v) Weaken Questions - In these types of questions, you must identify the statement that would most detract from the author's evidence supporting the conclusion. 

Q: Vegetarian diets lead to better health. Which statement weakens this argument?

A: A poorly planned vegetarian diet can lack essential nutrients.

(vi) Paradox Questions - A contradiction follows in these arguments, and the answer must be chosen by eliminating the arguments illogically.

Q: A small town has more churches than gas stations, but people use cars more often than they attend church. How can this be explained?

A: Churches may serve more people at once, while gas stations can only serve a few cars at a time.

(vii) Principle Questions - These require you to select the response option that best exemplifies the concept or principle provided in the argument. 

Q: A company donates a portion of profits to charity. Which principle does this exemplify?

A: The principle of corporate social responsibility.

(viii) Formal Logic - These questions test your ability to understand and apply formal Logic, which can differ from what you might consider everyday regular logic.

Q: If it rains, then John will carry an umbrella. It's raining. What can be concluded?

A: John will carry an umbrella.

(ix) Flaw in the Reasoning - These questions consist of a logical flaw, and you are expected to either identify the type of flaw or the logical gap in the argument itself.

Q: All students who study hard get good grades. Alice got good grades, so she must have studied hard.

A: The flaw is assuming that good grades can only be achieved through hard studying, not considering other factors.

(x) Parallel Reasoning - These questions may or may not consist of a flaw.

Q: The library is to books as a garden is to what?

A: The answer is plants, as the relationship is about a place housing a specific type of item.

Read More: LSAT Exam Dates

How to Attempt LSAT Critical Reasoning Questions? 

Ideally, each question is structured in a manner that consists of the stimulus, question stem, and answers. 

1. Stimulus: The stimulus is the information provided as a short passage or argument. It presents a scenario, a set of facts, or an argument you'll need to analyze or evaluate.

Example: Jack always walks to school, and today is Monday. Jack's school is closed on weekends.

2. Question Stem: The question stem is part of the LSAT question that asks you to perform a specific task based on the information given in the stimulus. It directs you to identify an assumption, draw a conclusion, or find a flaw in the argument, among other tasks.

Example: Based on the information above, which of the following can be reasonably inferred about Jack's activities today?

3. Answer Choices: Answer choices are the five possible responses to the question stem. One of these options is the correct answer, while the other four are incorrect and designed to distract or confuse you. Your task is to select the correct answer based on your understanding of the stimulus and the question stem.

Example: A) Jack will walk to school today.

B) Jack will stay home today.

C) Jack will go to the park today.

D) Jack will go shopping today.

E) Jack will visit a friend today.

Read the stimulus carefully, followed by the question and the five answer options.

Check Out - LSAT India Syllabus 2023

Use the 30-60 Rule to Solve LSAT Critical Reasoning Questions

The "30-60" rule is a time management strategy to help you effectively approach LSAT Critical Reasoning questions. It involves spending the first 30 seconds skimming the passage and answer choices, followed by 60 seconds of more careful reading to understand the author's perspective and select the right answer.

Ideally, 1 or 2 options can be easily eliminated while reading them, so it would be best to get past these questions quickly. You can devote your time to choosing the right option, which requires you to skim the passage and the options in the first 30 seconds and then read the rest of the passage and the options in the meantime.

" It's recommended to approach the questions in a sequential manner, tackling the easier ones first and then moving on to more difficult ones. "

Here's an example to illustrate the 30-60 rule in action:

Suppose you have the following stimulus, question stem, and answer choices:

Stimulus: Every student who studies hard gets good grades. Alice got good grades, so she must have studied hard.

Question Stem: Which of the following is an assumption made in the argument above?

Answer Choices: A) Alice always gets good grades. B) Studying hard is the only way to get good grades. C) Alice did not study hard. D) Some students who study hard do not get good grades. E) Alice enjoys studying.

Now, apply the 30-60 rule:

1. First 30 seconds - Skim the passage and answer choices: Quickly read the stimulus and question stem, and glance over the answer choices to understand the question and what it requires you to do.

2. Next 60 seconds - Careful reading and selection: Now that you have a general idea of the question, read the stimulus and question stem again to ensure you fully understand the argument. Next, read the answer choices more carefully, eliminating the obviously incorrect ones.

In this example, you can eliminate options A, C, and E, as they are not assumptions made in the argument. You're now left with options B, and D. Read both options carefully and consider their relation to the argument. Option B is the correct answer, as the assumption made in the argument is that studying hard is the only way to get good grades.

Using the 30-60 rule, you can efficiently manage your time, improve your understanding of the author's perspective, and increase your chances of selecting the correct answer.

Don't Miss - How To Improve Your LSAT India Score 2023? 

Other Tips to Solve LSAT Critical Reasoning Questions

Tip 1 # - Focus on the Author's perspective

Consider the author's perspective while reading the stimulus and answer choices to increase your chances of selecting the correct answer. Look for clues in the language and tone that might indicate the author's stance on the subject.

Example:

Stimulus: City X has seen a recent increase in air pollution. However, the city's new bike-sharing program aims to reduce car usage and, as a result, decrease air pollution. Critics argue that the program will have minimal impact since only a small percentage of residents are likely to use the bikes.

Question Stem: Which of the following, if true, would most support the author's conclusion?

Answer Choices: A) City X's public transportation system is overcrowded and inefficient.

B) Most City X residents are unaware of the new bike-sharing program.

C) The bike-sharing program is expected to expand to neighbouring cities.

D) The majority of air pollution in City X comes from industrial sources, not car emissions.

E) There is a strong correlation between bike usage and reduced air pollution in other cities.

To focus on the author's perspective, read the stimulus and identify the author's stance. In this case, the author believes that the bike-sharing program will help decrease air pollution. Look for clues in the language, such as "aims to reduce car usage" and "as a result, decrease air pollution."

Now, examine the answer choices while considering the author's perspective. Eliminate options that do not support or are irrelevant to the author's conclusion.

In this example, the correct answer is E). There is a strong correlation between bike usage and reduced air pollution in other cities. This choice directly supports the author's conclusion by providing evidence that bike usage can lead to reduced air pollution.

By focusing on the author's perspective and considering their stance on the subject, you can more effectively eliminate incorrect answer choices and increase your chances of selecting the correct answer.

Read More: LSAT Application Form

Tip 2 # - Master the process of elimination.

Quickly eliminating incorrect answer choices is a valuable skill for tackling LSAT Critical Reasoning questions. As you practice, work on identifying common traps and distractors to improve your ability to eliminate incorrect answers quickly.

Example:

Stimulus: Many people believe that eating carrots can improve eyesight. However, recent research shows that while carrots are rich in vitamin A, which is essential for eye health, consuming carrots alone does not guarantee improved eyesight.

Question Stem: The author's argument would be most weakened if it were true that:

Answer Choices: A) Carrots are an excellent source of other nutrients, such as fibre and potassium.

B) People who consume a diet rich in vitamin A tend to have better eyesight than those who don't.

C) The majority of people who eat carrots regularly do not wear corrective lenses.

D) Vitamin A can be obtained from a variety of sources, including leafy greens and fish.

E) Eating a balanced diet with a variety of nutrients is the best way to maintain overall eye health.

To use the process of elimination effectively, look for answer choices that are irrelevant, contradictory, or do not address the question stem. In this example, the author's argument is that eating carrots alone does not guarantee improved eyesight.

Eliminate answer choices that do not weaken the author's argument:

A) This choice is irrelevant, as it focuses on other nutrients in carrots but does not address their impact on eyesight.

D) This choice also does not weaken the argument, as it talks about other sources of vitamin A but doesn't challenge the relationship between carrots and eyesight.

E) This choice is a general statement about eye health and does not specifically address the role of carrots in improving eyesight.

Now you're left with two choices: B) This choice suggests that vitamin A consumption might be related to better eyesight, but it does not directly challenge the author's argument about carrots.

C) This choice directly weakens the author's argument by implying a possible correlation between carrot consumption and not needing corrective lenses.

The correct answer is C) The majority of people who eat carrots regularly do not wear corrective lenses, as it most directly weakens the author's argument.

By mastering the process of elimination and becoming familiar with common traps and distractors, you can more efficiently and accurately tackle LSAT Critical Reasoning questions.

Practice, practice, practice:

There's no substitute for consistent practice. Dedicate time to work on LSAT Critical Reasoning questions daily, and review your mistakes to understand where you went wrong and how to improve.

Topper's Recommended Books for Solving LSAT Critical Reasoning Questions 

You should read the following books to prepare for the analytical reasoning section of the LSAT India 2023 exam. 

S. No.	Name of Books	Name of the Author or Publisher
1.	Exam Krackers LSAT Analytical Reasoning	David Lynch
2.	Shortcuts in Reasoning (Verbal, Non-Verbal & Analytical) for Competitive Exams	Disha Experts
3.	Hacking The LSAT: Full Explanations For LSATs	Graeme Blake

Sample LSAT Logical Reasoning Practice Questions with Answers PDF 

Here are the sample LSAT Logical Reasoning questions with their answers:

1. Stimulus: The rate of shark attacks has increased in the past year. Some experts argue that it is due to the growing seals population, the sharks' primary food source. However, others claim that the increased rate of shark attacks results from more people swimming in the ocean.

Question Stem: Which of the following statements, if true, would best support the claim that the increased rate of shark attacks results from more people swimming in the ocean?

Answer Choices:

A) Seal populations have remained stable in areas where shark attacks have increased.

B) Shark attacks primarily occur in shallow waters close to shore.

C) Sharks are more likely to attack humans than seals.

D) The majority of shark attacks on humans are non-fatal.

E) Sharks prefer warm water, which is also more appealing to swimmers.

Answer: A) Seal populations have remained stable in areas where shark attacks have increased.

2. Stimulus: All of the apples in a barrel are either red or green. If 60% of the apples in the barrel are green, the remaining apples must be red.

Question Stem: The conclusion above follows logically if which one of the following is assumed?

Answer Choices:

A) There are no apples of any other colour in the barrel.

B) The ratio of green apples to red apples remains constant over time.

C) Red apples are more popular than green apples.

D) The percentage of green apples in the barrel is decreasing.

E) The total number of apples in the barrel is divisible by five.

Answer: A) There are no apples of any other colour in the barrel.

3. Stimulus: Some people claim that watching violent movies causes individuals to become more aggressive. However, research has shown that aggression levels do not significantly increase immediately after watching a violent movie.

Question Stem: The information above most strongly supports which one of the following conclusions?

Answer Choices:

A) Watching violent movies does not cause long-term increases in aggression levels.

B) Individuals who watch violent movies are already predisposed to aggression.

C) Short-term increases in aggression levels are not necessarily caused by watching violent movies.

D) Violent movies do not appeal to individuals with low aggression levels.

E) The research on the relationship between violent movies and aggression is inconclusive.

Answer: C) Short-term increases in aggression levels are not necessarily caused by watching violent movies.

Conclusion

With these expert tips, tricks, and strategies in your toolkit, you can tackle those LSAT Critical Reasoning questions like a pro. Remember, understanding the question types, applying time management techniques like the 30-60 rule, and consistent practice will significantly improve your performance in this challenging section.