Identify Premises and Evidence - Verbal Reasoning
- What is a counterpremise in GRE argument analysis?
- A statement that counts against the conclusion. Counterpremises present opposing information that weakens or challenges the argument's conclusion, highlighting potential flaws or alternatives.
- Which phrase most directly signals supporting evidence: "for instance" or "thus"?
- For instance. Evidence indicators like 'for instance' introduce specific examples or data that illustrate and substantiate a claim or premise.
- Which phrase most directly signals a premise: "because" or "however"?
- Because. Premise indicators such as 'because' precede statements that offer reasons or justifications for accepting the argument's conclusion.
- What is a conclusion in an argument, as used in GRE Verbal Reasoning?
- The main claim the author is trying to establish. The conclusion represents the ultimate point or thesis that the argument aims to persuade the reader to accept based on provided support.
- What is a premise in an argument, as used in GRE Verbal Reasoning?
- A statement offered as support for a conclusion. In argument structure, premises provide the foundational reasons or justifications that lead to accepting the conclusion as true.
- What is evidence in an argument, in GRE critical reasoning terms?
- Facts or observations used to support a claim. Evidence consists of empirical data or specific examples that bolster the validity of premises or the overall argument in critical reasoning.
- Identify the conclusion: "If demand falls, prices drop. Demand fell, so prices dropped."
- Prices dropped. The conclusion is the final deduced outcome following 'so,' derived from the conditional and factual premises.
- What is an intermediate conclusion in a multi-step argument?
- A claim supported by premises that also supports the main conclusion. Intermediate conclusions serve as bridging claims, derived from initial premises and used to further support the argument's ultimate conclusion.
- Identify the conclusion: "The report is incomplete; therefore, it should not be published."
- It should not be published. The conclusion follows 'therefore' and represents the recommended action based on the premise of incompleteness.
- Which phrase most directly signals a conclusion: "therefore" or "for example"?
- Therefore. Conclusion indicators like 'therefore' introduce the inferred claim that follows logically from preceding premises or evidence.
- Identify the premise: "Because the streets are wet, it must have rained."
- The streets are wet. The premise follows 'because' and provides the observational reason supporting the argument's conclusion about rain.
- What is a sub-premise (support for a premise) in argument structure?
- A statement that supports another premise rather than the main conclusion. Sub-premises provide additional support to main premises, strengthening the foundational layer without directly addressing the primary conclusion.
- What is background information (in argument analysis) as opposed to a premise?
- Context that does not provide support for the conclusion. Background information sets the scene or provides necessary context without directly contributing to the logical support of the argument's conclusion.
- What is the simplest test to identify a premise in a short argument?
- Ask: "What reason is given to support the claim?". This question pinpoints premises by examining the justifications or grounds provided to make the conclusion more plausible.
- Identify the conclusion: "The streets are wet, so it must have rained."
- It must have rained. The conclusion is the inferred claim following 'so,' representing the main point deduced from the observed premise.
- Identify the evidence phrase: "For example, three trials showed the same effect."
- Three trials showed the same effect. The evidence is the specific illustrative detail following 'for example,' providing empirical support for a broader claim.
- Which direction does support flow: from premises to conclusion, or from conclusion to premises?
- From premises to conclusion. Logical support in arguments moves from foundational statements (premises) to the derived claim (conclusion), establishing justification unidirectionally.
- Identify the intermediate conclusion: "Sales fell, so profits fell; thus, layoffs are likely."
- Profits fell. The intermediate conclusion is derived from the initial premise and serves to support the main conclusion about layoffs.
- Identify the main conclusion: "Sales fell, so profits fell; thus, layoffs are likely."
- Layoffs are likely. The main conclusion is the ultimate claim following 'thus,' encompassing the overall argument's final inference.
- What is the simplest test to identify the conclusion in a short argument?
- Ask: "What is the author trying to prove?". This question isolates the argument's primary claim by focusing on the author's intent to convince the reader of a specific point.
- Identify the counterpremise: "Although costs rose, profits increased, so the strategy worked."
- Costs rose. The counterpremise, introduced by 'although,' acknowledges an opposing factor that contrasts with the positive conclusion.
- Identify the premises: "If demand falls, prices drop. Demand fell, so prices dropped."
- Premises: If demand falls, prices drop; Demand fell. These statements form the foundational support, with the conditional and fact leading logically to the conclusion.
- Identify the premise: "The report should not be published since it is incomplete."
- The report is incomplete. The premise follows 'since' and offers the reason why the report should not be published, supporting the conclusion.
- What is a concession in an argument (for example, "granted that...")?
- An acknowledged point that may oppose the conclusion. Concessions recognize potential counterarguments or opposing facts, often to strengthen the overall argument by addressing them preemptively.