All flashcards
Flashcard 1: What is a rebuttal in an argument?
Answer: A response intended to weaken an opposing point or objection. Rebuttals directly counter objections or counterpremises to strengthen the argument's position and defend the conclusion.
Flashcard 2: Which statement is most likely the conclusion: a broad recommendation or a specific factual report?
Answer: A broad recommendation. Conclusions often take the form of broad recommendations or opinions that the argument seeks to establish, unlike factual reports which typically serve as premises.
Flashcard 3: Identify the conclusion: "Because the roads are icy, the school should close today."
Answer: The school should close today. The conclusion is the main claim supported by the premise about icy roads, indicated by the structure where 'because' introduces the reason.
Flashcard 4: Identify the conclusion: "The device is unreliable; therefore, it should not be deployed."
Answer: It should not be deployed. The conclusion follows 'therefore,' representing the recommended action based on the premise of the device's unreliability.
Flashcard 5: Identify the conclusion: "The survey sampled only volunteers, so the results are biased."
Answer: The results are biased. The conclusion asserts the bias, logically derived from the premise about the survey's sampling method using 'so' as an indicator.
Flashcard 6: Identify the conclusion: "In sum, the policy will reduce emissions without harming growth."
Answer: The policy will reduce emissions without harming growth. The phrase 'in sum' signals the conclusion, encapsulating the argument's final claim about the policy's dual benefits.
Flashcard 7: Identify the conclusion: "If the claim were true, we would see X; we do not, so the claim is false."
Answer: The claim is false. The conclusion denies the claim, following a conditional structure where the absence of expected evidence leads to rejection via 'so.'
Flashcard 8: Identify the conclusion: "Although costs rose, the program should continue because outcomes improved."
Answer: The program should continue. Despite the concession about rising costs, the conclusion advocates continuation, supported by the premise of improved outcomes introduced by 'because.'
Flashcard 9: Identify the conclusion: "Most reviewers praised the book; hence it is worth reading."
Answer: It is worth reading. The word 'hence' indicates the conclusion, which is the evaluative claim drawn from the premise about reviewers' praise.
Flashcard 10: Identify the conclusion: "Since the contract is unsigned, it is not legally binding."
Answer: It is not legally binding. The conclusion states the legal status, supported by the premise introduced by 'since' regarding the contract's unsigned nature.
Flashcard 11: Identify the conclusion: "The species is declining; accordingly, it should be protected by law."
Answer: It should be protected by law. The conclusion proposes legal protection as a response, following 'accordingly' which links it to the premise of species decline.
Flashcard 12: Identify the conclusion: "For example, three cities cut crime after lighting upgrades; thus lighting deters crime."
Answer: Lighting deters crime. The word 'thus' signals the conclusion, which generalizes a causal relationship from the evidence of crime reduction in example cities.
Flashcard 13: Identify the conclusion: "The experiment lacked a control group. Therefore, no causal claim is justified."
Answer: No causal claim is justified. The conclusion rejects causal claims, indicated by 'therefore' and based on the premise of the experiment's methodological flaw.
Flashcard 14: Identify the main conclusion: "The data are noisy, so the estimate is uncertain; therefore, we should delay the launch."
Answer: We should delay the launch. The main conclusion is the final recommendation introduced by 'therefore,' supported by an intermediate conclusion about uncertainty derived from noisy data.
Flashcard 15: What is a counterpremise in an argument?
Answer: A reason that supports an opposing conclusion. Counterpremises present opposing evidence or reasons that challenge the argument's conclusion by supporting an alternative viewpoint.
Flashcard 16: What is background information in an argument?
Answer: Context that frames the issue but does not support the conclusion. Background information sets the stage for the argument by providing necessary context without directly contributing to the logical support of the conclusion.
Flashcard 17: What is a subsidiary (intermediate) conclusion?
Answer: A supported claim that also serves as a premise for the main conclusion. Subsidiary conclusions are intermediate steps that are supported by premises and in turn support the argument's ultimate conclusion.
Flashcard 18: Which phrase most often introduces evidence rather than a conclusion: "for instance" or "hence"?
Answer: For instance. Phrases like 'for instance' commonly precede examples that serve as evidence to bolster premises, not the main conclusion.
Flashcard 19: Which indicator word most strongly signals a premise: "because," "thus," or "in sum"?
Answer: Because. Premise indicators like 'because' introduce reasons or evidence that support the argument's main claim.
Flashcard 20: Which indicator word most strongly signals a conclusion: "therefore," "because," or "for example"?
Answer: Therefore. Words like 'therefore' typically precede the conclusion, indicating the logical outcome of the preceding premises.
Flashcard 21: Which part of an argument answers the question, "Why should I believe it?"
Answer: The premises (supporting reasons/evidence). Premises explain the rationale by offering evidence or reasons that make the conclusion believable.
Flashcard 22: Which part of an argument answers the question, "So what should I believe?"
Answer: The conclusion. The conclusion directly addresses what the argument ultimately advocates believing, serving as the endpoint of the reasoning process.
Flashcard 23: What is a premise in an argument?
Answer: A supporting reason or evidence offered for the conclusion. Premises provide the foundational support, such as facts or reasons, that logically lead to and justify the argument's conclusion.
Flashcard 24: What is an argument conclusion in GRE Verbal terms?
Answer: The main claim the author is trying to establish. In GRE Verbal Reasoning, the conclusion represents the primary assertion that the argument aims to persuade the reader to accept based on provided premises.
Flashcard 25: What is a concession in an argument?
Answer: An acknowledged opposing point that the author still maintains does not overturn the conclusion. Concessions recognize valid opposing points to demonstrate fairness, yet argue they do not undermine the overall conclusion.