LSAT Reading Flashcards: Strengthen And Weaken

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Strengthen And Weaken, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for LSAT Reading.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Which option type is typically a trap in Strengthen/Weaken: restating facts or changing the topic?

Answer: Changing the topic away from the argument's conclusion. Topic shifts distract from the actual claim being evaluated.

Flashcard 2: What is the primary goal of a Strengthen question in LSAT Reading Comprehension?

Answer: Choose the option that most increases support for the passage claim. Strengthening means adding evidence that makes the claim more likely to be true.

Flashcard 3: What is the best weakening move when an argument relies on a causal claim?

Answer: Undermine causation by proposing confounds, reverse causation, or coincidence. These factors break the causal link the argument depends on.

Flashcard 4: Which option best weakens a generalization from a sample to a population?

Answer: The option showing the sample is biased, small, or unrepresentative. Flawed samples undermine the validity of generalizations.

Flashcard 5: What is the correct approach when multiple answer choices seem to strengthen or weaken?

Answer: Choose the one with the greatest impact on the stated claim. The best answer has the strongest effect on the argument's validity.

Flashcard 6: Which option type most strongly weakens a causal claim in a passage?

Answer: A plausible alternative cause explaining the effect. Alternative causes show the stated cause may not be responsible for the effect.

Flashcard 7: Identify the correct evaluation: a choice that attacks a minor detail but not the main support for the conclusion.

Answer: It is usually a weak weaken answer and likely incorrect. Effective weakening must target the core reasoning, not peripheral points.

Flashcard 8: Choose the word that best describes a Strengthen/Weaken task: prove, support, or paraphrase?

Answer: Support. Strengthen/Weaken questions ask for support, not proof or restatement.

Flashcard 9: What kind of information most weakens a generalization drawn from a sample?

Answer: Evidence the sample is biased or unrepresentative. Biased samples lead to invalid generalizations about the population.

Flashcard 10: Which option best weakens a prediction claim: new confirming data or a counterexample to the forecast?

Answer: A counterexample to the forecast. Counterexamples directly contradict predictions, weakening them most effectively.

Flashcard 11: What is the most common reasoning gap that Strengthen answers tend to address?

Answer: An unstated assumption linking evidence to conclusion. Arguments often rely on hidden assumptions that connect premises to conclusions.

Flashcard 12: Which option best strengthens a generalization from a sample to a population?

Answer: The option showing the sample is representative and sufficiently broad. Representative samples make generalizations more reliable.

Flashcard 13: What is the primary goal of a Weaken question in LSAT Reading Comprehension?

Answer: Choose the option that most decreases support for the passage claim. Weakening means providing evidence that makes the claim less likely to be true.

Flashcard 14: Which option best weakens an argument that relies on an expert's authority?

Answer: Evidence of bias, poor track record, or lack of relevant expertise. These factors undermine the expert's reliability as a source.

Flashcard 15: What is the best strengthening move when an argument relies on a causal claim?

Answer: Support causation by ruling out confounds or confirming the causal mechanism. Eliminating confounds or showing mechanism strengthens causal claims.

Flashcard 16: Identify the first step you should take before evaluating answer choices in Strengthen/Weaken.

Answer: Locate the exact claim being supported or attacked. You must know precisely what you're strengthening or weakening before evaluating options.

Flashcard 17: Which option best strengthens an argument that "$A$ causes $B$" based only on correlation between $A$ and $B$?

Answer: Evidence from a controlled test where changing $A$ changes $B$ while confounds are held constant. Controlled experiments establish causation beyond mere correlation.

Flashcard 18: Which option most strengthens an argument when it addresses the argument's key assumption?

Answer: The option that makes the assumption more likely to be true. Strengthening an assumption strengthens the entire argument built on it.

Flashcard 19: What is the most common strengthening move involving alternative explanations?

Answer: Rule out a plausible alternative cause or interpretation. Eliminating alternatives makes the author's explanation more likely correct.

Flashcard 20: Which option best weakens an argument that "$A$ causes $B$" based only on correlation between $A$ and $B$?

Answer: Evidence of a third factor $C$ that causes both $A$ and $B$. Common cause explains correlation without $A$ causing $B$.

Flashcard 21: Identify the best strengthening move when a passage uses an analogy to support a conclusion.

Answer: Show the compared cases share the relevant features. Analogies work when the compared situations are relevantly similar.

Flashcard 22: Which option most weakens an argument when it targets the argument's key assumption?

Answer: The option that makes the assumption less likely or unnecessary. Attacking an assumption undermines the logical connection in the argument.

Flashcard 23: What is the most common weakening move involving alternative explanations?

Answer: Provide a plausible alternative cause or interpretation. Alternative explanations reduce the necessity of the author's conclusion.

Flashcard 24: Identify what you should do if an answer choice strengthens a minor point but not the main claim.

Answer: Eliminate it; prioritize impact on the main claim. Focus on the central claim, not peripheral points in the passage.

Flashcard 25: Identify the answer choice that is usually wrong in Strengthen/Weaken: relevant, irrelevant, or extreme?

Answer: Irrelevant to the specific claim being evaluated. Irrelevant information neither strengthens nor weakens the argument.

Flashcard 26: Identify the best weakening move when a passage uses an analogy to support a conclusion.

Answer: Show a relevant disanalogy between the cases. Disanalogies show the comparison fails due to important differences.

Flashcard 27: What kind of information most strengthens a generalization drawn from a sample?

Answer: Evidence the sample is representative of the population. Representative samples allow valid generalizations to the broader population.

Flashcard 28: Which option best weakens an argument that infers "policy $P$ will succeed" from "$P$ worked once before"?

Answer: A key difference showing the prior case is not comparable to the current case. Showing dissimilarity undermines analogical reasoning.

Flashcard 29: Identify the first step you should take before evaluating answer choices in Strengthen/Weaken tasks.

Answer: Identify the conclusion and the evidence the author uses to support it. Understanding the argument structure helps you target what needs strengthening/weakening.

Flashcard 30: Which option best strengthens an argument that relies on an expert's authority?

Answer: Evidence the expert is credible and speaking within expertise. Authority arguments depend on the expert's qualifications and objectivity.

Flashcard 31: Identify the best weakening move against an argument that infers cause from correlation.

Answer: Show confounding, reverse causation, or coincidence. These alternatives explain correlation without the claimed causal relationship.

Flashcard 32: What is an assumption in an RC argument, as tested by Strengthen and Weaken questions?

Answer: An unstated link required for the evidence to support the conclusion. Assumptions bridge gaps between evidence and conclusion but aren't explicitly stated.

Flashcard 33: What should you identify to target a Strengthen/Weaken task: conclusion, evidence, or both?

Answer: Both: identify the conclusion and the evidence offered for it. Understanding the argument structure helps identify what support or attack would be effective.

Flashcard 34: Which option type most strongly strengthens a causal claim in a passage?

Answer: Evidence ruling out alternative causes. Eliminating alternatives makes the proposed cause more likely to be correct.

Flashcard 35: Identify what you should treat as the correct answer if multiple choices are relevant in Strengthen/Weaken.

Answer: The choice with the greatest impact on the conclusion's support. LSAT rewards the choice with maximum strengthening/weakening effect.