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Assumptions -1 An assumption is merely an unstated (implied) premise. In logically correct arguments which contain an assumption, the premise + assumption = conclusion. If the question stem asks you what is assumed ! then you should identify unstated premise of passage. "ook for a gap in logic.

Assumptions - 2 Ask yourself, #hat must $e true to make the conclusion %alid&! ('sing the premise + assumption = equation formula). ( )emem$er, since the assumption is an '*+,A,-. premise, any answer choice that comes from the passage to support your assumption is necessarily incorrect. ,he answer will $e implied, not e/plicitly stated. Assumption -3 An assumption $ridges the gap $etween argument0s stated premises and conclusion. ( 'se denial test. ( 1ompare premise words against conclusion. 2or assumption questions, find the conclusion and determine which answer choice needs to $e true for a conclusion to $e %alid. Strengthen the Argument 2ind the logical gap and fi/ it with additional information. ,his is the 3*"4 type of 56A, question where additional information (outside of the question) can7should $e used. Correct answers to this question type will: ( 1onnect e%idence with conclusion $etter. ( 6ake conclusion stronger. ( +trengthen the e%idence with new information (perhaps an assumption is needed to make the argument work Strengthen/Weaken +trengthen7#eaken questions are the most common 1ritical )easoning (1)) question type on the 56A,. ( 8reak down piece of e%idence. ( Attack %alidity of an assumption. ( .on0t try to pro%e or dispro%e conclusion. ( ,ip the scales. Strengthen/Weaken .on0t $e careless9 #rong answer choices often ha%e e/actly opposite of desired effect. ( .ou$le:check that your answer satisfies the question stem, not the opposite of the question stem. Weaken/Strengthen #hen you compare two items, you must $e sure that the two items are indeed compara$le.
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n!erence 1onsider the e%idence, draw a conclusion. An inference is an e/tension of an argument, not a necessary part of it. A %alid inference is a conclusion, $ut not necessarily the conclusion, of a set of statements. 2or inference questions, determine which answer choice must a$solutely, positi%ely $e true $ased on what you0%e read. ( <ick the o$%ious answer choice. ( A%oid e/treme answers (too strong or too weak) n!erence "s# Assumption

An inference is a conclusion that can $e drawn $ased on one or more of the statements in the stimulus. An inference must $e true $ased on something that you read. An assumption is a missing $ut necessary piece of e%idence. An assumption is something that must $e true in order for the argument to $e complete
$um%ers& 'ercentages #atch for the distinction $etween *'68-)+ and <-)1-*,A5-+. n!erence Inference questions are usually %ery $asic, a$out one or more premises. <I1= ,>38?I3'+ A*+#-) (e%en if it seems too o$%ious). (esol"e the 'ara)o* ,o sol%e this type of question, look for a logically contradictory discrepancy. ( 3ften the correct answer will take a similar format (in terms of answer length or argument structure). +imic the (easoning 2ollow same line of reasoning from the passage in the answer. -liminate the question stem detail to create a shorthand %ersion of the argument structure. ( @uestion +temA If it rains, then I will stay at home today.! ( +horthandA If A, then 8.! ( AnswerA If A, then 8.! Statistical Assumptions Are the statistics representati%e& Is the question stem doing a lure and switch in terms of num$ers& Is the question stem using num$ers to assume something is so, when the num$ers aren0t actually helping e/plain the phenomenon gi%en&

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, 'rinciples o! C( ;. 'nderstand structure of argument. Identify premise (<), conclusion (1) and any unstated assumptions. "ook for structural signpost words which mark < and 1. B. <re%iew question $efore reading passage. C. <araphrase passage0s point or main idea using one %er$ i.e., e/plain, criticiDe, compare, contrast!.C E. Fudge argument0s persuasi%eness while reading acti%ely. G. Answer question $eing asked. H. <rephrase answer. I. =eep +13<- in mind. 6oderate rather than strong words 7 qualifiers usually correct. 'araphrasing an) 'rephrasing <araphrasing ( Acti%ely translate passages into your own words. ( <retend you are e/plaining the information in a passage to a ;J:year:old kid. <re phrasing ( ,hink a$out what form the correct answer will take. ( As you do more questions, you will $egin to guess! correctly, as you start to think as the test makers do. Strategy Identify the conclusion and find the answer that addresses the conclusion. 6ost questions follow this guideline. E:+tep 6ethod ;. <re%iew question stem. B. )ead stimulus and paraphrase if tricky. C. <rephrase answer. E. 1hoose an answer which answers question stem n)icate -law 'se the information that is present in the passage to answer Indicate the 2law! 1) questions. *ot a$out new information like #eaken! 1) questions. rrele"ant #atch for irrele%ant or o%erly strong answer choices in 1). +tay within +13<- and ,3*- of passage

$egate .Counterattack/

2or assumption questions, negate 1) answer choice to see if the conclusion can sur%i%e

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Statistics

#hen an argument is $ased on statistics, it is usually assumed that the people polled are representati%e of the whole
0uestions n"ol"ing Sur"eys 1onsiderA .oes the sur%ey accurately represent the %iews of the whole group sur%eyed& Is there a statistics $ait and switch&

Scope Shi!ts 8e wary of scope shifts. "ook for tentmakers0 tricksA ( +ometimes a passage will $egin with one group and draw a conclusion a$out another group. +imilarly, a passage might ha%e weak premises and then draw an o%er$road conclusion. ( 3ther times the tone of the passage mo%es so far that the testtaker is left wondering, >ow did that conclusion come a$out&!