LOGICAL REASONING: Principle-Application Questions: Not Anything New
You’ve seen this type of question on recent tests. It offers a Principle followed by an Application of that Principle. The question stem then asks you something about the relationship between the two. Preptest 61, section 4, question 19 for example asks, “Which of the following, if true, justifies the above application of the principle?” Same with PT 65, section 1, question 14; PT 63, section 1, question 18; and PT 67, section 2, question 5 (not an exhaustive list).
Don't be fooled by clever LR disguises
Other questions accompanying the Principle + Application pairing have included, “The application of the principle is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that…” (PT 64, section 1, question 2) and “From which of the following sets of facts can the conclusion be properly drawn using the principle?” (PT 63, section 3, question 22).
How can we think about these questions?
First off, do you notice anything familiar about any of the question stems quoted above? You should–you’ve seen them all before. The question in the first paragraph–the one with the word “justify”–resembles a strengthen question. The latter two a flaw question (“vulnerable to criticism”) and sufficient assumption question (“can the conclusion be properly drawn”), respectively.
For this reason, one way to think about these Principle-Application questions is to view them as assumption family questions. There is a gap between the principle and its application; you’re asked something about that gap. Do you want to help close it (strengthen the relationship)? Identify it (find the flaw)? Or close it completely (find the sufficient assumption)? Thinking of these questions this way will enable you to be prepared for unexpected questions, too. What if you were told to weaken the connection? Or find a necessary assumption in the application? Approaching this type of question the way you already know how–because you understand assumption family questions–will also hopefully spare you “ah! Not a new question type!” anxiety.