indyyork
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Vinny Gambini
Vinny Gambini
 
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Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
 
 
 

Weaken/Strengthen EXCEPT questions

by indyyork Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:14 pm

I having some issues understanding these questions prompts, can anyone help me with these kind of questions please!

Here are some examples,

"Each of the following, if true, supports the claim above EXCEPT:"

"All of the following weakens the politician's argument EXCEPT?"

"Each of the following, if true, strengthens the toxicologist's argument EXCEPT?"

"Each of the following, if true, weakens the argument EXCEPT?"

"Each of the following, if true, would strengthen the argument?"

I think my issue is with the word Support or Strengthen the argument/X person, the claim above argument EXCEPT?



Thanks!
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ManhattanPrepLSAT1
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Atticus Finch
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Re: Weaken/Strengthen EXCEPT questions

by ManhattanPrepLSAT1 Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:42 pm

Those can be tricky! It's really easy to get turned around on what the question is asking.

It's really common to think that a question that asks:

Each of the following strengthens the argument, EXCEPT

Is asking for an answer choice that weakens the argument. But that's not the case. Instead 4 of the 5 answers choices will strengthen the argument - eliminate these answer choices. The remaining answer choice is the correct choice. This answer will either weaken the argument or be irrelevant to it.

The reverse is true for the question:

Each of the following weakens the argument, EXCEPT

Here four of the answer choices will weaken the argument - eliminate these. The correct answer will either strengthen the argument or be irrelevant to it.

Hope that helps!