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Principle

(Princ)

Stems that tell us one part of the question (the stimulus or the answer choices) will feature a "principle" or "generalization" that the other part of the question will "illustrate" or "conform to." Typically MSS or PSAr.

Avg. 0.4 per section

“The journalist's reasoning most closely conforms to which one of the following principles?”

20%
28%
34%
12%
7%

Avg. difficulty: 2.6

Correct answer criteria

  • Principle questions are either MSS or PSAr. So the same criteria apply here. If MSS, the answer will be very strongly supported by the information in the stimulus. If PSAr, the answer will greatly improve the reasoning of the argument.

Key tactics

  • Read the stimulus carefully and try to identify the underlying principle or generalization.
  • Practice generalizing in your own words but don't get too attached to what you come up with. Your wording choice will not necessarily be the same as what the test writers come up with. So keep your eyes and mind open.
  • The stimulus typically presents a specific situation or example. Our task is to identify the underlying principle or generalization illustrated by the stimulus. These questions hone in on the distinction between what is specific and what is general.

Answer choice tips

  • Wrong answers will tend to also be stated in general terms but they won't apply to the specific description or illustration in the stimulus.

Looking for more?

7Sage offers a full course of video lessons that cover each question type in depth, targeted drills, and performance analytics.

Logical reasoning question types

Alternate explanation Analogy (LR) Argument part Bad authority Causal chain Causal mechanism Causal reasoning Circular reasoning Conditional reasoning Confusing sufficiency and necessity Correlation Diagram? Directionally wrong Eliminating options Equivocation Evaluate Except (LR) Failed alternate explanation False dichotomy Fighting the hypothetical Fill in the blank Flaw or descriptive weakening Illusory inconsistency Inference Internal contradiction Irrelevant corroboration Kick it up Lack of support v. false conclusion Link assumption Main conclusion or main point Math Mental state v. reality Method of reasoning or descriptive Miscellaneous (LR) Misdirected response Most strongly supported Must be false Must be true Necessary assumption Parallel flawed method of reasoning Parallel method of reasoning Part v. whole Phenomenon-hypothesis (LR) Plausibility Point at issue: agree Point at issue: disagree Principle PSA - find or complete the application PSA - find the rule Quantifier Relative v. absolute Resolve reconcile or explain Rule-application Sampling Source attack Strengthen Sufficient assumption Time Unwarranted assumption Value judgment Weaken Weighing factors

Reading comprehension question types

Analogy (RC) Application Art Author’s attitude Author’s perspective Comparative Critique or debate Describe approach Describe organization Describe relationship Except (RC) Humanities Implied Law Logical continuation Main point Meaning in context (of word, phrase, or idea) Miscellaneous (RC) Other’s perspective Phenomenon-hypothesis (RC) Principle or generalization Problem-analysis Purpose in context (of word, phrase, or idea) Purpose of paragraph Purpose of passage Science Single position Spotlight Stated Structure WSE (RC)

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