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Resolve reconcile or explain

(RRE)

Stems that ask us to resolve an apparent paradox, reconcile two seemingly inconsistent facts, or explain a counterintuitive phenomenon presented in the stimulus.

Avg. 1.95 per section

“Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy in the information above?”

21%
26%
31%
14%
7%

Avg. difficulty: 2.6

Correct answer criteria

  • Something that, if true, would help explain the apparently conflicting facts in the stimulus.

Key tactics

  • Usually the stimulus involves an apparent contradiction or conflict
  • Try to identify the two things that seem to conflict - why don't these seem to go together?

Answer choice tips

  • The correct answer just needs to help provide a potential explanation that resolves the discrepancy. It's OK for the correct answer to require a small, reasonable assumption
  • Wrong answers will either be irrelevant or make the discrepancy more difficult to explain

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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