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Time

(Time)

Analogy between the past, the present, or the future. Arguments that assume past circumstances (e.g. I have always lost the baking contest) support inferences about circumstances in the present or future (e.g. I will lose tomorrow's baking contest).

Avg. 0.1 per section
Analogy (LR)
13%
40%
20%
20%
7%

Avg. difficulty: 2.7

Key tactics

  • The Time tag is a subset of the Analogy tag. Arguments will often assume the past is analogous to the present or future, when in reality there may be relevant differences between the two periods.
  • When you see a word indicating time (e.g. "recently"), there is a high chance it will be tied to the rightness or wrongness of at least one answer choice. Learn to recognize them across all question types and across both LR and RC.
  • Not all analogies between different time periods are improper - different periods of time are always similar in some ways and distinct in others. What matters is if there are RELEVANT differences that affect the author's specific conclusion.

Answer choice tips

  • Example answer choices that point to this flaw:
  • fails to consider that a belief can be consistent with the available evidence and accepted scientific theories at one time but not with the accepted evidence and theories of a later time.
  • ignores the possibility that new reasons for restricting growth have arisen in the past five years.
  • presumes, without providing justification, that occurrences that have coincided in the past must continue to coincide.
  • presents an appeal to tradition as the only reason for rejecting the proposal.

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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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