Mental state v. reality

(MvR)

Stimuli that feature a jump from a claim about a mental state to a claim about reality (or vice versa).

Avg. 0.35 per section
11%
8%
34%
30%
17%

Avg. difficulty: 3.3

Key tactics

  • The argument turns on the distinction between things that are true inside people's heads (mental state) and things that are true in the outside world (reality).
  • Examples:
  • Just because Shana believes the store opens at 9am doesn't mean that the store actually opens at 9am.
  • We read in the stimulus that a recipe calls for 4tbsp of salt and we erroneously project that knowledge by assuming that a chef also knows that the recipe calls for 4tbsp of salt.
  • Just because someone hits a bicyclist with a car doesn't mean that he did it intentionally.

Answer choice tips

  • Example answer choices that point to this flaw:
  • asserting something without justification is not the same as asserting something one knows to be false
  • a claim is inferred to be false merely because a majority of people believe it to be false
  • assumes that an action has an effect only if it was performed in order to bring about that effect.

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Logical reasoning question types

Argument part Evaluate Fill in the blank Flaw or descriptive weakening Inference Main conclusion or main point Method of reasoning or descriptive Most strongly supported Must be false Must be true Necessary assumption Parallel flawed method of reasoning Parallel method of reasoning Point at issue: agree Point at issue: disagree Principle PSA - find or complete the application PSA - find the rule Resolve reconcile or explain Strengthen Sufficient assumption Weaken

Reading comprehension question types

Analogy (RC) Application Author’s attitude Author’s perspective Describe approach Describe organization Describe relationship Implied Logical continuation Main point Meaning in context (of word, phrase, or idea) Other’s perspective Principle or generalization Purpose in context (of word, phrase, or idea) Purpose of paragraph Purpose of passage Stated Structure WSE (RC)

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