Phenomenon-hypothesis (RC)

(PhenRC)

Passages that focus on describing or evaluating potential explanations for a given phenomenon. Causal reasoning features prominently in these passages.

Avg. 2.6 per section

Key tactics

  • In Reading Comp, phenomenon-hypothesis reasoning is often displayed on a grander scale, with whole paragraphs dedicated to describing the phenomenon and presenting the hypothesis.
  • You should aspire to recognize phenomenon-hypothesis reasoning by name when it appears, and to associate it immediately with the concepts and strategies familiar to you from LR.
  • Anticipate strengthen, weaken, and explain questions associated with the passage, which you should address similarly to their cousins in LR: focus on evaluating alternate hypotheses, bolstering or challenging the causal mechanism, and evaluating whether scientific experiments have been conducted appropriately.

Answer choice tips

  • The main point of a Phenomenon-hypothesis passage depends on the presence of the author’s opinion:
  • If the author supports an explanation, the main point is the success or promise of that explanation.
  • If the author doesn’t support any explanation but criticizes someone else’s explanation, the main point is the shortcomings of that explanation.
  • If the author doesn’t express any opinion and just neutrally presents one or more explanations, the main point is that the proposed hypothesis (or hypotheses) serves to explain (or potentially explain) the phenomenon.

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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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