Daily_Double wrote:I usually don't have much, if any trouble, with LR, however when I see a question that gives me trouble, I have basically started using shortcuts to find the right answer. I only do this with what I consider to be complex arguments. I'll read the question, figure out what I'm being asked to find, read the argument, develop an understanding of the core of the argument and then do a quick pass of the answer choices. During this first pass I eliminate, not permanently, but just for the purposes of this first pass, the answers which are irrelevant and the answers which are worded too strongly. Usually this leaves me with two answers, one of which is right, and I have been consistently selecting the correct one. While I know this approach is flawed, not only does it cut down time, but I have also not had to make two passes through, in other words, I never eliminate the right answer on the first pass.
Has anyone else been doing this, or has anyone tried to do this on a question and gotten the question wrong as a result of eliminating the wrong answer?
For an example, see PT 33, S1, Q19. I quickly eliminated B, C, and E, leaving A and D, D was obviously the correct answer.
Sorry for the length post, and thank you guys for your help.
yes..used the same technique today for a couple lr questions and on one or two of them i swiped the correct answer on the first pass. After I finished the PT and went back over everything the mistakes became obvious (I circled the questions that I used that technique on). I guess if it works for you, you should continue doing it. I like eliminating answers the way Manhattan spells it out in their LR bible. For example, I look for answers that are completely out of scope of what the question is asking. But, understanding the core argument, I think, is essential. A lot of times I've seen in my philosophy classes people mix up an author's premise with his conclusion or think the evidence is a premise.
I finished PT 7 just a little while ago and I'm somewhat pleasantly surprised. For me at least, LR is going to be the place I need the most work. I went -6 -5 on LR -3 RC and -4 LG-->Raw Score: 83 Scaled 168....I've taken three other exams over the last month and a half and they were 155, 161, 162. Hopefully after I'm done with LRB I'll be hitting the 170s.
How's practice going with you guys?