Critical Reasoning basics

[abhisays]

One word that you need to know in order to solve GMAT Critical Reasoning questions is premise.

A premise is a fact, a given or data. It is the factual basis that we accept as true.

Examples:
The company lost $1,000,000.
John has dark hair.
Statistics show that women live longer than men on average.
Historians have recently found more records describing the crusades.

[abhisays]

Two important words that you need to know in order to solve GMAT Critical Reasoning questions are argument and argue.

The word argument has two meanings. In everyday English it is usually used as a synonym for a debate or disagreement. However, in the GMAT it is used more often in its second meaning, which is a claim.

Example:
An argument involves the process of establishing a claim and then proving it with the use of logical reasoning, examples, and research.

In the same way, the verb argue has two meanings in English. The first one, used in everyday language, means to lead a conversation about a disagreement. In the GMAT, however, the more common meaning of to argue is to claim, to express a belief.

Example:
Some argue that allowing anyone to edit it makes Wikipedia unreliable.

In Critical Reasoning questions, an argument is a set of one or more sentences known as the premises, along with another sentence known as the conclusion.

Example:
An argument is made up of premises (data) and a conclusion which was drawn on the basis of these premises.

[abhisays]

Some necessary vocabulary for Critical Reasoning questions:

Assume means to take as granted or true.

Example:
GMAT testees are assumed to know English well.

Assumption is a statement that is considered to be true, even if there is no information or not enough information to support it.

Example:
GMAT writers work under the assumption that GMAT testees know English well.

[abhisays]

One word that you need to know in order to solve GMAT Critical Reasoning questions is conclusion.

A conclusion is a position, opinion or judgment reached after a consideration of evidence or facts.

Example: If John beats Jane at a single chess game, one possible conclusion is that he is a better chess player.

As you can see from this example, although it can be concluded that John is a better chess player than Jane is, it has not been proven. Although there is some evidence, this conclusion is still an opinion held by the author.

[abhisays]

A premise is the basis upon which you draw a conclusion, or, if you’re not careful, jump to a conclusion. You begin with by considering the premise (the information), and on the basis of that premise you reach a conclusion

[abhisays]

Conjunctions - words such as but, because, therefore and moreover - are a great tool for identifying the argument's components:

Conclusion conjunctions help us identify the conclusion, which normally appears AFTER such words. This group includes therefore, thus, consequently, hence, so, which means that, it follows that, etc. For example:

Structure: [premise]. Therefore, [conclusion].

Example: Jane is hungry. Therefore, she will be making herself a sandwich soon

[abhisays]

Reason conjunctions also help identify the conclusion, which appears BEFORE these words. Reason words include words such as because, since, and as.

Structure: [conclusion] because [premise].
Example: Jane will be making herself a sandwich soon because she is hungry.

Naturally, this means reason conjunctions can also help us identify the premise, which will appear immediately AFTER these words, as can be seen in the example above.