Distinguish between "Inference" and "Guess"
In everyday conversation, people often use the word "infer" as a fancy synonym for "guess". However the two are different. The word "infer" means that you know for sure based on the information provided, but the author did not explicitly state that information. Consider a conditional logic example:
| If A g B | |
| If B g C |
From this information, we may infer that If A g C.
Now, look at a guess:
| If A g B | |
| If B g C | |
| _______ | |
| Guess: | If A g D |
Can we infer (must be true) If A g D ? Definitely not, as the information provided does not mention D. Thus, the above shows a guess.
This guess is built on the assumption: If C g D.
| Premise | If A g B |
| Premise | If B g C |
| Assumption: | If C g D |
| Guess: | If A g D |
When you read LSAT reading comprehension questions, look closely at the language used. For example, consider LSAT PrepTest 49, Passage 4, Question 25. The question asks for what must be true based on the passage information. Thus, seek to distinguish between the incorrect answer choices that often could be true (yet could be false), and the correct answer choice, which must be true (cannot be false). But, LSAT reading comprehension questions more often ask for which choice has the "most support" (such as LSAT PrepTest 49, Passage 4, Question 27), and thus you should seek what is supported, rather than what must be true.