Resolve, Reconcile, Explain — Cheat Sheet

What it asks

Fact A

Something true.

Fact B

Also true, and it seems to clash with Fact A.

Find the answer that makes both facts true at the same time.

In the question stem, look for the words resolve, reconcile, or explain. If one shows up, it's an RRE question.

"...most helps to resolve the apparent paradox..."

"...most helps to explain the discrepancy..."

"...best reconciles the conflicting facts..."

"...most helps to explain how both X and Y can be true..."

There's no argument here, just two facts. Note both, and state the contradiction as clearly as you can.

The clearer the contradiction, the easier the rest gets.

Go choice by choice. Stay flexible: the right answer may not look the way you expected, so test every option instead of locking onto a prediction.

If this answer were true, could it resolve the contradiction?

Pick the one that needs the fewest extra assumptions.

Makes both facts true at the same time.

Adds a missing piece you didn't know about.

Doesn't deny either fact.

If both facts can sit side by side without contradiction, that's your answer.

Denies a factSays one of the two facts isn't really true.

Partial explanationExplains a piece of the puzzle, but not all of it.

Blocks explainingA vague claim that prevents explaining anything.

Deepens itMakes the contradiction harder to reconcile.

New puzzleAdds a new contradiction on top.

Step 1Spot the stem: resolve, reconcile, or explain.

Step 2Read the stimulus: both facts, and the contradiction.

Step 3Test each answer: if it's true, does it resolve the contradiction?

The right answer makes both facts true at the same time.