The Most Common Trap: "Can't Tell" vs "False"

While the Can't Tell vs True error is more common, the Can't Tell vs False error is equally costly. This error occurs when a statement seems wrong — either because it conflicts with your expectations or because it appears to conflict with the passage — but the passage does not actually contradict it. This lesson trains you to distinguish between genuine contradiction (False) and the absence of confirmation (Can't Tell).

---

The Core Distinction

Scenario	Correct Answer
The passage says something that conflicts with the statement	False
The passage does not address the topic of the statement	Can't Tell
The statement seems wrong but the passage does not contradict it	Can't Tell
The statement seems unlikely but the passage is silent	Can't Tell

The key question: Does the passage contain specific information that is incompatible with the statement?

• Yes → False
• No → Can't Tell (even if the statement seems absurd)

---

Why This Error Occurs

Reason 1: Using External Knowledge to Contradict