Arguments
A study finds that students who eat breakfast score higher on tests. Therefore, eating breakfast causes higher test scores.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?
A) Students who eat breakfast also tend to get more sleep.
B) Breakfast foods contain nutrients.
C) Many students skip breakfast due to being late.
D) Teachers encourage students to eat breakfast.
A) Students who eat breakfast also tend to get more sleep.
Argument: “If a company wants to succeed, it must advertise. MegaCorp is successful, so it must advertise.”
Which assumption does this argument require?
A) Only advertising leads to success.
B) All successful companies advertise.
C) MegaCorp has existed for many years.
D) Advertising is expensive.
B) All successful companies advertise.
Argument: “The new stadium has more seats than the old one. Therefore, more people will attend games.”
The flaw is:
A) Assumes more seats = higher attendance.
B) Assumes tickets are more affordable.
C) Ignores location.
D) Ignores weather.
A) Assumes more seats = higher attendance.
Passage: Many cities have introduced bike-sharing programs to reduce traffic congestion. While some studies suggest modest decreases in traffic, others indicate no significant effect.
Question: The author’s main point is:
A) Bike-sharing programs eliminate traffic.
B) The effectiveness of bike-sharing on traffic is uncertain.
C) Traffic always decreases when bike-sharing is introduced.
D) Bike-sharing has no benefits.
B) The effectiveness of bike-sharing on traffic is uncertain.
An advertisement claims: “People who take Brand Z vitamins are healthier than those who don’t. Therefore, Brand Z makes people healthier.”
Which choice most strengthens the argument?
A) Brand Z users exercise more often.
B) A controlled study found Brand Z users had fewer illnesses than a placebo group.
C) Healthier people tend to buy more supplements.
D) Doctors rarely recommend Brand Z.
B) A controlled study found Brand Z users had fewer illnesses than a placebo group.
Argument: “All the employees who received promotions had excellent performance reviews. Therefore, the company promotes only people with excellent reviews.”
What’s an assumption?
A) No employees with excellent reviews were denied promotions.
B) Employees are promoted randomly.
C) All employees want promotions.
D) Some promotions were based on seniority.
A) No employees with excellent reviews were denied promotions.
Argument: “Some cats are friendly. Therefore, all cats are friendly.”
What flaw is committed?
A) Equivocation
B) Confusing ‘some’ with ‘all’
C) Causation error
D) Circular reasoning
B) Confusing ‘some’ with ‘all.’
Passage: Research shows that bees are essential pollinators for many crops. However, bee populations have been declining due to pesticide use and habitat loss, raising concerns about food security.
Question: The passage primarily suggests that:
A) Bee populations are increasing.
B) Food security may be threatened by bee population decline.
C) Pesticides improve crop yields.
D) Habitat loss has no effect on bees.
B) Food security may be threatened by bee population decline.
The city raised the tax on soda to reduce obesity. After one year, soda sales declined, but obesity rates remained the same.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the claim that the soda tax reduces obesity?
A) Many people switched to diet soda.
B) Consumers began drinking more fruit juice, which is also high in sugar.
C) Obesity rates are affected by genetics.
D) The tax generated revenue for schools.
B) Consumers began drinking more fruit juice, which is also high in sugar.
Argument: “If the city builds a new subway line, traffic congestion will decrease.”
Which of the following is a necessary assumption?
A) Some commuters will switch from cars to the subway.
B) Subway tickets will be affordable.
C) Subway lines are safe.
D) Most people prefer driving.
A) Some commuters will switch from cars to the subway.
Argument: “During recessions, ice cream sales drop. So, low ice cream sales cause recessions.”
This argument is flawed because:
A) It assumes correlation equals causation.
B) It ignores supply.
C) It assumes recessions are temporary.
D) It assumes ice cream is expensive.
A) Assumes correlation equals causation.
Passage: In 1920, women in the United States gained the right to vote through the 19th Amendment. While this was a milestone for equality, women continued to face barriers such as limited access to political office.
Question: The author would most likely agree that:
A) The 19th Amendment completely solved gender inequality.
B) Women’s political participation faced challenges even after gaining the right to vote.
C) Political office was equally accessible to women after 1920.
D) The 19th Amendment was unnecessary.
B) Women’s political participation faced challenges even after gaining the right to vote.
A researcher argues: “Cities with more public parks have lower crime rates. Therefore, adding parks to a city will lower crime.”
Which of the following most weakens the researcher’s conclusion?
A) Crime rates are measured differently across cities.
B) Cities with lower crime may have more resources to build parks.
C) Parks give young people a safe space for recreation.
D) Some parks are poorly maintained.
B) Cities with lower crime may have more resources to build parks.
Argument: “Online courses provide the same quality as in-person classes, so tuition should be the same.”
What’s an assumption?
A) Students value quality equally in both settings.
B) Tuition pricing is determined only by quality.
C) Professors prefer online teaching.
D) Online platforms cost less to operate.
B) Tuition pricing is determined only by quality.
Argument: “Most students who study late at night do well on exams. Therefore, studying late at night causes good performance.”
Flaw:
A) Ignores other factors (like prior knowledge or total study time).
B) Assumes exams are fair.
C) Assumes everyone studies.
D) Ignores the difficulty of the exam
A) Ignores other factors (like prior knowledge or total study time).
Passage: Some scientists argue that artificial intelligence (AI) will lead to massive job losses, while others believe it will create new types of work. The true impact may depend on how quickly industries adopt AI and how societies adapt.
Question: The passage suggests that the impact of AI on jobs:
A) Is guaranteed to be negative.
B) Will depend on adoption speed and societal adaptation.
C) Has already eliminated all jobs.
D) Cannot be studied scientifically.
B) The impact of AI on jobs will depend on adoption speed and societal adaptation.
A survey found that people who volunteer regularly report being happier. The researcher concludes: “Volunteering makes people happier.”
Which statement, if true, most strongly weakens this conclusion?
A) People who are already happy are more likely to volunteer.
B) Volunteers sometimes experience stress.
C) Happiness is difficult to measure.
D) Many people volunteer only once per year.
A) People who are already happy are more likely to volunteer.
Argument: “Company X’s profits rose after it started remote work. Therefore, remote work caused the increase.”
Which assumption is required?
A) No other major changes contributed to profit growth.
B) Employees are happier working remotely.
C) Remote work reduces expenses.
D) Remote work will always increase profits.
A) No other major changes contributed to profit growth.
Argument: “No evidence has been found that meditation cures cancer. Therefore, meditation definitely does not cure cancer.”
The flaw is:
A) Mistakes absence of evidence for evidence of absence.
B) Assumes cancer is incurable.
C) Overgeneralizes from few cases.
D) Confuses correlation with causation.
A) Mistakes absence of evidence for evidence of absence.
Passage: Philosophers debate whether morality is objective or subjective. Objectivists argue that moral truths exist independently of human opinion, while subjectivists contend that morality is shaped by cultural and personal perspectives. The author does not take a position but emphasizes the significance of the debate for ethics and law.
Question: Which of the following best summarizes the passage?
A) Morality is subjective and shaped by culture.
B) Moral truths exist independently of opinion.
C) The debate over morality’s objectivity has important implications.
D) The author believes morality is purely objective.
C) The debate over morality’s objectivity has important implications.