Critical Thinking and Analysis Flashcards
6 cards from real AQL practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Critical Thinking and Analysis flashcards as text
What is the 'hasty generalization' fallacy?
Answer: Drawing a broad conclusion from a small or unrepresentative sample
A hasty generalization occurs when a general rule is derived from too few examples or a biased sample, making the conclusion unreliable.
In critical thinking, 'synthesis' involves:
Answer: Combining information from multiple sources to form a new, integrated understanding
Synthesis is the process of combining ideas and information from multiple sources to create a new, unified perspective or argument.
What is the 'appeal to authority' fallacy?
Answer: Claiming something is true because an authority figure says so, without other supporting evidence
The appeal to authority fallacy occurs when someone asserts a claim is true solely because an authority endorses it, without providing independent supporting evidence.
Which element is essential for an argument to be considered 'sound'?
Answer: The argument must be both valid and have true premises
A sound argument is both logically valid (the conclusion follows from the premises) and has premises that are actually true.
What does it mean to 'evaluate evidence' in the context of the AQL exam?
Answer: Determine whether the evidence is relevant, sufficient, and reliable
Evaluating evidence means judging whether it is relevant to the claim, sufficient in quantity, and reliable in quality and source.
The 'straw man' fallacy involves:
Answer: Misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to refute
The straw man fallacy creates a distorted or weakened version of someone's argument and then attacks that distortion instead of the actual position.