ASET Critical Thinking 3

Question 1

Which of the following best describes the 'straw man' fallacy?

Accepted Answer

Misrepresenting someone's argument to make it easier to attack

Answer

The straw man fallacy involves distorting an opponent's argument into a weaker version that is easier to refute.

Question 2

What is the purpose of identifying the main assumption in an argument?

Accepted Answer

To determine whether the argument would collapse if the assumption were false

Answer

Testing an argument's main assumption reveals how dependent the conclusion is on that unproven belief.

Question 3

Which of the following weakens the argument that 'standardized tests are the best measure of student ability'?

Accepted Answer

Research shows standardized tests favor students with access to expensive test prep

Answer

Evidence of socioeconomic bias undermines the claim that standardized tests fairly measure ability.

Question 4

When an argument appeals to popularity ('Everyone believes X, so X must be true'), what fallacy is being committed?

Accepted Answer

Ad populum

Answer

The ad populum fallacy claims something is true simply because many people believe it, which is not valid reasoning.

Question 5

A student argues: 'We improved our study schedule, and our grades went up, so the new schedule caused the improvement.' What fallacy might this be?

Accepted Answer

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Answer

Post hoc reasoning assumes that because one event followed another, the first caused the second, without ruling out other factors.

ASET - Academic Selection Entrance Test Practice Test