AWA Argument Deconstruction 2

Question 1

An argument states: 'Sales of our product dropped after we changed the packaging, so the new packaging caused the decline.' What logical flaw is present?

Accepted Answer

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Answer

Circular reasoning

Answer

False dichotomy

Answer

Ad hominem

Question 2

Which question best challenges: 'Our city should ban fast food restaurants because obesity rates have risen in recent years'?

Accepted Answer

Are there other factors contributing to rising obesity rates?

Answer

Do fast food restaurants employ many people?

Answer

How long have fast food restaurants been in the city?

Answer

What is the cost of operating a fast food restaurant?

Question 3

When an AWA argument cites a survey of 50 volunteers at a health clinic to represent the general population's views, the best critique targets:

Accepted Answer

The sample's lack of representativeness

Answer

The survey's wording

Answer

The number of questions asked

Answer

The timing of the survey

Question 4

An argument concludes that a policy will work in City B because it worked in City A. Which assumption must be true for this to hold?

Accepted Answer

The two cities are sufficiently similar in relevant respects

Answer

City A and City B have the same mayor

Answer

The policy was implemented at the same time in both cities

Answer

Both cities have the same population size

Question 5

The phrase 'either we raise taxes or public services will collapse' exemplifies which fallacy?

Accepted Answer

False dilemma

Answer

Slippery slope

Answer

Straw man

Answer

Appeal to authority

Question 6

An AWA argument says: 'Expert nutritionist Dr. Smith endorses our supplement, so it must be effective.' The primary weakness is:

Accepted Answer

Dr. Smith may be biased or outside her area of expertise

Answer

The supplement has not been tested on animals

Answer

Nutritionists disagree on many topics

Answer

The argument does not cite a second expert

Question 7

Which evidence would most strengthen an argument claiming that longer school days improve student test scores?

Accepted Answer

A controlled study showing score gains in schools that extended hours versus comparable schools that did not

Answer

A list of schools with long days

Answer

Teacher opinions favoring longer days

Answer

National average test scores from last year