BCAT Argument Analysis 3

Question 1

Which of the following is the best definition of a 'necessary condition' in argument analysis?

Accepted Answer

B cannot occur unless A is present, but A alone does not guarantee B

Answer

A guarantees B whenever it occurs

Answer

A and B always occur together

Answer

B occurs regardless of whether A is present

Question 2

An argument reads: 'Prison overcrowding is caused by lenient sentencing. We must introduce stricter minimum sentences.' Which best describes the logical structure?

Accepted Answer

Premise: overcrowding is caused by lenience; conclusion: stricter sentences are needed

Answer

Conclusion: overcrowding is caused by lenience; premise: stricter sentences are needed

Answer

Two unrelated premises with no conclusion

Answer

A circular argument that proves itself

Question 3

What does it mean to say an argument is 'valid but unsound'?

Accepted Answer

The argument's form is logically correct, but at least one premise is false

Answer

The argument's conclusion is false regardless of the premises

Answer

The argument is persuasive but informally structured

Answer

The argument has no conclusion

Question 4

A BCAT question asks you to identify a statement that is 'consistent with' a passage. This means you must find a statement that:

Accepted Answer

Does not contradict anything stated in the passage

Answer

Is explicitly stated in the passage

Answer

Strengthens the main conclusion

Answer

Follows necessarily from the passage

Question 5

Which of the following best illustrates a 'hasty generalisation' fallacy?

Accepted Answer

Two solicitors in my firm are dishonest, so all solicitors are dishonest

Answer

The crime rate fell after the new law was passed, proving the law worked

Answer

Either the defendant confesses or he is guilty

Answer

The judge's decision must be right because he is experienced

Question 6

In a BCAT argument, identifying the 'gap' in reasoning means finding:

Accepted Answer

The missing link between the premises and the conclusion

Answer

An irrelevant premise that should be removed

Answer

A grammatical error in the passage

Answer

The weakest premise in the argument