BCAT Critical Thinking

Question 1

A BCAT candidate reads: 'All law students who passed the BCAT scored above 60. James scored above 60.' What conclusion can be drawn?

Accepted Answer

James may or may not have passed the BCAT

Answer

James must be a law student who passed the BCAT

Answer

James failed the BCAT

Answer

James did not take the BCAT

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of an ad hominem fallacy in a legal argument?

Accepted Answer

Attacking the opponent's character rather than their argument

Answer

Citing irrelevant statistics

Answer

Making a false analogy

Answer

Overgeneralizing from limited evidence

Question 3

In critical thinking for the BCAT, a 'straw man' fallacy occurs when:

Accepted Answer

You misrepresent an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack

Answer

You use emotional language to persuade

Answer

You cite authority without evidence

Answer

You present a false dilemma

Question 4

Which reasoning error is present in: 'We should reject the new evidence because the lawyer who presented it has been wrong before'?

Accepted Answer

Ad hominem

Answer

False dichotomy

Answer

Circular reasoning

Answer

Slippery slope

Question 5

A BCAT passage states: 'Either the defendant was at the scene or he is innocent.' This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A false dichotomy

Answer

A valid disjunction

Answer

Deductive reasoning

Answer

An analogy

Question 6

Which of the following best strengthens a deductive argument?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring the premises are true and the argument is valid

Answer

Adding more premises regardless of their truth

Answer

Using persuasive language

Answer

Citing well-known legal authorities