BMAT BMAT Problem Solving & Critical Thinking 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: If 3 machines make 3 widgets in 3 minutes, how many widgets do 9 machines make in 9 minutes?
- 9
- 27 (Correct answer)
- 81
- 3
Correct answer: 27
Each machine makes 1 widget per 3 minutes; in 9 minutes each makes 3 widgets; 9 machines × 3 = 27 widgets.
Question 2: Which argument fallacy assumes causation simply because one event followed another in time?
- Slippery slope
- Post hoc ergo propter hoc (Correct answer)
- Straw man
- False analogy
Correct answer: Post hoc ergo propter hoc
Post hoc ergo propter hoc assumes causation from temporal sequence alone, which is a logical fallacy.
Question 3: A student scores 85% on Section 1 and 70% on Section 2, and both sections are weighted equally. What is the combined average?
- 77.5% (Correct answer)
- 75%
- 80%
- 72.5%
Correct answer: 77.5%
With equal weighting, average = (85 + 70) / 2 = 77.5%.
Question 4: Which of the following WEAKENS the argument 'Banning junk food ads reduces childhood obesity'?
- Countries with ad bans show lower obesity rates
- Children buy junk food regardless of advertising exposure
- Many other factors also significantly influence childhood obesity
- Both B and C weaken the argument (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Both B and C weaken the argument
Both the irrelevance of advertising to purchasing behavior and the existence of other causal factors undermine the argument.
Question 5: A sequence reads: 2, 6, 18, 54, __. What is the next number?
- 108
- 162 (Correct answer)
- 216
- 72
Correct answer: 162
Each term is multiplied by 3: 2→6→18→54→162.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of the 'straw man' fallacy?
- Misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack (Correct answer)
- Using emotional language to persuade the audience
- Making a strong claim without providing evidence
- Assuming that correlation implies causation
Correct answer: Misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack
A straw man fallacy involves distorting or exaggerating another's argument to refute a weaker version instead of the real one.
BMAT BMAT Problem Solving & Critical Thinking 2
If 3 machines make 3 widgets in 3 minutes, how many widgets do 9 machines make in 9 minutes?