CCTST Analysis 4

Question 1

An argument contains the phrase 'studies show.' A strong analytical reader should first ask:

Accepted Answer

Which studies, conducted how, and with what results?

Answer

Vague appeals to 'studies' lack specificity; an analyst must probe the methodology, source, and findings before accepting the claim.

Question 2

Which of the following best describes 'parsing' an argument for its logical structure?

Accepted Answer

Identifying the premises, the conclusion, and the inferential links between them

Answer

Parsing an argument means laying bare its logical skeleton: what claims serve as reasons and what claim they are meant to support.

Question 3

A politician argues: 'My opponent wants to reduce military spending—clearly, she wants to leave our country defenseless.' This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Straw man fallacy

Answer

The straw man fallacy misrepresents an opponent's position in an exaggerated or distorted form that is easier to attack.

Question 4

In a deductive argument, if the premises are true and the argument is valid, the conclusion:

Accepted Answer

Must be true

Answer

In a valid deductive argument, true premises guarantee a true conclusion—this is the defining feature of deductive validity.

Question 5

Which technique is most useful for identifying whether two seemingly different arguments actually share the same logical form?

Accepted Answer

Substituting variables for content words and comparing the resulting abstract structures

Answer

Abstracting content into variables reveals the underlying logical form, making structural comparisons possible regardless of subject matter.

(CCTST) California Critical Thinking Skills Test Practice Test