GRT GRT Critical Thinking 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of a 'false dichotomy' fallacy?
- 'You're either with us or against us — there is no middle ground.' (Correct answer)
- 'Studies show that exercise reduces stress levels.'
- 'The economy grew last quarter, so the policy is working.'
- 'Most employees prefer flexible hours.'
Correct answer: 'You're either with us or against us — there is no middle ground.'
A false dichotomy presents only two options as if no other possibilities exist, when in reality there may be a spectrum of choices.
Question 2: An argument concludes that because Event A happened before Event B, Event A must have caused Event B. What is this called?
- Post hoc ergo propter hoc (Correct answer)
- Straw man fallacy
- Appeal to authority
- Hasty generalization
Correct answer: Post hoc ergo propter hoc
Post hoc ergo propter hoc is the fallacy of assuming causation simply because one event preceded another.
Question 3: A manager says: 'We should not adopt this new software because we have always done things the old way.' Which fallacy does this represent?
- Appeal to tradition (Correct answer)
- False analogy
- Circular reasoning
- Bandwagon fallacy
Correct answer: Appeal to tradition
Appeal to tradition assumes that because something has always been done a certain way, it must continue to be done that way, without evaluating its merits.
Question 4: If the statement 'No successful project was completed without proper planning' is true, which of the following must also be true?
- If a project was completed successfully, it had proper planning (Correct answer)
- If a project had proper planning, it was completed successfully
- Projects without proper planning always fail
- Proper planning guarantees project success
Correct answer: If a project was completed successfully, it had proper planning
The original statement means proper planning is a necessary condition for project success, so any successful project must have had it.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes 'inductive reasoning'?
- Drawing a general conclusion from specific observations (Correct answer)
- Applying a general rule to reach a specific conclusion
- Arguing from authority to establish a fact
- Using emotional appeals to persuade an audience
Correct answer: Drawing a general conclusion from specific observations
Inductive reasoning moves from specific examples or observations to a broader generalization or hypothesis.
Question 6: A politician claims: 'Crime rates fell after I took office, proving my policies work.' What additional information would MOST weaken this claim?
- Crime rates fell by similar amounts in neighboring regions with different policies (Correct answer)
- The politician won office with a large majority of votes
- Crime statistics are collected by an independent agency
- The crime rate had fluctuated in previous years
Correct answer: Crime rates fell by similar amounts in neighboring regions with different policies
If crime fell equally in places without the politician's policies, it suggests the decline is due to broader factors rather than those specific policies.
GRT GRT Critical Thinking 2
Which of the following is an example of a 'false dichotomy' fallacy?