IDAT Critical Thinking and Analysis 2

Question 1

A study finds that students who eat breakfast score higher on tests. A researcher concludes that eating breakfast causes better test performance. What logical error does this conclusion make?

Accepted Answer

Correlation does not imply causation

Answer

The sample size is too small

Answer

The study lacks a control group

Answer

The test scores are unreliable

Question 2

Which of the following best illustrates an ad hominem fallacy?

Accepted Answer

Dismissing an argument because the person making it has a criminal record

Answer

Rejecting a claim because it lacks supporting evidence

Answer

Accepting a conclusion because a majority believes it

Answer

Questioning an argument because it relies on a single example

Question 3

A poll asks, 'Don't you agree that irresponsible drivers should face harsher penalties?' This question is problematic because it:

Accepted Answer

Assumes the premise that certain drivers are irresponsible

Answer

Is too short to gather meaningful data

Answer

Uses technical language unfamiliar to respondents

Answer

Fails to offer enough answer options

Question 4

Passage: 'Every student who joined the tutoring program improved their GPA. Therefore, the tutoring program is the reason for the improvement.' What assumption does this argument rely on?

Accepted Answer

No other factors contributed to the students' GPA improvement

Answer

All students have equal academic ability

Answer

The tutoring program is free of charge

Answer

GPA is the best measure of academic success

Question 5

Which type of reasoning moves from specific observations to a general conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Inductive reasoning

Answer

Deductive reasoning

Answer

Abductive reasoning

Answer

Analogical reasoning

Question 6

A company argues: 'Our product is the best because no competitor has proven it is not.' This argument is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Appeal to ignorance

Answer

Appeal to authority

Answer

Hasty generalization

Answer

False dilemma

Question 7

A text states: 'Sales rose 20% after the ad campaign launched.' The most critical follow-up question to evaluate this claim is:

Accepted Answer

What were sales trends in the same period before and without the campaign?

Answer

How much did the ad campaign cost?

Answer

What product was being advertised?

Answer

Who designed the advertising campaign?