ieGAT Critical Thinking and Argumentation 2

Question 1

A marketing manager argues: 'Our ad campaign must have worked — brand awareness jumped 20% after we ran it.' Which of the following, if true, most undermines this conclusion?

Accepted Answer

A viral news story unrelated to the campaign prominently featured the company during the same period.

Answer

The campaign ran for only two weeks.

Answer

The campaign was the most expensive in company history.

Answer

Brand awareness was measured by an external research firm.

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of an appeal to authority used invalidly?

Accepted Answer

A famous actor endorses a brand of running shoes as superior for athletic performance.

Answer

A cardiologist recommends a specific heart medication.

Answer

A Nobel Prize-winning economist endorses a tax policy based on their research.

Answer

A structural engineer certifies that a bridge meets safety standards.

Question 3

Statement: 'If the economy grows, unemployment falls. The economy has not grown. Therefore, unemployment has not fallen.' What type of reasoning error does this represent?

Accepted Answer

Denying the antecedent

Answer

Modus tollens

Answer

Modus ponens

Answer

Affirming the consequent

Question 4

An analyst claims: 'Ice cream sales and drowning rates both peak in summer; therefore, ice cream causes drowning.' This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Confusing correlation with causation

Answer

Straw man fallacy

Answer

Ad hominem attack

Answer

Circular reasoning

Question 5

Which of the following most accurately identifies a hidden assumption in this argument? 'We should invest in renewable energy because fossil fuel reserves are finite.'

Accepted Answer

Finite fossil fuel reserves make renewable energy a worthwhile investment.

Answer

Fossil fuels are currently more expensive than renewables.

Answer

Renewable energy technology is already mature and cost-effective.

Answer

Governments will subsidize renewable energy projects.

Question 6

A CEO says: 'Our competitor failed because they expanded too quickly. We must therefore never expand quickly.' Which flaw in reasoning does this illustrate?

Accepted Answer

Overgeneralizing from a single case to form a universal rule

Answer

Correctly applying a lesson learned from industry experience

Answer

Making a valid inductive inference based on sufficient evidence

Answer

Using circular reasoning to justify the existing strategy

Question 7

Evaluate the following argument: 'This investment must be safe because no investor has complained about losses.' What is the primary weakness?

Accepted Answer

Absence of complaints does not prove safety; investors may be unaware of losses or reluctant to report them.

Answer

The argument relies on expert testimony.

Answer

The argument uses anecdotal evidence from too large a sample.

Answer

The premise and conclusion are logically unrelated.