ISAT - International Student Admissions Test International Student Admissions Argument Evaluation and Flaws 1

Question 1

A school board member claims: 'Our rival school introduced a mentoring programme and their graduation rates rose by 12%.
We should introduce the same programme to achieve the same result.' What is the primary flaw in this reasoning?

Accepted Answer

The argument assumes that what worked in one context will produce identical results in a different context

Answer

The argument commits an ad hominem attack on the rival school

Answer

The argument uses emotional language to manipulate the audience

Answer

The argument ignores the cost of implementing a mentoring programme

Question 2

A campaigner argues: 'Either we increase university fees or the quality of education will collapse entirely. We must not let quality collapse, so we have no choice but to raise fees.' What logical flaw does this argument contain?

Accepted Answer

A false dilemma, because it presents only two options when others may exist

Answer

Circular reasoning, because the conclusion restates the premise

Answer

An appeal to authority, because it relies on unnamed experts

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Post hoc reasoning, because it confuses sequence with causation

Question 3

A health report states: 'Countries that consume more chocolate per capita win more Nobel Prizes per capita. Therefore, eating more chocolate makes people smarter.' What is the best evaluation of this argument?

Accepted Answer

It confuses correlation with causation and ignores alternative explanations

Answer

It is valid because the data comes from an official health report

Answer

It correctly identifies chocolate as a cause of improved cognitive function

Answer

It is a sound argument because it is based on statistical evidence

Question 4

A university spokesperson says: 'Our most famous alumnus, a celebrated film director, has publicly stated that our new admission policy is fair. His view should settle the debate.' What flaw is present in this argument?

Accepted Answer

The argument appeals to an authority whose fame is in an unrelated field, making the endorsement irrelevant

Answer

The argument is a valid appeal to relevant expertise

Answer

The argument commits a straw man by misrepresenting opponents of the policy

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The argument is a slippery slope because it predicts extreme future consequences

Question 5

'Students who study abroad for a semester consistently report higher satisfaction with their university experience. We should therefore require all students to study abroad.' Which of the following best identifies the flaw in this argument?

Accepted Answer

It assumes that a policy beneficial for self-selected volunteers will produce the same outcome when imposed on everyone

Answer

It correctly concludes that mandatory study abroad will satisfy all students

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It relies on a false dilemma between studying abroad and staying home

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It commits circular reasoning by using satisfaction to define a good experience

Question 6

A politician argues: 'My opponent has received donations from a pharmaceutical company, so his proposal to expand healthcare access cannot be trusted and should be rejected.' What argumentative flaw does this illustrate?

Accepted Answer

Ad hominem, because it attacks the opponent's character or associations rather than the merits of the proposal

Answer

Slippery slope, because it predicts harmful future consequences from the proposal

Answer

Hasty generalisation, because it draws a broad conclusion from a single donation

Answer

Appeal to tradition, because it prefers the existing healthcare system