ISAT - International Student Admissions Argument Evaluation and Flaws 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A politician argues: 'Country X banned plastic bags and saw a 10% reduction in ocean pollution. Therefore, if we ban plastic bags, we will also see a 10% reduction.' What flaw is present?
- Appeal to emotion
- Assuming that results from one country will directly transfer to another with potentially different circumstances (Correct answer)
- Straw man fallacy
- Circular reasoning
Correct answer: Assuming that results from one country will directly transfer to another with potentially different circumstances
Different countries have different pollution sources, enforcement capabilities, and consumer behaviors, making direct comparison unreliable.
This is a faulty analogy. The politician assumes Country X's experience will replicate in their country, ignoring differences in pollution composition, enforcement infrastructure, and existing regulations.
Question 2: An editorial states: 'Professor Smith, a renowned physicist, says that the new economic policy will fail. We should take his expert opinion seriously.' What is the primary flaw?
- The professor might be biased
- Expertise in physics does not constitute expertise in economics -- this is an inappropriate appeal to authority (Correct answer)
- The economic policy hasn't been tried yet
- The editorial doesn't present counterarguments
Correct answer: Expertise in physics does not constitute expertise in economics -- this is an inappropriate appeal to authority
Physics expertise does not transfer to economics. Citing a physicist as an authority on economic matters is a misapplication of appeal to authority.
A valid appeal to authority requires relevant expertise. Professor Smith's physics credentials provide no basis for trusting his economic judgment.
Question 3: 'Since we started using the new textbook, test scores have improved by 15%. The new textbook is clearly more effective than the old one.' Evaluate this argument.
- The argument is logically sound because improved scores prove textbook effectiveness
- The argument assumes the textbook is the only variable that changed and ignores potential confounding factors (Correct answer)
- The 15% improvement is too small to be meaningful
- The argument is valid because textbooks directly determine test scores
Correct answer: The argument assumes the textbook is the only variable that changed and ignores potential confounding factors
The argument commits the post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy by attributing score improvement solely to the textbook without considering other factors.
Numerous confounding variables could explain the improvement: different student cohort, teacher experience growth, additional tutoring, or testing methodology changes. Without controlled comparison, the attribution is unjustified.
Question 4: 'We should not adopt renewable energy because solar panels require mining for rare earth minerals, which harms the environment.' Identify the argumentative flaw.
- The claim about mining is factually incorrect
- The argument uses a part-to-whole flaw, judging an entire category by one component's drawback while ignoring net environmental comparison (Correct answer)
- Renewable energy is too expensive
- The argument is logically valid
Correct answer: The argument uses a part-to-whole flaw, judging an entire category by one component's drawback while ignoring net environmental comparison
The argument cherry-picks one environmental cost of one technology to reject all renewable energy, while failing to compare total impacts against fossil fuels.
Multiple flaws compound: composition fallacy (solar mining applied to all renewables), incomplete comparison (ignoring fossil fuel impacts), and perfectionist fallacy (rejecting an option because it isn't perfect).
Question 5: A company CEO states: 'Our employees are happy because our turnover rate is lower than the industry average.' Which assumption makes this argument most vulnerable?
- That the industry average is accurately measured
- That low turnover necessarily indicates employee satisfaction rather than factors like limited alternative employment or compensation lock-in (Correct answer)
- That the CEO has access to turnover data
- That employee happiness is important for business
Correct answer: That low turnover necessarily indicates employee satisfaction rather than factors like limited alternative employment or compensation lock-in
Low turnover can result from lack of alternatives, unvested benefits, or inertia, none of which indicate genuine satisfaction.
The CEO equates staying with being happy, but retention and satisfaction are distinct. Employees may remain due to golden handcuffs, limited job markets, or switching costs.
Question 6: 'If we allow students to use calculators in class, soon they won't be able to do any math without technology, and eventually they'll lose all ability to think logically.' What type of flaw is this?
- Ad hominem attack
- Slippery slope -- the argument assumes an extreme chain of consequences without demonstrating that each step necessarily follows (Correct answer)
- False dilemma
- Begging the question
Correct answer: Slippery slope -- the argument assumes an extreme chain of consequences without demonstrating that each step necessarily follows
The argument jumps from calculator use to complete inability to think logically through unsubstantiated steps.
The slippery slope presents a chain of events as inevitable without justifying each link. Calculator use does not necessarily prevent mental math, and computation ability is not identical to logical reasoning.
ISAT - International Student Admissions Argument Evaluation and Flaws 2
A politician argues: 'Country X banned plastic bags and saw a 10% reduction in ocean pollution.
Therefore, if we ban plastic bags, we will also see a 10% reduction.' What flaw is present?