LNAT Argument Evaluation 5

Question 1

A columnist claims: 'Since the unemployment rate fell after tax cuts were introduced, tax cuts reduce unemployment.' Which additional piece of evidence would most strengthen this causal claim?

Accepted Answer

Countries that did not cut taxes saw unemployment rise during the same period

Answer

A control comparison showing divergent outcomes for non-treatment cases strengthens the causal inference.

Question 2

Which of the following is a necessary condition for an inductive argument to be considered strong?

Accepted Answer

The premises must make the conclusion more likely to be true

Answer

A strong inductive argument is one where the premises make the conclusion probable, not certain.

Question 3

An editorial argues: 'We must act on climate change now. Anyone who disagrees is in the pay of fossil fuel companies.' This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Poisoning the well / ad hominem

Answer

Dismissing all opposition by impugning their motives rather than addressing their arguments is poisoning the well.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the role of a 'counter-example' in evaluating a universal claim?

Accepted Answer

A single counter-example is sufficient to disprove a universal claim

Answer

Logic dictates that one genuine exception falsifies a claim of the form 'All X are Y.'

Question 5

A passage argues that renewable energy cannot replace fossil fuels because the wind doesn't always blow and the sun doesn't always shine. Which response most effectively rebuts this?

Accepted Answer

Storage technology and grid diversification can compensate for intermittency, making continuous supply feasible

Answer

Directly addressing the intermittency problem by citing technological solutions undermines the core premise of the argument.

LNAT Practice Test

LNAT Practice Test

LNAT Argument Evaluation 5