LNAT Critical Analysis 2

Question 1

A politician states: 'Crime rates fell every year I was in office, proving my policies worked.' What is the primary flaw in this reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Correlation is mistaken for causation

Answer

Falling crime rates during a tenure does not prove the politician's policies caused the decline, as many other factors could be responsible.

Question 2

Which of the following best describes a 'straw man' fallacy?

Accepted Answer

Misrepresenting an opponent's position to make it easier to attack

Answer

A straw man fallacy involves distorting or exaggerating an opponent's argument to make it easier to refute.

Question 3

A study claims that people who eat breakfast daily earn higher salaries. A newspaper headline reads: 'Eating Breakfast Makes You Richer.' What error has the newspaper made?

Accepted Answer

Inferring causation from correlation

Answer

The newspaper wrongly implies breakfast causes higher salaries, when the study only shows an association that could be explained by other variables.

Question 4

An arguer claims: 'Either you support this new law or you are against public safety.' This is an example of which fallacy?

Accepted Answer

False dichotomy

Answer

The argument presents only two options when in reality there are more nuanced positions possible.

Question 5

A passage argues that because medieval scholars believed the Earth was flat, people today should question scientific consensus. Which principle best counters this argument?

Accepted Answer

Past errors in belief do not invalidate the current scientific method

Answer

The fact that past beliefs were wrong does not mean current well-evidenced consensus is similarly flawed; the argument conflates historical error with perpetual doubt.

LNAT Practice Test

LNAT Practice Test

LNAT Critical Analysis 2