LNAT Critical Analysis 3

Question 1

A judge reasons: 'In every similar case this court has ruled in favor of the defendant; therefore, we must rule the same here.' What kind of reasoning is this?

Accepted Answer

Analogical reasoning

Answer

The judge is drawing on the similarity between past cases and the current one to justify the conclusion, which is analogical reasoning.

Question 2

Which of the following arguments contains a circular reasoning fallacy?

Accepted Answer

The Bible is true because it says so in the Bible

Answer

Using the Bible to prove the Bible's truth assumes what it is trying to establish, making it circular.

Question 3

A lawyer argues that since her client donates to charity, he could not have committed fraud. What fallacy does this commit?

Accepted Answer

Irrelevant appeal to character

Answer

Charitable donations are irrelevant to whether someone committed fraud; the argument substitutes character praise for evidence.

Question 4

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of a 'necessary condition'?

Accepted Answer

Oxygen is required for fire to burn

Answer

Oxygen is a necessary condition for fire because without it, fire cannot occur, regardless of other factors.

Question 5

A passage states: 'Most violent offenders have consumed alcohol before committing crimes. Therefore, alcohol causes violence.' What is the main weakness of this argument?

Accepted Answer

Correlation between alcohol use and violence does not establish causation

Answer

The argument assumes that because two things frequently co-occur, one causes the other, ignoring alternative explanations.

LNAT Practice Test

LNAT Practice Test

LNAT Critical Analysis 3