LNAT Critical Analysis 5

Question 1

A newspaper editorial states: 'Nine out of ten dentists recommend this toothpaste, so it must be the best.' What is the weakest point of this argument?

Accepted Answer

The sample of dentists and the criteria for 'best' are not specified

Answer

Dentists are not qualified to evaluate toothpaste

Answer

Toothpaste quality is entirely subjective

Answer

Nine out of ten is not a meaningful statistic

Question 2

Which of the following most accurately distinguishes between 'deductive' and 'inductive' reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Deductive reasoning guarantees a true conclusion if premises are true; inductive reasoning only makes the conclusion probable

Answer

Deductive reasoning moves from specific cases to general principles; inductive reasoning does the opposite

Answer

Deductive reasoning is used in science; inductive reasoning is used in law

Answer

Inductive reasoning is always stronger than deductive reasoning

Question 3

A court decision states: 'Because this defendant confessed, and confessions are reliable, he is guilty.' What assumption is the court relying on?

Accepted Answer

All confessions are always true and never coerced

Answer

The defendant had legal representation

Answer

Guilt requires more than a single piece of evidence

Answer

The crime carries a custodial sentence

Question 4

A commentator writes: 'Professor Smith supports rent control. But Smith was once arrested for tax evasion, so his economic views cannot be trusted.' This argument commits which fallacy?

Accepted Answer

Ad hominem

Answer

Appeal to authority

Answer

Tu quoque

Answer

Genetic fallacy

Question 5

Which of the following would most weaken the argument: 'Higher minimum wages cause unemployment because businesses cannot afford more labor costs'?

Accepted Answer

Some businesses have large profit margins and can absorb higher wages without cutting jobs

Answer

Workers prefer higher wages to better working conditions

Answer

Minimum wage laws vary by state

Answer

Higher wages reduce worker turnover

Question 6

A passage concludes that a proposed policy is wrong because it was championed by a discredited politician. What type of fallacy is present?

Accepted Answer

Genetic fallacy

Answer

Appeal to nature

Answer

False analogy

Answer

Equivocation

Question 7

An LNAT passage presents an argument with premises P1 and P2 leading to conclusion C. A student wants to show the argument is unsound. Which strategy is most effective?

Accepted Answer

Show that at least one premise is false or that C does not follow from P1 and P2

Answer

Argue that the conclusion C is undesirable

Answer

Find a different argument that reaches a different conclusion

Answer

Claim the author is biased