LNAT Evaluating Argument Strengths 5

Question 1

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 involves distorting or exaggerating an opposing argument so it can be more easily refuted.

Question 2

Passage: 'Allowing physician-assisted dying will lead to pressure on elderly people to end their lives prematurely.' This argument relies on which type of reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Slippery slope

Answer

A slippery slope assumes that one event will inevitably trigger a chain of increasingly harmful consequences without establishing why this chain is likely.

Question 3

An argument is described as 'valid but unsound.' What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

The logical structure is correct, but at least one premise is false

Answer

A valid argument has correct logical form, but soundness additionally requires all premises to be true; a valid-but-unsound argument fails on the truth condition.

Question 4

Which evidence would most weaken the claim that increased social media use among teenagers causes depression?

Accepted Answer

Depression rates rose before smartphones became widespread among teenagers

Answer

If depression rates were already rising before heavy teenage smartphone use, social media cannot be the primary cause.

Question 5

In an LNAT-style argument passage, what is the purpose of identifying the 'conclusion'?

Accepted Answer

To determine what the author is trying to persuade the reader to believe or do

Answer

The conclusion is the main claim the argument is designed to establish; identifying it is the first step in evaluating argument strength.

LNAT - Law National Aptitude Test Practice Test

LNAT - Law National Aptitude Test Practice Test

LNAT Evaluating Argument Strengths 5