PERT Critical Thinking & Logical Reasoning 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: If it rains, the game is canceled. The game was not canceled. What follows?
- It rained
- It did not rain (Correct answer)
- The game was postponed
- Nothing follows
Correct answer: It did not rain
By contrapositive, if the game was not canceled, it did not rain.
Question 2: Which option weakens the claim 'Studying late at night causes poor grades'?
- Many late-night students earn high grades (Correct answer)
- Some students dislike mornings
- Tests are usually in the afternoon
- Coffee keeps students awake
Correct answer: Many late-night students earn high grades
Late-night students with high grades contradict the causal claim.
Question 3: A statement that cannot be both true and false at the same time illustrates:
- The principle of contradiction (Correct answer)
- Circular logic
- A false analogy
- Confirmation bias
Correct answer: The principle of contradiction
The principle of non-contradiction says a claim can't be true and false simultaneously.
Question 4: 'We should ban the proposal because the person who suggested it once lied.' This fallacy is:
- Straw man
- Ad hominem (Correct answer)
- Slippery slope
- Red herring
Correct answer: Ad hominem
Attacking the person instead of the proposal is an ad hominem fallacy.
Question 5: Which inference is valid: 'Some employees are managers, and all managers attended training'?
- All employees attended training
- Some employees attended training (Correct answer)
- No employees attended training
- Only managers are employees
Correct answer: Some employees attended training
Since some employees are managers and managers trained, some employees attended training.
Question 6: What is the main purpose of identifying an author's bias?
- To dismiss all their claims
- To evaluate the reliability of their argument (Correct answer)
- To copy their writing style
- To find spelling errors
Correct answer: To evaluate the reliability of their argument
Recognizing bias helps judge how much weight to give the argument.
Question 7: Given 'Either the meeting is Monday or Tuesday. It is not Monday,' the meeting is:
- Wednesday
- Tuesday (Correct answer)
- Canceled
- Undetermined
Correct answer: Tuesday
Eliminating Monday from the two options leaves Tuesday.
PERT Critical Thinking & Logical Reasoning 3
If it rains, the game is canceled.
The game was not canceled.
What follows?