Physician Assistant Academic Ability 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which logical fallacy is committed when someone argues, 'You can't trust Dr. Smith's research on smoking because he once smoked himself'?
- Straw man
- Ad hominem (Correct answer)
- False dichotomy
- Slippery slope
Correct answer: Ad hominem
An ad hominem fallacy attacks the person rather than evaluating the merits of the argument or evidence.
Question 2: A table shows that 60 out of 400 patients developed a side effect. What percentage of patients experienced the side effect?
- 12%
- 15% (Correct answer)
- 18%
- 20%
Correct answer: 15%
60 / 400 = 0.15 = 15%.
Question 3: The word 'ameliorate' most nearly means:
- Worsen
- Improve (Correct answer)
- Evaluate
- Eliminate
Correct answer: Improve
To ameliorate means to make something bad or unsatisfactory better.
Question 4: A researcher wants to determine the median of the following data set: 7, 3, 12, 5, 9. What is the median?
- 7 (Correct answer)
- 9
- 5
- 3
Correct answer: 7
Ordered: 3, 5, 7, 9, 12 — the middle value is 7.
Question 5: Which of the following is an example of deductive reasoning?
- Observing 100 patients recover and concluding the treatment works
- Noting that all mammals breathe air and concluding that whales breathe air (Correct answer)
- Surveying a sample and generalizing to a population
- Forming a hypothesis based on repeated clinical observations
Correct answer: Noting that all mammals breathe air and concluding that whales breathe air
Deductive reasoning applies a general rule (all mammals breathe air) to a specific case (whales) to reach a certain conclusion.
Question 6: A PA student must read a 180-page textbook chapter in 3 hours. At what rate must they read?
- 50 pages/hour
- 55 pages/hour
- 60 pages/hour (Correct answer)
- 65 pages/hour
Correct answer: 60 pages/hour
180 pages ÷ 3 hours = 60 pages per hour.
Question 7: The BEST way to strengthen an argument in an academic paper is to:
- Use emotional language to persuade the reader
- Cite peer-reviewed evidence that directly supports the claim (Correct answer)
- Repeat the thesis multiple times throughout the paper
- Present only one perspective without acknowledging counterarguments
Correct answer: Cite peer-reviewed evidence that directly supports the claim
Peer-reviewed evidence provides credible, verifiable support that directly strengthens academic arguments.
Physician Assistant Academic Ability 3
Which logical fallacy is committed when someone argues, 'You can't trust Dr.
Smith's research on smoking because he once smoked himself'?