Logical Reasoning & Argument Analysis Flashcards

Which choice best identifies the main flaw in 'Everyone is buying this phone, so it must be the best'?

Answer: Bandwagon appeal to popularity

Assuming popularity proves quality is a bandwagon fallacy.

An argument concludes that a bridge is safe because 'it was inspected last year.' Which question most challenges this?

Answer: Has its condition changed since the inspection?

Conditions may have deteriorated since the inspection, weakening the conclusion.

Which sentence contains a premise rather than a conclusion?

Answer: The roads are icy this morning

A premise provides supporting information rather than the final claim.

A writer argues that because a policy benefits the majority, the minority's objections don't matter. This reasoning ignores:

Answer: Whether majority benefit justifies harming the minority

It assumes majority benefit automatically overrides minority concerns, which needs justification.

Which choice most strengthens 'Students who eat breakfast score higher on tests'?

Answer: A randomized study controlling for other factors confirmed the link

A controlled randomized study isolates breakfast as the cause of higher scores.

'You can't trust his economic plan because he's not even an economist.' This dismisses the argument by:

Answer: Attacking credentials instead of the plan's content

Rejecting an idea based on the person's title, not its merits, is a form of ad hominem.

Which is the best definition of a sound deductive argument?

Answer: One with true premises and a valid structure

A sound argument is valid in form and has all true premises.