SATs Critical Thinking & Reasoning 3

Question 1

A company claims its supplement 'may support immune health.' Which critical thinking skill is most important when evaluating this claim?

Accepted Answer

Recognizing hedging language that avoids a specific claim

Answer

Words like 'may support' are deliberately vague and avoid making a testable claim, which a critical thinker should recognize.

Question 2

Students at a university who major in philosophy score highest on the LSAT. A student concludes that studying philosophy will guarantee high LSAT scores. The best counter to this conclusion is:

Accepted Answer

Students who choose philosophy may already have stronger analytical skills

Answer

Self-selection bias means philosophy majors may already possess the analytical skills measured by the LSAT before studying philosophy.

Question 3

An argument assumes what it is trying to prove as part of its own evidence. This is known as:

Accepted Answer

Circular reasoning

Answer

Circular reasoning (begging the question) occurs when the conclusion is used as a premise to support itself.

Question 4

A candidate says: 'If we allow stricter gun laws, eventually the government will take away all personal freedoms.' This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Slippery slope fallacy

Answer

The slippery slope fallacy assumes one moderate action will inevitably lead to an extreme outcome without sufficient evidence.

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of an inference rather than a direct observation?

Accepted Answer

The patient has a fever

Answer

A fever is inferred from the thermometer reading and symptoms; it is a conclusion drawn from evidence, not a direct observation.

SATs (Standard Assessment Test) Practice Test

SATs (Standard Assessment Test) Practice Test

SATs Critical Thinking & Reasoning 3