SATs Logical Reasoning & Analysis 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes a 'straw man' fallacy?
- Attacking the character of your opponent instead of their argument.
- Misrepresenting someone's argument to make it easier to refute. (Correct answer)
- Appealing to a large number of people to prove a point.
- Drawing a broad conclusion from a single example.
Correct answer: Misrepresenting someone's argument to make it easier to refute.
A straw man involves distorting an opponent's position to defeat an easier, weaker version of it.
Question 2: An author argues that requiring uniforms reduces bullying. A critic responds, 'The author just wants everyone to look the same — a very conformist view.' This is an example of:
- Modus ponens
- Ad hominem (Correct answer)
- Slippery slope
- Appeal to authority
Correct answer: Ad hominem
The critic attacks the author's character/motive rather than addressing the evidence about uniforms and bullying.
Question 3: Which of the following is an example of analogical reasoning?
- All mammals are warm-blooded; a whale is a mammal; therefore a whale is warm-blooded.
- Because one student cheated, the entire class must be penalized.
- Learning a new language is like learning to ride a bike — difficult at first but natural with practice. (Correct answer)
- If we allow one exception to the rule, soon there will be no rules at all.
Correct answer: Learning a new language is like learning to ride a bike — difficult at first but natural with practice.
Analogical reasoning draws a comparison between two things to suggest a similar relationship or outcome.
Question 4: A slippery slope argument assumes that:
- A small first step will inevitably lead to extreme negative consequences. (Correct answer)
- Two unrelated events share a common cause.
- A premise and conclusion are the same thing restated.
- The majority opinion is necessarily correct.
Correct answer: A small first step will inevitably lead to extreme negative consequences.
A slippery slope claims that one action will trigger a chain reaction ending in an extreme outcome, without proof of each step.
Question 5: Which statement most accurately defines deductive reasoning?
- Reasoning from specific observations to a general conclusion.
- Reasoning from general premises that, if true, guarantee a specific conclusion. (Correct answer)
- Drawing conclusions based on the most likely explanation of evidence.
- Revising a belief based on new contradictory information.
Correct answer: Reasoning from general premises that, if true, guarantee a specific conclusion.
Deductive reasoning moves from general, accepted premises to a logically certain specific conclusion.
Question 6: The argument: 'You should take my advice on nutrition — I've been eating food my whole life' relies on which fallacy?
- False authority (Correct answer)
- Circular reasoning
- Appeal to ignorance
- Bandwagon appeal
Correct answer: False authority
Experience consuming something does not make one an expert on nutrition science — this is a false appeal to authority.
Question 7: Which of the following pairs represents the relationship between inductive and deductive reasoning?
- Inductive: certain conclusions; Deductive: probable conclusions.
- Inductive: general to specific; Deductive: specific to general.
- Inductive: specific to probable general; Deductive: general to certain specific. (Correct answer)
- Inductive: hypothesis testing; Deductive: data collection.
Correct answer: Inductive: specific to probable general; Deductive: general to certain specific.
Inductive reasoning builds probable general conclusions from specifics; deductive reasoning guarantees specific conclusions from general truths.
SATs Logical Reasoning & Analysis 3
Which of the following best describes a 'straw man' fallacy?