STAT Evaluating Written Arguments 2

Question 1

A city council argues: 'Crime rates dropped 15% after we installed more streetlights, so streetlights prevent crime.' What is the main flaw in this argument?

Accepted Answer

Correlation is mistaken for causation

Answer

The argument assumes that because two events occurred together, one caused the other, which is the correlation-causation fallacy.

Question 2

Which of the following best describes a 'hasty generalization'?

Accepted Answer

Drawing a broad conclusion from insufficient evidence

Answer

A hasty generalization occurs when a sweeping conclusion is drawn from too few or unrepresentative examples.

Question 3

An essay concludes: 'Students who study more than four hours daily perform better academically. Therefore, schools should mandate four hours of daily homework.' Which assumption is the argument relying on?

Accepted Answer

Mandating homework will produce the same results as voluntary study

Answer

The argument assumes mandatory homework will replicate the outcomes of self-motivated study, which may not hold true.

Question 4

Passage: 'Every war in history has ended. Therefore, the current conflict will also end.' What type of reasoning is this?

Accepted Answer

Inductive reasoning from past patterns

Answer

The argument uses inductive reasoning by generalising from historical patterns to predict a future event.

Question 5

Which of the following is the strongest counter-argument to the claim: 'Banning junk food advertising will reduce childhood obesity'?

Accepted Answer

Dietary habits are primarily shaped by family and socioeconomic factors, not advertising alone

Answer

This counter-argument challenges the causal link by identifying other dominant factors that influence childhood obesity.

STAT - Special Tertiary Admissions Test Practice Test

STAT - Special Tertiary Admissions Test Practice Test

STAT Evaluating Written Arguments 2