STAT Evaluating Written Arguments 5

Question 1

An argument concludes that a town's high cancer rate is caused by a nearby factory because the factory opened before cancer rates rose. What fallacy does this commit?

Accepted Answer

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Answer

The post hoc fallacy assumes that because one event followed another, the first caused the second, ignoring other possible explanations.

Question 2

A philosopher states: 'We cannot trust the government's environmental data because the government funds environmental programs.' This argument is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A genetic fallacy

Answer

The genetic fallacy dismisses information based solely on its origin rather than evaluating the data itself.

Question 3

Passage: 'If teenagers were taught financial literacy in school, they would make better financial decisions as adults.' Which of the following pieces of evidence would MOST strongly support this claim?

Accepted Answer

A longitudinal study found that adults who received school-based financial education had significantly lower debt levels

Answer

A longitudinal study tracking actual outcomes in adulthood provides direct evidence linking the cause (school education) to the claimed effect (better decisions).

Question 4

A journalist argues: 'Violent video games cause aggression because teenagers who play them are more aggressive.' What critical piece of information is missing from this argument?

Accepted Answer

Whether aggressive teenagers are more likely to choose violent games in the first place

Answer

Without ruling out reverse causation — that aggressive individuals are drawn to violent games — the causal direction cannot be established.

Question 5

Which of the following pairs of statements contains a logical contradiction?

Accepted Answer

All swans are white. This black swan is a swan.

Answer

If all swans are white, a black swan cannot exist; a black swan existing directly contradicts the universal claim.

STAT - Special Tertiary Admissions Test Practice Test

STAT - Special Tertiary Admissions Test Practice Test

STAT Evaluating Written Arguments 5