TMU Critical Analysis 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A paragraph states: 'All mammals are warm-blooded. Dolphins are mammals. Therefore, dolphins are warm-blooded.' This is an example of:
- Inductive reasoning
- Deductive reasoning (Correct answer)
- Abductive reasoning
- Analogical reasoning
Correct answer: Deductive reasoning
Deductive reasoning draws a certain conclusion from general premises that guarantee it.
Question 2: Which of the following would most weaken the argument that increasing minimum wage reduces employment?
- Evidence that inflation also rose during the same period
- Studies showing no significant job loss in regions that raised minimum wage (Correct answer)
- Anecdotal reports from small business owners about hiring freezes
- A theoretical economic model predicting reduced hiring
Correct answer: Studies showing no significant job loss in regions that raised minimum wage
Empirical evidence of no significant job loss directly challenges the claim that minimum wage increases reduce employment.
Question 3: An unstated premise that an argument relies on to be valid is called a(n):
- Inference
- Assumption (Correct answer)
- Conclusion
- Counterexample
Correct answer: Assumption
An assumption is an unstated belief or premise the argument takes for granted.
Question 4: The phrase 'begging the question' in formal logic refers to:
- Raising an important issue that demands an answer
- Using the conclusion as one of the premises (Correct answer)
- Asking a leading question during debate
- Challenging the relevance of a premise
Correct answer: Using the conclusion as one of the premises
Begging the question (circular reasoning) occurs when the conclusion is assumed within the premises.
Question 5: A politician states, 'My opponent has never run a business, so his economic plan will fail.' The reasoning flaw here is:
- Slippery slope
- Ad hominem / genetic fallacy (Correct answer)
- Appeal to authority
- Hasty generalization
Correct answer: Ad hominem / genetic fallacy
Attacking someone's background rather than their argument is an ad hominem or genetic fallacy.
Question 6: Which critical reading strategy best helps identify the author's bias in a persuasive text?
- Reading the title and conclusion only
- Noting which perspectives are included versus omitted (Correct answer)
- Counting the number of facts cited
- Checking whether sentences are grammatically correct
Correct answer: Noting which perspectives are included versus omitted
Identifying whose perspectives are absent reveals what the author may be overlooking or suppressing intentionally.
Question 7: An argument concludes that because a treatment worked for ten patients, it will work for everyone. This illustrates:
- Hasty generalization (Correct answer)
- False analogy
- Appeal to emotion
- Equivocation
Correct answer: Hasty generalization
A hasty generalization draws a broad conclusion from an insufficient or unrepresentative sample.
TMU Critical Analysis 3
A paragraph states: 'All mammals are warm-blooded.
Dolphins are mammals.
Therefore, dolphins are warm-blooded.' This is an example of: