TSA TSA Critical Thinking & Logical Reasoning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best defines a 'valid' argument in formal logic?
- An argument where the conclusion is true
- An argument where if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true (Correct answer)
- An argument supported by emotional appeals
- An argument that has been peer-reviewed
Correct answer: An argument where if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true
Validity means the argument's logical structure guarantees the truth of the conclusion if all premises are true.
Question 2: An argument concludes that 'since crime rates fell after a new law was passed, the law caused the reduction.' What flaw does this contain?
- Circular reasoning
- Hasty generalization
- Post hoc ergo propter hoc (false cause) (Correct answer)
- Slippery slope
Correct answer: Post hoc ergo propter hoc (false cause)
Assuming causation from mere correlation and temporal sequence is the post hoc fallacy.
Question 3: Which of the following would most WEAKEN the argument that 'Exercise improves academic performance because students who exercise get better grades'?
- Studies showing exercise has health benefits
- Evidence that high-achieving students have more time for both studying and exercise (Correct answer)
- Data confirming that grades improved after exercise programs were introduced
- Anecdotes from teachers praising exercising students
Correct answer: Evidence that high-achieving students have more time for both studying and exercise
If high-achieving students simply have more time for both activities, exercise may not be the cause of better grades, undermining the causal claim.
Question 4: What is the difference between a 'premise' and a 'conclusion' in an argument?
- A premise is the final claim; a conclusion is supporting evidence
- A premise provides reasons or evidence; a conclusion is the claim those reasons support (Correct answer)
- They are interchangeable terms in critical thinking
- A premise is always a fact; a conclusion is always an opinion
Correct answer: A premise provides reasons or evidence; a conclusion is the claim those reasons support
Premises are the supporting reasons or evidence, while the conclusion is the main claim that the premises are intended to establish.
Question 5: In TSA, what does it mean to 'draw an inference' from a passage?
- To copy a sentence verbatim from the text
- To reach a conclusion that is not explicitly stated but logically follows from the given information (Correct answer)
- To summarize every paragraph in one word
- To identify the author's writing style
Correct answer: To reach a conclusion that is not explicitly stated but logically follows from the given information
Drawing an inference means deriving a logical conclusion that goes beyond what is explicitly stated but is supported by the information given.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a 'sufficient condition'?
- You need oxygen to survive, but oxygen alone doesn't ensure survival
- If it rains, the ground gets wet — rain alone guarantees wet ground (Correct answer)
- A student must pass exams to graduate, but passing alone isn't enough
- Exercise is one of many factors contributing to good health
Correct answer: If it rains, the ground gets wet — rain alone guarantees wet ground
A sufficient condition alone guarantees the outcome — rain is sufficient to make the ground wet.
TSA TSA Critical Thinking & Logical Reasoning 2
Which of the following best defines a 'valid' argument in formal logic?