UMAT Critical Thinking 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A UMAT argument states: 'Since crime rates dropped after the new policing policy, the policy caused the drop.' What alternative explanation should be considered?
- The policy was too expensive
- Crime rates may have dropped due to unrelated economic or social factors (Correct answer)
- The police officers were undertrained
- Crime statistics are always inaccurate
Correct answer: Crime rates may have dropped due to unrelated economic or social factors
When evaluating causal claims, alternative explanations such as confounding variables must be considered before attributing change to a specific intervention.
Question 2: The phrase 'straw man fallacy' refers to:
- Arguing with weak evidence
- Misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack (Correct answer)
- Using emotional appeals in an argument
- Assuming the conclusion within the premise
Correct answer: Misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack
A straw man fallacy involves distorting or exaggerating an opponent's position to argue against a weaker version of it rather than the actual argument.
Question 3: Which of the following is an inductive argument?
- If all patients with symptom X have disease Y, and this patient has symptom X, then they have disease Y
- Every patient we have treated with this drug recovered; therefore the drug is likely effective (Correct answer)
- Either the patient has disease A or disease B; they don't have disease A; so they have disease B
- If the test is positive, the patient must be treated immediately
Correct answer: Every patient we have treated with this drug recovered; therefore the drug is likely effective
Inductive arguments draw probable conclusions from observed evidence and do not guarantee the conclusion in the way deductive arguments do.
Question 4: A UMAT passage presents a graph showing hospital admissions spike every winter. The best critical interpretation is that winter admissions spikes are:
- Definitely caused by cold weather alone
- Possibly caused by seasonal illnesses, with cold weather as one contributing factor (Correct answer)
- Random and unrelated to season
- Proof that hospitals are understaffed in winter
Correct answer: Possibly caused by seasonal illnesses, with cold weather as one contributing factor
Data patterns suggest associations but not definitive single causes; multiple factors such as flu season and cold-induced health conditions may contribute to winter spikes.
Question 5: What does 'begging the question' mean as a logical fallacy?
- Asking too many questions in a debate
- Using the conclusion as one of the premises in an argument (Correct answer)
- Introducing irrelevant information to confuse the argument
- Appealing to tradition to justify a claim
Correct answer: Using the conclusion as one of the premises in an argument
Begging the question (circular reasoning) occurs when the conclusion of an argument is assumed within one of its premises, making the argument logically circular.
Question 6: A study finds students in smaller classes perform better. A school administrator concludes reducing all class sizes will improve outcomes. What critical question must first be asked?
- Are the students the right age?
- Was the finding statistically significant and are there confounding factors like teacher quality? (Correct answer)
- Is the school in a rural or urban area?
- Do the students enjoy smaller classes subjectively?
Correct answer: Was the finding statistically significant and are there confounding factors like teacher quality?
Before applying study findings to policy, one must assess statistical significance and whether confounding variables rather than class size alone explain the results.
UMAT Critical Thinking 2
A UMAT argument states: 'Since crime rates dropped after the new policing policy, the policy caused the drop.' What alternative explanation should be considered?