flaw in the reasoning questions

"Which one of the following most accurately describes a flaw in the argument's reasoning?"

flaw in the reasoning question stem

"The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument»

flaw in the reasoning question stem

"The reasoning above is flawed because it fails to recognize that"

flaw in the reasoning question stem

"A questionable aspect of the reasoning above is that it"

flaw in the reasoning question stem

"The reasoning in the argument is fallacious because the argument"

flaw in the reasoning question stem

"The author cites irrelevant data."

lack of relevant evidence error answer choice

"draws a conclusion that is not warranted by the evidence provided"

lack of relevant evidence error answer choice

"It uses inapplicable information to draw a conclusion about the character of the witness."

lack of relevant evidence error answer choice

"It fails to give any reason for the judgment it reaches”

lack of relevant evidence error answer choice

"bases a conclusion on claims that are inconsistent with each other"

internal contradiction error answer

"the author makes irreconcilable presuppositions"

internal contradiction error answer

"introduces information that actually contradicts the conclusion"

internal contradiction error answer

"claims presented in support of the conclusion conflict with the other evidence provided."

internal contradiction error answer

"supports a general claim on the basis of a single example"

overgeneralization error answer

"generalizes on the basis of what could be exceptional cases."

overgeneralization error answer

"bases a broad claim on a few exceptional instances"

overgeneralization error answer

"treats failure to prove a claim as constituting denial of that claim"

lack of evidence is taken to prove that position is false

"taking a lack of evidence for a claim as evidence undermining the claim"

lack of evidence is taken to prove that position is false

"treating the failure to prove a claim to be false as if it is a demonstration of the truth of that claim"

lack of evidence against a position is taken to prove that position is true

"it confuses weakening an argument in support of a given conclusion with proving the conclusion itself to be false"

some evidence against a position is taken to prove that position is false

"the argument treats evidence showing mere plausiblity as if it proves that the conclusion is in fact true"

Some evidence for a position is taken to prove that position is true.

A source argument can take different forms, including the following:

1. Focusing on the motives of the source.

2. Focusing on the actions of the source

"it is directed against the proponent of a claim rather than against the claim itself'

source argument error answer choice

"The attack is directed against the person making the argument rather than directing it against the argument itself'

source argument error answer choice

"it draws conclusions about the validity of a position from evidence about the position's source"

source argument error answer choice

"assuming that legislation should not be supported based on the character of some supporters of the legislation."

source argument error answer choice

"argues circularly by assuming the conclusion is true in stating the premises"

circular reasoning

"presupposes what it sets out to prove"

circular reasoning

"it assumes what it is attempting to demonstrate"

circular reasoning

taking the absence of an occurrence as evidence that a necessary condition for that occurrence also did not take place

Mistaken Negation error answer choice

“mistakes being sufficient to achieve a particular outcome for being required to achieve it

Mistaken Reversal error answer choice

"From the assertion that something is necessary to a given goal, the argument concludes that that thing is sufficient for its achieve-ment."

"It acts as if something that is necessary for a good leader is something that is sufficient to create a good leader."

Confuses a necessary condition for a sufficient condition

"confuses a sufficient condition with a required condition"

Confuses a sufficient condition for a necessary condition

"mistakes the occurrence of one event after another for proof that the second event is the result of the first"


"mistakes a temporal relationship for a causal relationship"

Assuming a causal relationship on the basis of the sequence of
events.


"confusing the coincidence of two events with a causal relation between the two"


"assumes a causal relationship where only a correlation has been indicated"



Assuming a causal relationship when only a correlation exists.



"fails to exclude an alternative explanation for the observed effect"
"overlooks the possibility that the same thing may causally contribute to both"

Failure to consider an alternate cause for the effect, or an alternate cause for both the cause and the effect.

"the author mistakes an effect for a cause"

Failure to consider that the events may be reversed

"refutes a distorted version of an opposing position"

straw man error answer choice

"misdescribing the opposing position, thus making it easier to challenge"

straw man error answer choice

"portrays opponents' views as more extreme than they really are"

straw man error answer choice

"distorts the proposal advocated by opponents"

straw man error answer choice

"the judgment of experts is applied to a matter in which

their expertise is not relevant"

Appeal to Authority error answer choice

"the argument improperly appeals to the authority of the supervisor"

Appeal to Authority error answer choice

"bases a conclusion solely on the authority of the claimant, Without seeking further proof."

Appeal to Authority error answer choice

"popular sentiment is treated as definitive proof of a claim."

Appeal to Popular Opinion/Appeal to Numbers error answer

"the argument tries to undermine the claim by appealing to public opinion."

Appeal to Popular Opinion/Appeal to Numbers error answer

"a conclusion is judged to be false simply because most people believe it to be false."

Appeal to Popular Opinion/Appeal to Numbers error answer

"the author makes an appeal to public opinion without requiring an adequate basis for the conclusion of the argument."

Appeal to Popular Opinion/Appeal to Numbers error answer

"attempts to persuade by making an emotional appeal"

Appeal to Emotion error answer

"the argument appeals to emotion rather than reaso

Appeal to Emotion error answer

survey errors

1. survey uses a biased sample

2. survey questions are improperly constructed

3. respondents give inaccurate information

"uses evidence drawn from a sample that may not be representative"

survey error of reasoning answer choice

"bases a conclusion on survey responses that were gained through faulty questioning."

survey error of reasoning answer choice

"generalizes from an unrepresentative sample"

survey error of reasoning answer choice

"assumes that every polled individual provided a truthful response."

survey error of reasoning answer choice

"assuming that because something is true of each of the parts of a whole it is true of the whole itself”

error of composition answer choice

"improperly infers that all union members have a certain attribute from the premise that most union members have that attribute."

error of composition answer choice

"takes the beliefs of one scientist to represent the belief of all scientists"

error of composition answer choice

"The United States is the wealthiest country in the world. Thus, every American is wealthy."

error of division answer choice

"presumes without warrant that what is true of a whole must also be true of each of its parts"

error of division answer choice

“depending on the ambiguous use of a key term”

uncertain use of a term or concept error answer

“it confuses two different meanings of the word “genius””

uncertain use of a term or concept error answer

“The authors conclusion depends on defining a key term in two different ways”

uncertain use of a term or concept error answer

“equivocates with respect to a central concept”

uncertain use of a term or concept error answer

“treats two very different cases as if they are similar”

false analogy error answer choice

“treats two things that differ in critical respects as if they do not differ”

false analogy error answer choice

false dilemma

assumes there is only two courses of action

“fails to consider that some voters may be neither strong supporters nor strong opponents of the suggested amendment”

false dilemma error answer choice

“treats a claim about current affairs as if it were a claim about what has been the case for an extended period”

false dilemma error answer choice

"Valentina is the tallest child in the class, therefore Valentina is tall

relative relationship premise used to draw absolute conclusion

"Valentina is tall, therefore Valentina is the tallest child in the class."

absolute premise used to draw relative relationship conclusion

MegaCo is the most profitable corporation in the region, therefore it is extremely profitable."

relative relationship premise used to draw absolute conclusion

"My brother is intelligent, and thus he is smarter than your brother."

(absolute premise used to draw relative relationship conclusion)

"The closest grocery store to me is Foodway, and thus Foodway is the closest store to me."

relative relationship premise used to draw absolute conclusion

"This street is quite noisy, and thus it is louder than the last street we lived on."

(absolute premise used to draw relative relationship conclusion)

"Central University is easy to get into because Central has lower average entrance standards than Midland College."

(relative relationship premise used to draw absolute conclusion)

sunk cost/concorde fallacy

additional effort or money is justified based on past investment

“the argument confuses an increase in market share with an increase in overall revenue

numbers and percentages error