BCAT Argument Analysis 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An argument concludes: 'Tougher sentencing deters crime.' Which of the following, if true, most strengthens this argument?
- Studies show that jurisdictions with mandatory minimums have significantly lower recidivism rates (Correct answer)
- Judges often disagree about appropriate sentence lengths
- Some offenders are unaware of potential punishments before committing crimes
- Crime rates are influenced by economic conditions
Correct answer: Studies show that jurisdictions with mandatory minimums have significantly lower recidivism rates
Evidence that mandatory minimums reduce recidivism directly supports the deterrence claim.
Question 2: Which of the following most weakens the argument: 'CCTV cameras reduce street crime because crime fell 20% after their installation'?
- Police patrols were also doubled in the same period
- The cameras cost $2 million to install
- Crime had been rising for five years before installation
- Other cities without cameras also reported falling crime (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Other cities without cameras also reported falling crime
If cities without cameras also saw crime fall, the cameras may not be responsible — a general trend could explain the drop.
Question 3: A BCAT argument states: 'Legal aid must be preserved because everyone deserves access to justice.' What is the underlying assumption?
- Without legal aid, some people cannot afford access to justice (Correct answer)
- Legal aid is the only way to access justice
- All lawyers support legal aid
- Legal aid is always effective
Correct answer: Without legal aid, some people cannot afford access to justice
The argument assumes that without legal aid, access to justice would be denied to those who cannot afford it.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of a valid deductive argument?
- All contracts require consideration; this agreement has consideration; therefore it is a contract (Correct answer)
- Most lawyers pass the bar; Sarah is a lawyer; therefore she passed the bar
- Crime is falling; therefore policing is improving
- The defendant was angry; therefore he committed the crime
Correct answer: All contracts require consideration; this agreement has consideration; therefore it is a contract
This follows the valid syllogistic form: All A are B; C is A; therefore C is B — producing a guaranteed conclusion.
Question 5: The argument: 'We should lower the voting age because young people are affected by political decisions' is best classified as:
- An appeal to relevance — those affected should have a say (Correct answer)
- An ad hominem attack
- A straw man argument
- A circular argument
Correct answer: An appeal to relevance — those affected should have a say
The argument appeals to the relevance of those impacted by decisions having a voice — a legitimate normative claim about representation.
Question 6: In a BCAT argument analysis question, 'the main conclusion' is distinguished from 'intermediate conclusions' because:
- The main conclusion is the ultimate claim the argument aims to establish, while intermediate conclusions support it (Correct answer)
- The main conclusion always appears first in the passage
- Intermediate conclusions are always based on facts, while the main conclusion is based on opinion
- The main conclusion requires no supporting premises
Correct answer: The main conclusion is the ultimate claim the argument aims to establish, while intermediate conclusions support it
Intermediate conclusions act as stepping stones — they are supported by evidence and in turn support the main conclusion.
BCAT Argument Analysis 1
An argument concludes: 'Tougher sentencing deters crime.' Which of the following, if true, most strengthens this argument?