SAT Logical Reasoning & Argument Analysis 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which choice best describes a 'straw man' argument?
- Misrepresenting an opponent's view to refute it easily (Correct answer)
- Offering only two options
- Citing irrelevant statistics
- Repeating the claim as proof
Correct answer: Misrepresenting an opponent's view to refute it easily
A straw man distorts the original position to make it easier to attack.
Question 2: 'Either we cut the budget or the company fails.' What reasoning error is this?
- Hasty generalization
- False dilemma (Correct answer)
- Appeal to pity
- Red herring
Correct answer: False dilemma
Presenting only two choices when more exist is a false dilemma.
Question 3: An essay argues homework should be reduced and supports it with a personal anecdote about one stressed student. The main weakness is that the evidence is:
- Too statistical
- Anecdotal and not representative (Correct answer)
- Logically circular
- Based on authority
Correct answer: Anecdotal and not representative
A single anecdote cannot reliably support a broad conclusion.
Question 4: Which choice most strengthens the argument 'The new fertilizer increases crop yield'?
- Farmers like trying new products
- A large controlled trial showed higher yields with it (Correct answer)
- The fertilizer is inexpensive
- Crops need water to grow
Correct answer: A large controlled trial showed higher yields with it
A controlled trial provides direct evidence supporting the causal claim.
Question 5: In the sentence 'Most successful people wake early, so waking early causes success,' the flaw is that it ignores:
- The definition of success
- Possible reverse or alternative causes (Correct answer)
- How many people were surveyed
- The time zone differences
Correct answer: Possible reverse or alternative causes
It overlooks other explanations or that success might cause early waking.
Question 6: Which is the conclusion in: 'Because exercise lowers stress, and lower stress improves health, exercise improves health'?
- Exercise lowers stress
- Lower stress improves health
- Exercise improves health (Correct answer)
- Stress is harmful
Correct answer: Exercise improves health
The final claim that follows from the premises is the conclusion.
Question 7: A debater says, 'If we allow students to retake one test, soon they'll demand to retake everything and standards will collapse.' This is which fallacy?
- Slippery slope (Correct answer)
- Circular reasoning
- Ad hominem
- Appeal to authority
Correct answer: Slippery slope
Assuming one small step inevitably leads to extreme outcomes is a slippery slope.
SAT Logical Reasoning & Argument Analysis 3
Which choice best describes a 'straw man' argument?