Evaluating Argument Strengths Flashcards
7 cards from real LNAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Evaluating Argument Strengths flashcards as text
An argument concludes that because violent video games are popular among teenagers who commit crimes, video games cause violence. What is the strongest counter-argument?
Answer: Correlation between two variables does not establish that one causes the other
Correlation does not imply causation; a common background factor could explain both gaming habits and criminal behavior.
Which type of reasoning moves from specific observations to a general conclusion?
Answer: Inductive reasoning
Inductive reasoning generalizes from specific cases to broader conclusions, making it inherently probabilistic.
A passage argues that since ancient Romans used lead pipes and suffered health problems, modern societies using plastic pipes will also suffer health problems. What is the main flaw?
Answer: The analogy is weak because plastic and lead have very different chemical properties
A false analogy occurs when two compared situations differ in ways that are critical to the conclusion.
A think-tank report argues that cutting corporation tax increases government revenue because companies expand and pay more total tax. Which assumption is essential to this argument?
Answer: The tax cut will be large enough to stimulate significant economic growth
The argument depends on the cut being sufficient to trigger enough growth that total tax receipts actually increase, a condition known as the Laffer curve assumption.
Which of the following statements about argument structure is correct?
Answer: A valid argument with all true premises must have a true conclusion
Soundness requires both validity (correct logical form) and true premises, which together guarantee a true conclusion.
An advocate argues: 'My proposed law has worked in Sweden, so it will work here.' Which factor most threatens this argument by analogy?
Answer: Sweden and the US differ significantly in legal culture, enforcement capacity, and social norms
Relevant structural differences between the two countries undermine the analogy's ability to support a prediction about outcomes.
A student argues that because every swan she has ever seen is white, all swans must be white. This argument is best described as:
Answer: An inductively weak argument due to limited sampling
The argument is inductively weak because the sample is small and geographically limited, leaving open the existence of non-white swans (black swans exist in Australia).