Critical Thinking & Logical Reasoning Flashcards

All licensed nurses must pass a board exam. Maria is a licensed nurse. What can be validly concluded?

Answer: Maria passed a board exam

If all licensed nurses passed the exam and Maria is one, she must have passed it.

Which statement is an assumption rather than a stated fact?

Answer: Sales rose because customers prefer the new layout

Attributing the cause to customer preference assumes a reason not directly proven.

A flawed argument says: 'Everyone I know likes the movie, so it must be the best film of the year.' What error is this?

Answer: Hasty generalization

Drawing a broad conclusion from a small, biased sample is a hasty generalization.

If no reptiles are warm-blooded, and all snakes are reptiles, then snakes are:

Answer: Not warm-blooded

Snakes belong to reptiles, which are entirely not warm-blooded.

Which conclusion is best supported: 'The bridge is closed for repairs and the detour adds 20 minutes'?

Answer: Travel time will increase during repairs

A 20-minute detour directly means longer travel during the closure.

An advertiser claims a vitamin works because 'millions of people take it.' This reasoning relies on:

Answer: Popularity rather than proof

Popularity does not establish that something actually works.

Which is a necessary condition for a triangle, based on definition?

Answer: Having three sides

By definition every triangle has exactly three sides.