Analyzing Arguments Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. A graph shows that ice-cream sales and sunburn cases rise during the same months. Which explanation most directly shows why the graph alone does not prove that ice cream causes sunburn?
The two trends use different units of measurement.
A causal relationship can never be investigated using numerical data.
Hot, sunny weather could independently increase both ice-cream sales and sunburn.
Sunburn cases may be more memorable than ice-cream purchases.
2. Mina writes, “The forum should remove comments that contain direct threats.” A reply says, “Mina wants moderators to erase every opinion she dislikes.” Which error does the reply make?
It assumes the conclusion in its premises.
It treats the absence of evidence as decisive evidence.
It distorts Mina's limited proposal into a more extreme position.
It relies on a small sample to estimate a population.
3. Consider this argument: “The school should begin classes later because teenagers generally need substantial sleep, and early schedules can make that difficult.” Which statement functions as a premise?
The school currently has an ineffective curriculum.
Every student would arrive on time under a later schedule.
Teenagers generally need substantial sleep.
The school should begin classes later.
4. During a debate about an emissions plan, Jordan argues that the plan would cost more than the budget allows. Lee replies, “Jordan failed chemistry in high school, so ignore that objection.” What is Lee's main reasoning error?
Attacking the person instead of addressing the budget argument
Slippery-slope reasoning
Circular reasoning
Appeal to authority
5. A student argues, “Social media harms attention because I became distracted while studying yesterday.” Which revision would create the strongest argument?
Narrow the claim and support it with systematic research comparing attention under defined conditions.
Conclude that social media destroys everyone's ability to concentrate.
Mention that several popular creators also complain about distraction.
Add vivid details about how frustrating the distraction felt.
6. What makes a deductive argument sound?
Its conclusion is popular and its reasoning is persuasive.
It is logically valid and all of its premises are true.
Its conclusion happens to be true, regardless of its premises.
It includes more premises than competing arguments.
7. Which evidence would most directly support the claim that a newly installed crossing improved pedestrian safety at one intersection?
A list of crossings installed in cities with different traffic conditions
The number of likes on the city's announcement about the crossing
Residents' opinions about the color of the crossing signs
A comparison of collision rates before and after installation, accounting for changes in traffic volume
8. Which finding would be a counterexample to the claim “Every highly shared social media post is accurate”?
An accurate post that receives very few shares
A highly shared post containing a demonstrably false claim
A false post that is deleted before anyone shares it
A highly shared post whose main claim is accurate
9. A researcher randomly samples 200 registered voters in a town. Sixty-two percent support a park proposal, so the researcher concludes that support is probably similar among all registered voters in that town. What type of reasoning is this?
A deductive proof whose conclusion cannot be false
An argument based only on analogy between two towns
An inductive generalization from a sample to a population
A circular argument that assumes the survey result
10. Someone argues, “This app's rating rose immediately after its redesign, so the redesign caused the increase.” Which unstated assumption is most important to examine?
Every user prefers recently updated apps.
No other major change, such as a promotion or altered review system, explains the increase.
An app's rating can never decrease after a redesign.
The redesign cost less than the app's original development.
11. An influencer polls followers who chose to join a group supporting a new stadium. Most respondents favor the stadium, so the influencer concludes that nearly all city residents favor it. What is the biggest weakness?
Any survey conducted online is deductively invalid.
A survey can support only causal conclusions, not opinions.
The conclusion must be false because it concerns public policy.
The self-selected followers may not represent all city residents.
12. A commenter says, “No one has proved that this supplement is ineffective, so it definitely works.” What is the central problem with this argument?
It uses a conclusion that is too narrow for the evidence.
It confuses a necessary condition with a sufficient condition.
It relies on too many independent sources.
It treats a lack of disproof as proof and improperly shifts the burden of support.
13. A local post says: “The city should add late-night buses. Many hospital and restaurant employees finish work after the final scheduled bus, and taxis are too expensive for regular use.” What is the argument's main conclusion?
The city should add late-night buses.
Many hospital employees work late shifts.
Taxis are too expensive for some workers.
Restaurant employees often use public transportation.
14. A speaker claims, “Either schools ban smartphones entirely, or students will learn nothing.” Which flaw is most apparent?
The speaker criticizes an opponent's personal character.
The claim relies on a representative random sample.
The conclusion restates a premise without adding anything.
The claim presents only two outcomes while ignoring possible middle-ground policies.
15. A viral post claims, “A new study proves that 90% of remote workers are less productive.” What is the best first step when evaluating this statistic?
Check whether most replies agree with the post.
Locate the original report and examine its sample, measures, and methods.
Accept the figure if the account has many followers.
Reject the figure because percentages cannot measure productivity.
16. Consider the argument: “All posts containing undisclosed paid endorsements violate the platform's stated rule. This post contains an undisclosed paid endorsement. Therefore, this post violates the rule.” How should its logical structure be classified?
It is deductively valid because the conclusion follows if both premises are true.
It is deductively invalid because it reasons from a specific case to a rule.
It is an inductive argument because the conclusion is only statistically likely.
It is automatically sound because it has a valid form.