Cambridge International A Level · Thinking Skills (9694)
4 multiple-choice questions marked as you go, and 5 written questions with worked solutions. All on Recognise and evaluate informal fallacies.
A commentator argues: "The city's new bicycle lane project is a waste of money. Since it was completed last month, the number of cars on the main road has not decreased at all. This proves that the project has failed to encourage people to switch from driving to cycling."
Which of the following is a flaw in the commentator's reasoning?
Consider the following argument:
"The city council's new initiative to ban single-use plastic bags will inevitably lead to a complete collapse of local grocery stores. If customers cannot easily carry their groceries, they will simply stop buying from local shops and instead opt for large supermarkets that offer cardboard boxes or alternative packaging. This will result in decreased revenue for local stores, forcing them to close, and ultimately destroying the vibrant character of our community."
Which of the following logical flaws is most evident in the argument above?
Read the following argument:
"Allowing students to use mobile phones during lunch break is a terrible idea. If we permit phones during lunch, they will soon demand to use them during lessons for 'educational purposes'. Before we know it, students will be entirely distracted, academic standards will plummet, and the entire school system will fail."
Which of the following logical flaws is employed in this argument?
An editorial argues that "All citizens must be required to vote in national elections to strengthen democracy." It then provides two supporting reasons:
Which of the following is the most significant weakness in the reasoning?
An advertising campaign claims that a new energy drink is superior "because it is the best-selling energy drink across three continents." What type of irrelevant appeal is being used in this attempt to evaluate the product?
Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.
A city official argues against introducing bike lanes, claiming, "If we install bike lanes, cyclists will feel entitled to ignore traffic laws, leading to a breakdown in road safety for everyone, and eventually, the complete collapse of city traffic management." What specific flaw in reasoning is the official employing?
Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.
An argument states: "We must ban all large SUVs because they consume significantly more fuel than average saloon cars (an undisputed fact)." Explain why this argument exhibits a weakness related to support, despite the stated reason being factually correct.
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An educational reformer argues:
"We must stop allowing students to use electronic devices in classrooms immediately. If we permit devices, students will start cheating on every test. If they cheat on every test, they will never learn critical thinking skills. If they never learn critical thinking skills, they will fail in higher education and the workforce. Therefore, allowing a student to use a smartphone in class inevitably means we are condemning them to a lifetime of unemployment and poverty."
a) Identify the main type of flaw in this argument.
b) Explain why this flaw weakens the reasoning significantly.
Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.
Read the following political editorial:
"The current opposition party claims they are committed to fiscal responsibility, but that is absurd. Just last year, their leader was seen driving a luxury sports car! How can someone who wastes their personal money on such extravagance possibly be trusted to manage the nation's finances? Their promises are worthless. Furthermore, they are demanding we cut taxes to stimulate the economy, which is exactly what caused the financial crisis 15 years ago. Tax cuts always lead to national debt spiralling out of control, inevitably resulting in hyperinflation and economic collapse."
Identify and explain three distinct weaknesses in the reasoning used by the author of the editorial, assessing the impact of each weakness on the overall strength of the argument.
Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.
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