Analyzing Arguments - General Inteligence & Reasoning MCQ Questions and Answers

31

Which of the following, if true, would weaken the speaker's argument?

A) An action is not considered a part of freedom of speech. B) People who burn the flag usually commit other crimes as well. C) The flag was not recognized by the government until 1812. D) State flags are almost never burned. E) Most people are against flag burning.

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option A

Solution:

If an action is not included under freedom of speech, the speaker's main argument is incorrect.

32

Which of the following best expresses the main point of the passage?

A) Only veterans care about the flag-burning issue. B) Flag burning almost never happens, so outlawing it is a waste of time. C) Flag burning will be a very important issue in the next election. D) To outlaw flag burning is to outlaw what the flag represents. E) Burning the flag should only be illegal when it is done in foreign countries.

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option D

Solution:

The speaker maintains that to burn a flag is an act of freedom of speech, which is among the things the flag represents.

33

Which of the following is similar to the argument made by the speaker?

A) The rich should not be allowed to "buy" politicians, so the Congress should enact campaign finance reform. B) The idea of freedom of religion also means the right not to participate in religion, so mandated school prayer violates freedom of religion. C) The Constitution guarantees freedom to own property, so taxes should be illegal. D) Convicted felons should not have their convictions overturned on a technicality. E) In order to understand what may be constitutional today, one needs to look at what the laws were when the Constitution was enacted.

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option B

Solution:

This is the best choice because it relates to a situation where a proposed law would actually violate the part of the Constitution it is intended to protect.

34

Which of the following, if true, would strengthen the speaker's argument?

A) studies showing computers are expensive. B) research on the effect of computer games on children. C) examples of high school students who use computers improperly. D) proof that the cost of computers is coming down. E) evidence that using computers makes learning to read difficult.

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option E

Solution:

This evidence would back up the speaker's contention that young students should learn the basics before learning computers. Choices a and d, which are both about cost, would have no effect on the argument. Choices b and c are too vague.

35

Which of the following, if true, would weaken the speaker's argument?

A) a demonstration that computers can be used to teach reading and arithmetic. B) analysis of the cost-effectiveness of new computers versus repairing old computers. C) examples of adults who do not know how to use computers. D) recent grade reports of students in the computer classes. E) a visit to a classroom where computers are being used.

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option A

Solution:

If computers enhance the learning of arithmetic and reading, the speaker's argument is not as strong.

36

Which of the following methods of argument is used in the previous passage?

A) a specific example that illustrates the speaker. B) attacking the beliefs of those who disagree with the speaker. C) relying on an analogy to prove the speaker. D) displaying statistics that back up the speaker. E) comparing different methods of learning.

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option C

Solution:

The speaker uses analogies to compare crawling with learning arithmetic and reading and to compare walking with using a computer. The speaker is making the point that, in both cases, a child needs to learn one before learning the other.

37

Which of the following, if true, would strengthen the speaker's argument?

A) studies showing computers are expensive. B) research on the effect of computer games on children. C) examples of high school students who use computers improperly. D) proof that the cost of computers is coming down. E) evidence that using computers makes learning to read difficult.

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option E

Solution:

This evidence would back up the speaker's contention that young students should learn the basics before learning computers. Choices a and d, which are both about cost, would have no effect on the argument. Choices b and c are too vague.

38

What is the point at issue between Quinn and Dakota?

A) whether sixteen-year-olds should be required to take drivers education before being issued a license. B) whether schools ought to provide drivers education to fourteen- and fifteen-year-old students. C) whether the standards for issuing drivers licenses should become more stringent. D) whether sixteen-year-olds are prepared to drive in today. E) whether parents are able to do a good job teaching their children to drive.

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option D

Solution:

The speakers support their arguments in different ways, but both are concerned with whether sixteen-year-olds should continue to be allowed to receive drivers licenses.

39

On what does Quinn rely in making her argument?

A) statistics B) emotion C) fairness D) anecdotes E) actualities

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option C

Solution:

Quinn discusses the fairness of changing the law and raising the age at which one can receive a driver's license. Emotion (choice b) may be involved, but the argument relies on the fairness issue.

40

On what does Dakota rely in making her argument?

A) statistics B) emotion C) fairness D) anecdotes E) actualities

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option E

Solution:

Dakota discusses the actualities of increased traffic and the decline in the teaching of drivers education. She doesn't use statistics (choice a). Her argument is not emotion filled, which rules out choice b. She doesn't mention fairness (choice c) and doesn't tell stories about specific situations (choice d).