Analyzing Arguments MCQs

Question 1

Originating in the 1920s, the Pyramid scheme is one of the oldest con games going. Honest people are often pulled in, thinking the scheme is a legitimate investment enterprise. The first customer to "fall for" the Pyramid scheme will actually make big money and will therefore persuade friends and relatives to join also. The chain then continues with the con artist who originated the scheme pocketing, rather than investing, the money. Finally, the pyramid collapses, but by that time, the scam artist will usually have moved out of town, leaving no forwarding address. This paragraph best supports the statement that

Accepted Answer

the people who set up Pyramid schemes are able to fool honest people.

Answer

it is fairly easy to spot a Pyramid scheme in the making.

Answer

he first customer of a Pyramid scheme is the most gullible.

Answer

the Pyramid scheme had its heyday in the 1920s, but it's making a comeback.

Question 2

The image of a knitter as an older woman sitting in a comfortable, old-fashioned living room with a basket of yarn at her feet and a bun in her hair is one of the past. As knitting continues to become more popular and increasingly trendy, it is much more difficult to describe the average knitter. Knitters today might be 18, 28, 40, or 65. They might live in a big urban center and take classes in a knit- ting shop that doubles as a café or they may gather in suburban coffee shops to support one another in knitting and other aspects of life. They could be college roommates knitting in their dorm room or two senior citizens knitting in a church hall. Even men are getting in the act. It would be incredibly difficult to come up with an accurate profile of a contemporary knitter to replace that image of the old woman with the basket of yarn! This paragraph best supports the statement that

Accepted Answer

creating an accurate profile of a particular type of person depends on the people in this group having traits and characteristics in common.

Answer

people are returning to knitting in an attempt to reconnect with simpler times.

Answer

knitting is now more of a group activity, as opposed to an individual hobby.

Answer

today's knitters are much less accomplished than knitters of the past.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

The idea of freedom of religion also means the right not to participate in religion, so mandated school prayer violates freedom of religion.

Answer

The rich should not be allowed to "buy" politicians, so the Congress should enact campaign finance reform.

Answer

The Constitution guarantees freedom to own property, so taxes should be illegal.

Answer

Convicted felons should not have their convictions overturned on a technicality.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

An action is not considered a part of freedom of speech.

Answer

People who burn the flag usually commit other crimes as well.

Answer

The flag was not recognized by the government until 1812.

Answer

State flags are almost never burned.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

To outlaw flag burning is to outlaw what the flag represents.

Answer

Only veterans care about the flag-burning issue.

Answer

Flag burning almost never happens, so outlawing it is a waste of time.

Answer

Flag burning will be a very important issue in the next election.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

The idea of freedom of religion also means the right not to participate in religion, so mandated school prayer violates freedom of religion.

Answer

The rich should not be allowed to "buy" politicians, so the Congress should enact campaign finance reform.

Answer

The Constitution guarantees freedom to own property, so taxes should be illegal.

Answer

Convicted felons should not have their convictions overturned on a technicality.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

Answer

studies showing computers are expensive.

Answer

research on the effect of computer games on children.

Answer

examples of high school students who use computers improperly.

Answer

proof that the cost of computers is coming down.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

a demonstration that computers can be used to teach reading and arithmetic.

Answer

analysis of the cost-effectiveness of new computers versus repairing old computers.

Answer

examples of adults who do not know how to use computers.

Answer

recent grade reports of students in the computer classes.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

relying on an analogy to prove the speaker.

Answer

a specific example that illustrates the speaker.

Answer

attacking the beliefs of those who disagree with the speaker.

Answer

displaying statistics that back up the speaker.