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Strong/Weak Arguments - Intermediate Level: argument evaluation INTERMEDIATE

Comprehensive weakness targeting worksheet covering 20 intermediate-level strong/weak arguments problems. Worksheet 18 of 30 emphasizes argument evaluation. Master logical strength, persuasive arguments, reasoning strength through detailed explanations. Difficulty: moderate complexity with mixed patterns. Tailored for mid-level preparation.

📝 Worksheet 18 of 30 • 20 questions • ⏱️ Estimated time: 20 minutes • 🎯 Intermediate level

What you'll learn in this worksheet:
Your progress through Strong/Weak Arguments
Worksheet 18 of 30 (60% complete)

Question 1

Context: Corporate board meeting about remote work policy Argument: In-person collaboration is essential for innovation and company culture In this context, how strong is this argument?
Strong argument in this context: Addresses specific business functions that may require physical presence
arguments, context, relevance

Question 2

What is the logical form of this argument?
Form: If P then Q. Q is true. Therefore P. This is affirming the consequent, a formal fallacy. The ground could be wet from sprinklers, not rain.
structure, premises, conclusion, logic

Question 3

Issue: Should the minimum wage be increased to $15/hour? Argument A: No, because minimum wage jobs are meant for teenagers, not adults Argument B: Yes, because it's been too long since the last minimum wage increase Which argument is stronger?
Both arguments are weak because they both based on outdated assumption; data shows many adults work minimum wage jobs
arguments, comparative, analysis

Question 4

Question: Should companies be required to provide paid parental leave? Argument: No, because people should plan their finances before having children Is this a strong or weak argument?
Weak argument: Oversimplifies complex socioeconomic factors affecting families
arguments, strength, basic

Question 5

Argument: We should not allow cell phones in schools because they distract students. Which unstated assumption (missing premise) is necessary for this argument to be logically valid?
The missing premise is: Distractions that reduce learning should be minimized in educational settings.. Without this assumption, the conclusion doesn't necessarily follow from the given evidence.
arguments, strength, basic

Question 6

Proposal: Universal basic income of $1000/month for all citizens Argument: Pilot studies in Finland and Kenya show UBI reduces poverty and improves mental health without reducing employment Evaluate this argument across multiple criteria (evidence quality, relevance, comprehensiveness):
Evidence: Strong, Relevance: Strong, Comprehensiveness: Strong. Overall: Strong
arguments, multi-criteria, comprehensive

Question 7

What is the primary weakness in this argument?
Small, non-random sample (n=5) cannot support population-wide conclusions regardless of unanimity.
statistics, probability, base rates

Question 8

Topic: Should artificial intelligence be regulated more strictly? Argument: Yes, because AI systems have already shown bias in hiring and lending decisions, affecting thousands of people Evaluate the strength of this argument:
Strong argument: Provides specific evidence, addresses real consequences, and makes logical connections
arguments, evidence, evaluation

Question 9

Argument: 'After we started the job training program, unemployment went down. So the program caused the decrease.' What important alternative explanation is ignored?
This commits the 'post hoc' fallacy (after this, therefore because of this). Without a control group or considering national trends, we can't establish causation.
causation, fallacy, correlation

Question 10

Context: Debate in City Council about building a new stadium Argument: Public funding should prioritize schools and infrastructure over entertainment venues Which unstated assumption does this argument rely on?
Hidden assumption: The city faces budget constraints that force trade-offs. Without this assumption, the argument's conclusion may not follow from its premises.
arguments, context, relevance

Question 11

Context: Corporate board meeting about remote work policy Argument: In-person collaboration is essential for innovation and company culture In this context, how strong is this argument?
Strong argument in this context: Addresses specific business functions that may require physical presence
arguments, context, relevance

Question 12

Is this argument deductive or inductive?
Deductive arguments aim for logical necessity. If premises are true, conclusion must be true. This is a classic syllogism.
induction, deduction, reasoning type

Question 13

Is this argument deductive or inductive? What makes it strong or weak?
Inductive arguments generalize from specific cases. They cannot be 'valid' like deduction; instead, they are stronger with larger, more representative samples.
induction, deduction, reasoning type

Question 14

Topic: Should standardized testing be eliminated from schools? Argument: Yes, because these tests are culturally biased and disadvantage minority students Evaluate the strength of this argument:
Strong argument: Provides specific evidence, addresses real consequences, and makes logical connections
arguments, evidence, evaluation

Question 15

Argument: We should require voter ID because it prevents fraud. Which is the STRONGEST counterargument?
The strongest counterargument addresses the premise (fraud prevalence) and shows the policy's harm outweighs its benefit, using evidence.
counterargument, dialectical, rebuttal

Question 16

What is the primary weakness in this argument?
Small, non-random sample (n=5) cannot support population-wide conclusions regardless of unanimity.
statistics, probability, base rates

Question 17

You test positive for a rare disease (1 in 10,000 prevalence). The test is 99% accurate (1% false positive rate). What is the approximate probability you actually have the disease?
With 10,000 people: 1 true case, but 100 false positives (1% of 9,999). So probability = 1/(1+100) ≈ 1%. This tests base rate neglect.
statistics, probability, base rates

Question 18

Argument: 'Ice cream sales and drowning deaths both rise together. Therefore, ice cream causes drowning.' What is the logical problem with this argument?
This is a classic 'correlation does not imply causation' fallacy. Hot weather causes both increased ice cream sales and more swimming/drowning.
causation, fallacy, correlation

Question 19

Argument: 'After we started the job training program, unemployment went down. So the program caused the decrease.' What important alternative explanation is ignored?
This commits the 'post hoc' fallacy (after this, therefore because of this). Without a control group or considering national trends, we can't establish causation.
causation, fallacy, correlation

Question 20

Topic: Should standardized testing be eliminated from schools? Argument: No, because competition is good for students Evaluate the strength of this argument:
Weak argument: Relies on emotion, generalizations, or lacks supporting evidence
arguments, evidence, evaluation
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