Question 1

As a lexical definition, the definition "'Poem' means a composition that expresses feelings" may be criticized as:

Accepted Answer

A)  Being affective. 
B)  Being vague. 
C)  Being ambiguous. 
D)  Failing to indicate the context to which the definiens pertains. 
E)  Being circular. 
A)  Being affective. 
B)  Being vague. 
C)  Being ambiguous. 
D)  Failing to indicate the context to which the definiens pertains. 
E)  Being circular.

Question 2

Which of the following statements has primarily cognitive meaning?

Accepted Answer

A)  Francesca Davis gave a thrilling rendition of Mimi in La Boheme last week. 
B)  Craig's performance in Arthur Miller's The Crucible was mesmerizing. 
C)  The quarterback looked like a complete buffoon in yesterday's game. 
D)  Hume claims that ethical decisions are grounded in our emotions. 
E)  The role of the police officer, played by Richard Gere, is riveting. 
A)  Francesca Davis gave a thrilling rendition of Mimi in La Boheme last week. 
B)  Craig's performance in Arthur Miller's The Crucible was mesmerizing. 
C)  The quarterback looked like a complete buffoon in yesterday's game. 
D)  Hume claims that ethical decisions are grounded in our emotions. 
E)  The role of the police officer, played by Richard Gere, is riveting.

Question 3

The definition "A smooth surface is 'level' if and only if a marble placed on any part of the surface doesn't roll" is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A)  A definition by genus and difference. 
B)  An operational definition. 
C)  A lexical definition. 
D)  A definition by subclass. 
E)  A stipulative definition. 
A)  A definition by genus and difference. 
B)  An operational definition. 
C)  A lexical definition. 
D)  A definition by subclass. 
E)  A stipulative definition.

Question 4

As a lexical definition, the definition "'Warhead' means the uppermost section of a guided missile" may be criticized as:

Accepted Answer

A)  Being too narrow. 
B)  Being too broad. 
C)  Failing to indicate the context to which the definiens pertains. 
D)  Failing to convey the essential meaning of the word being defined. 
E)  Being obscure. 
A)  Being too narrow. 
B)  Being too broad. 
C)  Failing to indicate the context to which the definiens pertains. 
D)  Failing to convey the essential meaning of the word being defined. 
E)  Being obscure.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is vague?

Accepted Answer

A)  Frank seems a little off these days. 
B)  Gold is more expensive, ounce for ounce, than silver. 
C)  The assailant struck a lumberjack with an ax. 
D)  All of today's cell phones contain microchips. 
E)  Sixty million Americans suffer from insomnia. 
A)  Frank seems a little off these days. 
B)  Gold is more expensive, ounce for ounce, than silver. 
C)  The assailant struck a lumberjack with an ax. 
D)  All of today's cell phones contain microchips. 
E)  Sixty million Americans suffer from insomnia.

Question 6

In the definition "'Mandolin' means a twelve-stringed lute," the words "a twelve-stringed lute" are the:

Accepted Answer

A)  Explanandum. 
B)  Definiendum. 
C)  Explanans. 
D)  Definiens. 
E)  Explicandum. 
A)  Explanandum. 
B)  Definiendum. 
C)  Explanans. 
D)  Definiens. 
E)  Explicandum.

Question 7

The definition "'Viddict' means a person addicted to video games" is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A)  A lexical definition. 
B)  A stipulative definition. 
C)  A theoretical definition. 
D)  A technological definition. 
E)  An etymological definition. 
A)  A lexical definition. 
B)  A stipulative definition. 
C)  A theoretical definition. 
D)  A technological definition. 
E)  An etymological definition.

Question 8

Which of the following statements expresses a value claim?

Accepted Answer

A)  Fred inherited a large amount of money from his uncle. 
B)  Jane had lunch with her niece today. 
C)  The tensile strength of steel is greater than that of copper. 
D)  Professor Thompson is a great instructor. 
E)  Among the states, California has the largest number of electoral votes. 
A)  Fred inherited a large amount of money from his uncle. 
B)  Jane had lunch with her niece today. 
C)  The tensile strength of steel is greater than that of copper. 
D)  Professor Thompson is a great instructor. 
E)  Among the states, California has the largest number of electoral votes.

Question 9

The following dispute: Ann:
During the Iraq war, our troops tortured prisoners by kicking and beating them.
Steve:
Don't be silly. That's not torture, it's just rough treatment.
Is best described as:

Accepted Answer

A)  Factual. 
B)  Political. 
C)  Verbal arising from ambiguity. 
D)  Verbal arising from vagueness. 
E)  Dispositional. 
A)  Factual. 
B)  Political. 
C)  Verbal arising from ambiguity. 
D)  Verbal arising from vagueness. 
E)  Dispositional.

Question 10

The definition "'Whistleblower' means a back-stabbing employee who reveals company secrets to enemies on the outside" is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A)  A lexical definition. 
B)  A persuasive definition. 
C)  A demonstrative definition. 
D)  A stipulative definition. 
E)  A precising definition. 
A)  A lexical definition. 
B)  A persuasive definition. 
C)  A demonstrative definition. 
D)  A stipulative definition. 
E)  A precising definition.

Question 11

As a lexical definition, Bill Cosby's definition "'Human' means the only creature on earth that allows its children to come back home" may be criticized as:

Accepted Answer

A)  Being too broad. 
B)  Being circular. 
C)  Being figurative. 
D)  Being negative. 
E)  Being too narrow. 
A)  Being too broad. 
B)  Being circular. 
C)  Being figurative. 
D)  Being negative. 
E)  Being too narrow.

Question 12

A claim that something is good, bad, right, or wrong is called a(n):

Accepted Answer

A)  Traditional claim. 
B)  Factual claim. 
C)  Vague claim. 
D)  Ambiguous claim. 
E)  Value claim. 
A)  Traditional claim. 
B)  Factual claim. 
C)  Vague claim. 
D)  Ambiguous claim. 
E)  Value claim.

Question 13

The definition "'Contract' means an agreement enforceable by law" is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A)  A precising definition. 
B)  A theoretical definition. 
C)  A definition by genus and difference. 
D)  A definition by subclass. 
E)  An etymological definition. 
A)  A precising definition. 
B)  A theoretical definition. 
C)  A definition by genus and difference. 
D)  A definition by subclass. 
E)  An etymological definition.

Question 14

As a lexical definition, the definition "'Female' means not being male" may be criticized as:

Accepted Answer

A)  Being obscure. 
B)  Being vague. 
C)  Being too narrow. 
D)  Being negative. 
E)  Being too broad. 
A)  Being obscure. 
B)  Being vague. 
C)  Being too narrow. 
D)  Being negative. 
E)  Being too broad.

Question 15

As a lexical definition, the definition "'Iceberg' means a berg of ice" may be criticized as:

Accepted Answer

A)  Being too broad. 
B)  Being ambiguous. 
C)  Being negative. 
D)  Being too narrow. 
E)  Being circular. 
A)  Being too broad. 
B)  Being ambiguous. 
C)  Being negative. 
D)  Being too narrow. 
E)  Being circular.

Question 16

The definition "'Welfare' means a handout made by the government to lazy people who refuse to work" is an example of a:

Accepted Answer

A)  Lexical definition. 
B)  Persuasive definition. 
C)  Precising definition. 
D)  Theoretical definition. 
E)  Stipulative definition. 
A)  Lexical definition. 
B)  Persuasive definition. 
C)  Precising definition. 
D)  Theoretical definition. 
E)  Stipulative definition.

Question 17

The definition "'Hydrohisser' means a cat that accidentally falls into a swimming pool" is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A)  A theoretical definition. 
B)  A lexical definition. 
C)  A stipulative definition. 
D)  A farcical definition. 
E)  An etymological definition. 
A)  A theoretical definition. 
B)  A lexical definition. 
C)  A stipulative definition. 
D)  A farcical definition. 
E)  An etymological definition.

Question 18

The definition "'Lamp' means that and that and that" (as you point to a number of lamps) is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A)  An enumerative definition. 
B)  A precising definition. 
C)  A definition by subclass. 
D)  An operational definition. 
E)  A demonstrative definition. 
A)  An enumerative definition. 
B)  A precising definition. 
C)  A definition by subclass. 
D)  An operational definition. 
E)  A demonstrative definition.

Question 19

Which of the following are all denoted by the term "watchmaker"?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sales, profits, assets, liabilities. 
B)  Stylish, functional, accurate, battery operated. 
C)  American, French, Swiss, Japanese. 
D)  Timex, Cartier, Omega, Casio. 
E)  United States, France, Switzerland, Japan. 
A)  Sales, profits, assets, liabilities. 
B)  Stylish, functional, accurate, battery operated. 
C)  American, French, Swiss, Japanese. 
D)  Timex, Cartier, Omega, Casio. 
E)  United States, France, Switzerland, Japan.

Question 20

Which of the following are both extensional definitions?

Accepted Answer

A)  Synonymous definition, enumerative definition. 
B)  Enumerative definition, operational definition. 
C)  Etymological definition, definition by genus and difference. 
D)  Definition by subclass, enumerative definition. 
E)  Operational definition, demonstrative definition. 
A)  Synonymous definition, enumerative definition. 
B)  Enumerative definition, operational definition. 
C)  Etymological definition, definition by genus and difference. 
D)  Definition by subclass, enumerative definition. 
E)  Operational definition, demonstrative definition.

As a lexical definition, the definition "'Poem' means a composition that expresses feelings" may be criticized as:

Which of the following statements has primarily cognitive meaning?

The definition "A smooth surface is 'level' if and only if a marble placed on any part of the surface doesn't roll" is an example of:

As a lexical definition, the definition "'Warhead' means the uppermost section of a guided missile" may be criticized as:

Which of the following statements is vague?

In the definition "'Mandolin' means a twelve-stringed lute," the words "a twelve-stringed lute" are the:

The definition "'Viddict' means a person addicted to video games" is an example of:

Which of the following statements expresses a value claim?

The following dispute: Ann: During the Iraq war, our troops tortured prisoners by kicking and beating them. Steve: Don't be silly. That's not torture, it's just rough treatment. Is best described as:

The definition "'Whistleblower' means a back-stabbing employee who reveals company secrets to enemies on the outside" is an example of:

As a lexical definition, Bill Cosby's definition "'Human' means the only creature on earth that allows its children to come back home" may be criticized as:

A claim that something is good, bad, right, or wrong is called a(n):

The definition "'Contract' means an agreement enforceable by law" is an example of:

As a lexical definition, the definition "'Female' means not being male" may be criticized as:

As a lexical definition, the definition "'Iceberg' means a berg of ice" may be criticized as:

The definition "'Welfare' means a handout made by the government to lazy people who refuse to work" is an example of a:

The definition "'Hydrohisser' means a cat that accidentally falls into a swimming pool" is an example of:

The definition "'Lamp' means that and that and that" (as you point to a number of lamps) is an example of:

Which of the following are all denoted by the term "watchmaker"?

Which of the following are both extensional definitions?

Basic Concepts

Informal Fallacies

Categorical Propositions

Categorical Syllogisms

Propositional Logic

Natural Deduction in Propositional Logic

Predicate Logic

Analogy and Legal and Moral Reasoning

Causality and Mills Methods

Probability

Statistical Reasoning

Hypotheticalscientific Reasoning

Science and Superstition

Filters

Exam 2: Language: Meaning and Definition

As a lexical definition, the definition "'Poem' means a composition that expresses feelings" may be criticized as:

Which of the following statements has primarily cognitive meaning?

The definition "A smooth surface is 'level' if and only if a marble placed on any part of the surface doesn't roll" is an example of:

As a lexical definition, the definition "'Warhead' means the uppermost section of a guided missile" may be criticized as:

Which of the following statements is vague?

In the definition "'Mandolin' means a twelve-stringed lute," the words "a twelve-stringed lute" are the:

The definition "'Viddict' means a person addicted to video games" is an example of:

Which of the following statements expresses a value claim?

The following dispute: Ann: During the Iraq war, our troops tortured prisoners by kicking and beating them. Steve: Don't be silly. That's not torture, it's just rough treatment. Is best described as:

The definition "'Whistleblower' means a back-stabbing employee who reveals company secrets to enemies on the outside" is an example of:

As a lexical definition, Bill Cosby's definition "'Human' means the only creature on earth that allows its children to come back home" may be criticized as:

A claim that something is good, bad, right, or wrong is called a(n):

The definition "'Contract' means an agreement enforceable by law" is an example of:

As a lexical definition, the definition "'Female' means not being male" may be criticized as:

As a lexical definition, the definition "'Iceberg' means a berg of ice" may be criticized as:

The definition "'Welfare' means a handout made by the government to lazy people who refuse to work" is an example of a:

The definition "'Hydrohisser' means a cat that accidentally falls into a swimming pool" is an example of:

The definition "'Lamp' means that and that and that" (as you point to a number of lamps) is an example of:

Which of the following are all denoted by the term "watchmaker"?

Which of the following are both extensional definitions?

Basic Concepts

Informal Fallacies

Categorical Propositions

Categorical Syllogisms

Propositional Logic

Natural Deduction in Propositional Logic

Predicate Logic

Analogy and Legal and Moral Reasoning

Causality and Mills Methods

Probability

Statistical Reasoning

Hypotheticalscientific Reasoning

Science and Superstition

Filters