Exam 1: Basic Concepts

Incandescent light bulbs eventually burn out because the high temperature of the filament causes tungsten atoms to fly off and collect on the inside of the bulb's glass. This loss of tungsten is slowed, but not prevented, by introducing argon inside the bulb's envelope. As more and more atoms are lost, the filament disintegrates. When this happens, no electricity flows through the filament, and the bulb produces no light.

Hot peppers cause a burning sensation in the mouth because they contain a compound called capsaicin (or any of the related compounds called capsaicinoids). Capsaicin is an alkaline oil that binds to pain receptors in the mucous membrane. In some cases it produces excruciating agony. Drinking something acidic, like lemonade, helps to combat the burning. Anne Marie Helmenstine, About.com Guide to Chemistry

Which of the following is a necessary condition for making a call on a smartphone?

Which of the following are all inductive arguments?

After drinking a bottle of Black Diamond Special Brew, Clyde noticed a slightly bitter aftertaste. Lauren and Nicole noticed the same thing when they drank some Black Diamond a year earlier. We conclude that every bottle of Black Diamond Special Brew has a slightly bitter after taste.

Author Tim LaHaye says that the rapture (when all righteous people will be miraculously lifted up to heaven) will occur in the not too distant future. Therefore, this event is sure to happen soon.

PART A If auditors botch their job, then investors are misled. Hence, if investors are misled, then public confidence is eroded, because if auditors botch their job, then public confidence is eroded. The form of this argument is: PART B Which of the following substitutions proves the argument invalid? A) A = Scarlett Johansson is a lawyer; I = Scarlett Johansson is a human; P = Scarlett Johansson can represent clients in court. B) A = Ben Affleck is an actor, I = Ben Affleck is well known, P = Ben Affleck is a human. C) A = cats, P = mammals, I = animals. D) A = dogs, I = fish, P = mammals. E) A = candy is sweet, I = lemons are sour, P = sea water is salty.

Adrian's car has a flat tire. Someone must have slashed it with a knife.

A divining rod is a magical device for detecting hidden water, metal, and gemstones. Your friend Roger is using his divining rod on the beach right now. Therefore, he'll likely find some diamonds buried beneath the sand.

It's easy for budding stars to make it big in Hollywood. Look at Dustin Hoffman. He was instantly famous after his initial role in The Graduate.

We believe that our company must develop and produce outstanding products that will perform a great service or fill a need for our customers. We believe that our business must be run at an adequate profit. We believe that the services and products we offer must be better than those offered by our competitors. We believe that our business must provide stability of employment and job security for all those who depend on our company for their livelihood. Robert D. Hay, et al, "Introduction to Social Responsibility"

Which of the following is a conclusion indicator?

If banks are prevented from engaging in risky practices, predatory lending is criminalized, trading in derivatives is made transparent and backed up by capital, and Wall Street lobbyists are held in check, then accountability and responsibility will be restored to the financial system, "too big to fail" will become a thing of the past, and a repeat of the Great Recession will be avoided.

Which of the following are all arguments?

Right wing columnist and author Michelle Malkin says that the forced relocation of Japanese Americans to internment camps during World war II was really for their own protection. Therefore, we must drop that silly nonsense that this internment was a monstrous injustice, and start thinking of it as a humanitarian endeavor.

An argument whose conclusion rests on a similarity between two things is:

Sandra is older than Florence, and Florence is younger than Carl. Therefore, it necessarily follows that Sandra is older than Carl.

Cancer is apt to develop in individuals who exhibit an immunodeficiency. For Example, people with AIDS develop a cancer of the blood vessels called Kaposi's sarcoma. Transplant patients who are on immunosuppressive drugs are more apt to develop lymphomas and Kaposi's sarcoma. Persons who inherit an immunodeficiency are also more apt to develop these cancers. Sylvia S. Mader, Human Biology, 4th ed.

Mitzi the cat is looking at its empty bowl and meowing. Mitzi must be hungry.

If Ken Burns makes historical documentaries, then he enhances our knowledge of the past. Ken Burns does make historical documentaries. Therefore he enhances our knowledge of the past.