Exam 1: Basic Concepts

Humans are biological organisms. To understand our behavior and mental processes, we need to understand their biological underpinnings, starting with the cellular level, the neuron. How we feel, learn, remember, and think all stem from neuronal activity. So, how a neuron works and how neurons communicate are crucial pieces of information in solving the puzzle of human behavior and mental processing. Richard Griggs, Psychology: A Concise Introduction

If a deductive argument has a false premise and a true conclusion, then we know:

If its ion engine operates as planned, its huge solar panel remains deployed and undamaged, and its xenon energy source is not exhausted, then the Dawn spacecraft will reach both Vesta and Ceres (large asteroids in the belt between Mars and Jupiter), and scientists will gather information about the formation of planets, whether Ceres has a buried ocean of fresh water, and whether vestiges of life lurk beneath its icy surface.

Which of the following is a deductive argument?

The 300 million people who live in the U.S. make up just 5% of the world's population, but they consume a quarter of the world's oil supply. For much of the twentieth century, the U.S. was the world's largest oil producer, and its profligacy wasn't a pressing problem. Today, however, we are only the third-largest producer, behind Saudi Arabia and Russia. In terms of proven reserves, we have slipped to tenth place in the international rankings. John Cassidy, "Pump Dreams"

Harry just bought a brand new car. Harry must have won the lottery.

Geology can be divided into two major time-related disciplines: physical geology and historical geology. Physical geology is the study of the materials the planet is composed of and the present day processes that operate on the surface and within the earth's deeper layers. Historical geology is the study of the earth's 4.6 billion year history, its formation, development, and evolution. Historical geologists strive to create a time-line of events that have occurred since the earth's formation. Alan D. Sills, Earth Science the Easy Way

Which of the following is a necessary condition for going for a swim?

An argument that proceeds from our knowledge of an effect to a claim about the cause is:

PART A If shopping malls utilize video cameras, then the privacy of shoppers is invaded. Consequently, shopping malls utilize video cameras, because the privacy of shoppers is invaded. Which of the following correctly expresses the form of this argument? PART B Which of the following substitutions proves the argument in invalid? A) M = Angelina Jolie stars in movies, P = Angelina Jolie is an actress. B) M = George Washington was beheaded, P = George Washington is dead. C) M = Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, P = Abraham Lincoln is dead. D) M = Tom Smith was killed in a plane crash, P = Tom Smith is dead. E) M = George Washington is dead, P = George Washington was beheaded.

PART A Some cashmere sweaters are fashionable garments, so some cashmere sweaters are not suede jackets, for some suede jackets are not fashionable garments. Which of the following correctly expresses the form of this argument? PART B Which of the following substitutions proves the argument invalid? A) C = animals, F = cats, S = mammals. B) C = dogs, F = animals, S = mammals. C) C = dogs, F = mammals, S = fish. D) C= mammals, F = animals, S = dogs. E) C = cats, F = mammals, S = animals.

Alloys in which copper is the chief constituent are used more widely than pure copper and have more desirable properties. Bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, is easier to cast, harder, and less malleable than pure copper. Bronze dominated early technology before iron came into use. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc with multitudinous uses. Alloys of copper, nickel, and zinc, called nickel silver, have high resistance to corrosion and wear and are used as bases for silver plating and in costume jewelry. Robert Boikess and Edward Edelson, Chemical Principles

Given that A and B are the diagonals of a parallelogram. It follows that A and B have the same length.

Although accounting has made its most dramatic progress in the field of business, the accounting function is vital to every unit of our society. An individual must account for his or her income and must file income tax returns. Often an individual must supply personal accounting information in order to buy a car or home, to qualify for a college scholarship, to secure a credit card or to obtain a bank loan. The federal government, the states, the cities, the school district: all must use accounting as a basis for controlling their resources and measuring their accomplishments. Walter B. Meigs and Robert F. Meigs, Accounting, 6^th ed.

James Bloomfield, the widely respected expert on art authentication, says that the painting recently discovered in the basement of the art museum is a genuine Picasso. Therefore, we conclude that the painting is indeed a genuine Picasso.

The field of economics is divided into two major branches: microeconomics and macroeconomics. Microeconomics studies the behavior of individual economic agents and how they interact with each other in markets. Macroeconomics focuses on the overall level of economic activity in a society. It studies such topics as unemployment, inflation, and the rate of economic growth. Don E. Waldman, Microeconomics

Social psychologists conduct research into areas such as bystander intervention, prejudice, conformity, aggression, and obedience to authority. However, in order to gain insight into such critical issues, researchers must create vivid events that are involving for their participants. Some of these events, by their very nature, are likely to produce a degree of discomfort in the participants, such as witnessing someone having a seizure. Thus, what is required for good science and what is required for ethical science can be contradictory. Elliot Aronson, et al., Social Psychology

Scott Peterson was convicted by a jury of murdering his wife and unborn son. Therefore, he must have actually committed these crimes.

PART A All container ships that are ocean going are air polluters. Hence, all container ships are air polluters. Which of the following correctly expresses the form of this argument? PART B Which of the following substitutions proves the argument invalid? A) C = husbands, O = married, A = men. B) C = men, O = humans, A = mammals. C) C = men, O = married, A = husbands. D) C = wives, O = divorced, A = women. E) C = cats, O = animals, A = dogs.

Given that x² + 2x = 15. It follows that x = 3.