Exam 1: Basic Concepts

Scientists may be on the verge of creating life in a test tube. Recently, scientists have used computers to synthesize a highly complex loop of DNA. When this loop was inserted into an empty bacterial cell, the cell began to self-replicate. And self-replication is an essential feature of life.

Which of the following is a necessary condition for playing baseball?

Tobacco smoke is a much deadlier carcinogen and triggers a broader variety of cancers than previously believed. A new study provides definitive evidence that secondhand smoke increases the risk of those exposed by 20%. Also, the study firmly links smoking to stomach, liver, cervical, and kidney cancer, as well as to myeloid leukemia. Such links were previously suspected but not proved. Thomas Maugh II, "Smoking Goes from Bad to Worse"

Frank is a polygamist. Therefore, he has more than one wife.

Evolution as a process that has always gone on in the history of the earth can be doubted only by those who are ignorant of the evidence or are resistant to evidence, owing to emotional blocks or to plain bigotry. By contrast, the mechanisms that bring evolution about certainly need study and clarification. There are no alternatives to evolution as history that can withstand critical examination. Yet we are constantly learning new and important facts about evolutionary mechanisms. Theodosius Dobzhansky, "Nothing in Biology Makes Sense Except in the Light of Evolution"

Chemotherapy for cancer has produced a few dramatic successes. Almost 75% of children with childhood leukemia are completely cured. Hodgkin's disease, a lymphoma, once killed 2 out of 3 patients. Now, a combination therapy of 4 different drugs can wipe out the disease in a matter of months in 3 out of 4 patients, even when the cancer is not diagnosed immediately. Raymond A. Serway, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 4th ed.

Acid rain is an ecological threat that must be taken seriously. Acid rain has killed the fish in thousands of lakes, and it has caused billions of dollars in damages to important crops. Furthermore, acid rain poses a serious threat to our nation's forests.

PART A Some attorneys are litigators, so some attorneys are skillful litigators, since some attorneys are skillful. Which of the following correctly expresses the form of this argument? PART B Which of the following substitutions proves the argument invalid? A) A = doctors, S = highly trained, L = specialists. B) A = women, S = caring, L = parents. C) A = fruits, S = yellow, L = lemons. D) A = people, S = intelligent, L = morons. E) A = cars, S = large, L = sedans.

If the form of a deductive argument allows for a substitution instance having true premises and a true conclusion, then we know:

Which of the following sentences is a statement?

The earth is divided into the crust, the mantle, and the core. The crust is the solid portion on which we stand. The mantle is a plastic but solid material under the crust that can flow and move about. And finally, the core is the innermost part of the earth made of solid and molten iron. Pam Walker and Elaine Wood, Hands-On General Science Activities

Given that n is an integer, it follows that 2n is an even integer.

Arthur looks jaundiced today. Arthur must have the flu.

No taggers are publicly spirited citizens, because all taggers are criminals, and no criminals are publicly spirited citizens.

Either Woodrow Wilson or Theodore Roosevelt promoted the formation of the League of Nations. But it wasn't Wilson. Therefore, Theodore Roosevelt promoted the formation of the League of Nations.

Michelle is an agnostic. Therefore, she must not have any firm belief in God.

After smoking only a few cigarettes per day, Krista became addicted within two months. The same thing happened to Dave, Jean, and Marty. Therefore, since Dennis has been smoking a few cigarettes per day for the past two months, he's probably addicted, too.

Whistleblowing is a morally ambiguous activity on a complex concatenation of grounds: It necessarily involves a betrayal of trust on behalf of a public interest which itself is on some occasions morally ambiguous. It indicts otherwise morally competent individuals and organizations concerned with being perceived as legitimate. Sometimes it arouses public opinion, a frequently contaminated process. Natalie Dandekar, "Can Whistleblowing Be Fully Legitimated?"

When Jack took his car in for service, the mechanic charged him for lots of work that didn't need to be done. The same thing happened to Niki and Claire. Apparently mechanics these days are just a bunch of crooks.

If the Zika virus is harmless, then it will not be eradicated. The Zika virus is not harmless. Therefore, it will be eradicated.