Exam 1: Basic Concepts

Which of the following words is not a conclusion indicator?

Finding an identity as a Latino is a tricky issue in the United States because the pressure to assimilate is being repressed by the pressure to retain your roots. If you are deemed too assimilated into American culture, you are branded a "gringo" by your peers or even a turncoat to your blood and country. If you shun all American culture, you are branded as a freeloading malcontent who would be better off going back to where he came from. It is a lose-lose situation. Mario Feirro, Letter to the editor

Entertainer Rush Limbaugh claims that supply side economics really works. Therefore, we should believe that supply side economics does indeed work.

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

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.

If interest rates rise, then home sales will decline. Thus, if interest rates rise, then real estate prices will drop, because if home sales decline, then real estate prices will drop.

Which of the following words is a premise indicator?

The person usually credited with having originated logic is:

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.

There are two approaches to the development and testing of hypotheses: inductive and deductive. In the inductive method, the scientist gathers empirical data and from it arrives at a generalization. The inductive method proceeds from specific observations to a general conclusion. Using a deductive method, a scientist develops a general idea about a phenomenon, performs experiments, and from them makes specific predictions that can be tested again. Robert Leo Smith and Thomas M Smith, Ecology and Field Biology, 6^th edition

If malaria becomes drug resistant, then countless victims will perish. If malaria becomes drug resistant, then a major health crisis will erupt. Therefore, if a major health crisis erupts, then countless victims will perish.

Some over-the-counter medicines should not be given to very young children. For example, cold medicines contain decongestants and antihistamines. These substances raise blood pressure and heart rate. If an overdose should occur in a young child, the result can be fatal.

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.

If organic food contains pesticides, then consumers are misled. Organic food does not contain pesticides. Therefore, consumers are not misled.

PART A If charter schools are expanded, then education will improve, so charter schools will be expanded, because education will improve. Which of the following correctly expresses the form of this argument? a. C E If C then E. $\quad$ b. If C then E. C E $\quad$ c. If C then E. E C d. All C are E. E C $\quad$ e. \begin{array} { l } \text {If \mathrm{C} then \( \mathrm{E} \). }\\ \text { If \( E \) then \( F \).}\\ \text { If \( \mathrm{C} \) then \( \mathrm{F} \). }\\\end{array} PART B Which of the following substitutions proves the argument invalid? A) C = Johnny Depp is a man, E = Johnny Depp is a human. B) C = George Washington was assassinated, E = George Washington is dead. C) C = Cathy Smith was assassinated, E = Cathy Smith is dead. D) C = mammals, E = animals. E) C = George Washington is dead, E = Abraham Lincoln is dead.

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

Which of the following is a necessary condition for going ice skating?

The highway sign says that the risk of forest fires in this area is extremely high right now. Therefore, we must conclude that the risk of forest fires is indeed high right now.

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

Which of the following is a deductive argument?