Exam 1: Basic Concepts

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: a. If I then . If A then P If A then I $\quad$ b. If A then I. If I then P . If A then P . $\quad$ c. If A then I. If A then P . If I then P. d. All A are P All A are I. All I are P. $\quad$ e. No A are I. No I are P . No A are P . 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.

All credit cards are invitations to overspend, and some invitations to overspent are precursors of bankruptcy. Therefore, some credit cards are precursors of bankruptcy.

Evolution is central to vertebrate biology because it provides a principle that organizes the diversity we see among living vertebrates. Also it helps to fit extinct forms into the context of living species. Classification, initially a process of attaching names to organisms, has become a method of understanding evolution. F. Harvey Pough, et al., Vertebrate Life, 7^th edition

Each element and compound is a pure substance. However, most materials are neither single elements nor single compounds. Instead, they are mixtures of these simple substances, with one substance mingled with another. Thus, gasoline is a mixture of hydrocarbons and additives blended together to achieve efficient combustion. Loretta Jones and Peter Atkins, Chemistry: Molecules, Matter, and Change, 4^th ed.

​Earlier attempts to build offshore windfarms ran into roadblocks. They included high costs and murky rules about the use of the sea floor. People who did not want their ocean views marked by machinery opposed them. But offshore wind may now be on the verge of rapid growth. Such a step will be vital for a future based on renewable energy. Newspaper clipping.

PART A All real libraries are buildings containing books, so some presidential libraries are not real libraries, since some buildings containing books are not presidential libraries. The form of this argument is: a. Some P are not . Some B are not P . All R are B. $\quad$ b. Some P are not R . All R are . Some B are not P . $\quad$ c. Some B are not P . Some P are not R . All are . d. All R are B. Some P are not R. Some B are not P. $\quad$ e. \begin{array} { l } \text {All R are \mathrm{B} . }\\ \text {Some \( B \) are not. \( P \). }\\ \text {Some P are not R. }\\\end{array} PART B Which of the following substitutions proves the argument invalid? A) R = mammals, B = animals, P = cats. B) B = mammals, P = cats, R = dogs. C) P = animals, R = cats, B =mammals. D) R = fish, B = animals, P = dogs. E) B = fish, R = animals, P = cats.

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.

Which of the following are all deductive arguments?

If prisoners are discharged without any skills, then they will return to a life of crime. If prisoners are unable to get jobs, then they will return to a life of crime. Thus, if prisoners are discharged without any skills, then they will be unable to get jobs.

If the Big Bang theory is correct, then the universe is billions of years old. And if the Big Bang theory is correct, then the universe was not created in six days. Thus, if the universe is billions of years old, then it was not created in six days.

After Scott started the engine in his old Chevy, the car backfired several times, and clouds of smoke came from the exhaust pipe. Apparently something must be wrong with the engine.

More than 99% of all airplane flights land safely. Therefore, probably the next flight to depart from JFK International Airport will land safely.

In the expression "If electric cars become popular, then the price of gasoline will drop," the statement "Electric cars become popular" is called the:

Dennis drives an old beat-up Volkswagen, lives in a cheap apartment, and his clothes are old and bedraggled. Dennis must not have much money.

Most fast food restaurants cook French fries and other foods in beef tallow. This is a flavorful shortening high in saturated fat, which has been linked to heart disease. Chicken, which is low in fat, in a fast food sandwich has been found to contain more fat than a pint of ice cream. The reason fast food restaurants use beef tallow is that it makes food more flavorful and it is cheaper than alternative ways of cooking food. Dominic Salvatore, Managerial Economics, 3rd ed.

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.

Large groups of prospective jurors are dispatched to courtrooms where they sit around for three to four days. Then attorneys and judges, in between other extensive court business, query each prospective juror over and over again with the same time-consuming questions to see if the juror should be excused, picked, or challenged. The process is maddening to watch and listen to. More often than not, after being required to report to the courtroom for three to four days the prospective jurors, in droves, are dismissed. Alan V. Weinberg, Letter to the Editor

Finance as we know it today grew out of and lies between economics and accounting. Economists developed the notion that an asset's value is based on the future cash flow the asset will provide. Accountants provided the information about the likely size of those cash flows. So, people who work in finance require knowledge of both economics and accounting. Eugene F. Brightman et al., Fundamentals of Financial Management.

Which of the following sentences is a statement?

PART A If the economy crashes, then stock prices fall, because if stock prices fall, then pension funds shrink, and if the economy crashes then pension funds shrink. The form of this argument is: a. If E then S . If E then P . If then . $\quad$ b. If E then S . If then . If E thet P . $\quad$ c. If S then P . If E then P . If E then S . d. \begin{array} { l } \text {All \mathrm{S} are \( \mathrm{P} \). }\\ \text {All E ate P. }\\ \text { All \( \mathrm{E} \) ate \( \mathrm{S} \).}\\\end{array}$\quad$ e. \begin{array} { l } \text {If \mathrm{S} then \( \mathrm{P} \). }\\ \text {If \( E \) then \( S \). }\\ \text { If \( E \) then \( P \).}\\\end{array} PART B Which of the following substitutions proves the argument invalid? A) S = Jessica Biel is a man, P = Jessica Biel is a human, E = Jessica Biel is a woman. B) S = cats, P = animals, E = dogs. C) S = Jessica Biel is a woman, P = Jessica Biel is a human, E = Jessica Biel is an actress. D) S = Matt Damon is an actor, P = Matt Damon is a lawyer, E = Matt Damon is a professional. E) S = Susan is rich, P = Susan is famous, E = Susan is happy.