Question 1

If we define humans as "religious animals," which of the following would be a counterexample?

Accepted Answer

A) a Muslim 
B) an atheist 
C) a Catholic 
D) a priest 
E) a squirrel 
A) a Muslim 
B) an atheist 
C) a Catholic 
D) a priest 
E) a squirrel

Question 2

The differentia of a concept is/are:

Accepted Answer

A) the best example of the concept 
B) any helpful example of the concept 
C) a measure of how broad the concept is 
D) the characteristic(s) that separate it from its genus 
E) the characteristic(s) that separate it from other species in its genus 
A) the best example of the concept 
B) any helpful example of the concept 
C) a measure of how broad the concept is 
D) the characteristic(s) that separate it from its genus 
E) the characteristic(s) that separate it from other species in its genus

Question 3

A definition is too narrow when:

Accepted Answer

A) it is only one person's opinion 
B) it doesn't say enough about the concept 
C) most people would disagree with it 
D) it includes things that are not referents of the concept 
E) it fails to include things that are referents of the concept 
A) it is only one person's opinion 
B) it doesn't say enough about the concept 
C) most people would disagree with it 
D) it includes things that are not referents of the concept 
E) it fails to include things that are referents of the concept

Question 4

When choosing a genus for a definition, one must consider:

Accepted Answer

A) the word's language of origin 
B) the number of syllables (for efficiency) 
C) how many referents the concept has 
D) what level of abstraction is appropriate 
E) whatever homonyms the word might have 
A) the word's language of origin 
B) the number of syllables (for efficiency) 
C) how many referents the concept has 
D) what level of abstraction is appropriate 
E) whatever homonyms the word might have

Question 5

Which of the following definitions lacks a genus?

Accepted Answer

A) A subway is an underground train. 
B) Drowning is when someone is asphyxiated in water. 
C) Golf is a sport in which the goal is to sink a ball in a hole by hitting it with a club. 
D) A joke is a humorous story. 
E) A judge is the official who presides at a court proceeding. 
A) A subway is an underground train. 
B) Drowning is when someone is asphyxiated in water. 
C) Golf is a sport in which the goal is to sink a ball in a hole by hitting it with a club. 
D) A joke is a humorous story. 
E) A judge is the official who presides at a court proceeding.

Question 6

Which of the following definitions violates the rule against using negative terms?

Accepted Answer

A) A clean driving record is a driving record with no violations listed. 
B) Timelessness is the property of not being associated with any particular time. 
C) A girl is a child who is not a boy. 
D) Absence is the property of not being present. 
E) Junk food is food that is not good for you. 
A) A clean driving record is a driving record with no violations listed. 
B) Timelessness is the property of not being associated with any particular time. 
C) A girl is a child who is not a boy. 
D) Absence is the property of not being present. 
E) Junk food is food that is not good for you.

Question 7

When one is defining a concept:

Accepted Answer

A) there will only be one possible genus, which is why it is determined first 
B) it doesn't matter what genus is chosen, as long as the rest of the definition is consistent with it 
C) there might be many choices of genus from which to choose 
D) the genus should always include the word "where" or the word "when" 
E) the genus should be chosen last 
A) there will only be one possible genus, which is why it is determined first 
B) it doesn't matter what genus is chosen, as long as the rest of the definition is consistent with it 
C) there might be many choices of genus from which to choose 
D) the genus should always include the word "where" or the word "when" 
E) the genus should be chosen last

Question 8

An obscure definition is one that:

Accepted Answer

A) uses poetic imagery and flowery language without saying anything literal about the concept being defined 
B) uses abstract or technical language that is more difficult to understand than the concept itself 
C) contains too much information to be useful 
D) includes several useful examples of the concept being defined 
E) doesn't include any examples of the concept being defined 
A) uses poetic imagery and flowery language without saying anything literal about the concept being defined 
B) uses abstract or technical language that is more difficult to understand than the concept itself 
C) contains too much information to be useful 
D) includes several useful examples of the concept being defined 
E) doesn't include any examples of the concept being defined

Question 9

When constructing a definition, it is usually easiest/best to start by:

Accepted Answer

A) making a list of referents for the concept 
B) making a list of other concepts that are similar 
C) determining the genus 
D) determining the differentia 
E) making a list of words that must be avoided to prevent circularity 
A) making a list of referents for the concept 
B) making a list of other concepts that are similar 
C) determining the genus 
D) determining the differentia 
E) making a list of words that must be avoided to prevent circularity

Question 10

Shown below is a concept to define, followed by the genus that has been selected for the definition.Please choose the differentia that best COMPLETES the definition.(The definition might not be perfect, but choose the BEST one.) tricycle: a vehicle

Accepted Answer

A) used by small children 
B) has three wheels 
C) moves very slowly 
D) seats only one rider 
E) invented in the 18th century 
A) used by small children 
B) has three wheels 
C) moves very slowly 
D) seats only one rider 
E) invented in the 18th century

Question 11

Which of the following is the most essential attribute of the concept "dish detergent?"

Accepted Answer

A) viscous liquid 
B) used to clean dishes 
C) green 
D) pine-scented 
E) creates bubbles on surface of water 
A) viscous liquid 
B) used to clean dishes 
C) green 
D) pine-scented 
E) creates bubbles on surface of water

Question 12

Which of the following definitions is circular?

Accepted Answer

A) near: having the property of being only a small distance away 
B) swimming: propelling oneself through water through controlled movement of one's appendages 
C) apex: a zenith or pinnacle 
D) enteritis: swelling of the small intestine 
E) couch: a piece of furniture designed for seating more than one person at a time 
A) near: having the property of being only a small distance away 
B) swimming: propelling oneself through water through controlled movement of one's appendages 
C) apex: a zenith or pinnacle 
D) enteritis: swelling of the small intestine 
E) couch: a piece of furniture designed for seating more than one person at a time

Question 13

What is the most obvious way that the following definition violates the rules? motorcycle: a two-wheeled vehicle

Accepted Answer

A) It is circular. 
B) It is too broad. 
C) It has no genus. 
D) It uses metaphorical language. 
E) It uses vague language. 
A) It is circular. 
B) It is too broad. 
C) It has no genus. 
D) It uses metaphorical language. 
E) It uses vague language.

Question 14

A definition is too broad when:

Accepted Answer

A) it fails to include things that are referents of the concept 
B) it is too wordy 
C) it includes things that are not referents of the concept 
D) it uses vague and obscure terms 
E) it is dumbed down so that everyone can understand it 
A) it fails to include things that are referents of the concept 
B) it is too wordy 
C) it includes things that are not referents of the concept 
D) it uses vague and obscure terms 
E) it is dumbed down so that everyone can understand it

Question 15

Which of the following definitions is too narrow?

Accepted Answer

A) Paul McCartney is a member of the Beatles. 
B) Russian is the language most commonly spoken in Russia. 
C) Corn bread is bread that is made from corn. 
D) A bottle is a glass container that is used to store wine. 
E) Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States of America. 
A) Paul McCartney is a member of the Beatles. 
B) Russian is the language most commonly spoken in Russia. 
C) Corn bread is bread that is made from corn. 
D) A bottle is a glass container that is used to store wine. 
E) Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States of America.

Question 16

Which of the following definitions is obscure?

Accepted Answer

A) Drinking is oral consumption of a fluid substance. 
B) A vegan is a vegetarian who does not eat any animal products at all. 
C) A pony is a short horse. 
D) A cane is a stick, or sticklike device, which a person uses to maintain his/her balance. 
E) Trepanning is drilling a hole in the skull down to the dura mater to relieve intracranial pressure. 
A) Drinking is oral consumption of a fluid substance. 
B) A vegan is a vegetarian who does not eat any animal products at all. 
C) A pony is a short horse. 
D) A cane is a stick, or sticklike device, which a person uses to maintain his/her balance. 
E) Trepanning is drilling a hole in the skull down to the dura mater to relieve intracranial pressure.

Question 17

Which of the following would be the best genus for a definition of ice cream?

Accepted Answer

A) food 
B) consumable 
C) substance 
D) compound 
E) dessert 
A) food 
B) consumable 
C) substance 
D) compound 
E) dessert

Question 18

Which of the following definitions is circular?

Accepted Answer

A) leaf: the leafy part of a plant 
B) green: the color that appears between yellow and blue in a rainbow 
C) Frisbee: a flat, round disc that can be tossed from person to person 
D) orange: an orange-colored, small, round fruit 
E) wheat: a tall cereal grass, often cultivated for human consumption 
A) leaf: the leafy part of a plant 
B) green: the color that appears between yellow and blue in a rainbow 
C) Frisbee: a flat, round disc that can be tossed from person to person 
D) orange: an orange-colored, small, round fruit 
E) wheat: a tall cereal grass, often cultivated for human consumption

Question 19

Is the following definition too broad or too narrow? spaghetti: a pasta that originated in Italy

Accepted Answer

A) It depends on the identity of the person who is defining the word. 
B) too broad 
C) too narrow 
D) both too broad and too narrow 
E) neither too broad nor too narrow 
A) It depends on the identity of the person who is defining the word. 
B) too broad 
C) too narrow 
D) both too broad and too narrow 
E) neither too broad nor too narrow

Question 20

What is the most obvious way that the following definition violates the rules? prune: what you get when you dry a plum

Accepted Answer

A) It has no genus. 
B) It is circular. 
C) It is too narrow. 
D) It uses metaphorical language. 
E) It uses negative terms unnecessarily. 
A) It has no genus. 
B) It is circular. 
C) It is too narrow. 
D) It uses metaphorical language. 
E) It uses negative terms unnecessarily.

If we define humans as "religious animals," which of the following would be a counterexample?

The differentia of a concept is/are:

A definition is too narrow when:

When choosing a genus for a definition, one must consider:

Which of the following definitions lacks a genus?

Which of the following definitions violates the rule against using negative terms?

When one is defining a concept:

An obscure definition is one that:

When constructing a definition, it is usually easiest/best to start by:

Shown below is a concept to define, followed by the genus that has been selected for the definition.Please choose the differentia that best COMPLETES the definition.(The definition might not be perfect, but choose the BEST one.) tricycle: a vehicle

Which of the following is the most essential attribute of the concept "dish detergent?"

Which of the following definitions is circular?

What is the most obvious way that the following definition violates the rules? motorcycle: a two-wheeled vehicle

A definition is too broad when:

Which of the following definitions is too narrow?

Which of the following definitions is obscure?

Which of the following would be the best genus for a definition of ice cream?

Which of the following definitions is circular?

Is the following definition too broad or too narrow? spaghetti: a pasta that originated in Italy

What is the most obvious way that the following definition violates the rules? prune: what you get when you dry a plum

Classification

Propositions

Argument Analysis

Fallacies

Categorical Propositions

Categorical Syllogisms

Reasoning With Syllogisms

Propositional Logic-Propositions

Propositional Logic-Arguments

Predicate Logic

Inductive Generalizations

Argument by Analogy

Statistical Reasoning

Explanation

Probability

Filters

Exam 2: Definitions

If we define humans as "religious animals," which of the following would be a counterexample?

The differentia of a concept is/are:

A definition is too narrow when:

When choosing a genus for a definition, one must consider:

Which of the following definitions lacks a genus?

Which of the following definitions violates the rule against using negative terms?

When one is defining a concept:

An obscure definition is one that:

When constructing a definition, it is usually easiest/best to start by:

Shown below is a concept to define, followed by the genus that has been selected for the definition.Please choose the differentia that best COMPLETES the definition.(The definition might not be perfect, but choose the BEST one.) tricycle: a vehicle

Which of the following is the most essential attribute of the concept "dish detergent?"

Which of the following definitions is circular?

What is the most obvious way that the following definition violates the rules? motorcycle: a two-wheeled vehicle

A definition is too broad when:

Which of the following definitions is too narrow?

Which of the following definitions is obscure?

Which of the following would be the best genus for a definition of ice cream?

Which of the following definitions is circular?

Is the following definition too broad or too narrow? spaghetti: a pasta that originated in Italy

What is the most obvious way that the following definition violates the rules? prune: what you get when you dry a plum

Classification

Propositions

Argument Analysis

Fallacies

Categorical Propositions

Categorical Syllogisms

Reasoning With Syllogisms

Propositional Logic-Propositions

Propositional Logic-Arguments

Predicate Logic

Inductive Generalizations

Argument by Analogy

Statistical Reasoning

Explanation

Probability

Filters