Question 1

Which of the following is an argument?

Accepted Answer

A) He straightened his tie carefully, as he did every morning. 
B) Since cheerleading is physically demanding, it should be considered a sport. 
C) Since the blizzard of 2002, it has never snowed in our town. 
D) The boss always rewards hard work, but punishes laziness. 
E) Amanda was able to buy a new car because she got a promotion at work. 
A) He straightened his tie carefully, as he did every morning. 
B) Since cheerleading is physically demanding, it should be considered a sport. 
C) Since the blizzard of 2002, it has never snowed in our town. 
D) The boss always rewards hard work, but punishes laziness. 
E) Amanda was able to buy a new car because she got a promotion at work. B

Question 2

Which of the following words typically introduces a conclusion?

Accepted Answer

A) neither 
B) or 
C) for 
D) consequently 
E) since 
A) neither 
B) or 
C) for 
D) consequently 
E) since D

Question 3

A premise is:

Accepted Answer

A) the physical location where an argument takes place 
B) the evidence in support of a conclusion 
C) a belief about the future 
D) knowledge about the future 
E) an argument that fails to convince anyone 
A) the physical location where an argument takes place 
B) the evidence in support of a conclusion 
C) a belief about the future 
D) knowledge about the future 
E) an argument that fails to convince anyone B

Question 4

An implicit premise is:

Accepted Answer

A) never dependent on an explicit premise 
B) always dependent on an explicit premise 
C) sometimes dependent on an explicit premise 
D) sometimes independent 
E) always independent 
A) never dependent on an explicit premise 
B) always dependent on an explicit premise 
C) sometimes dependent on an explicit premise 
D) sometimes independent 
E) always independent

Question 5

Which of the following words typically introduces a premise?

Accepted Answer

A) therefore 
B) because 
C) but 
D) hence 
E) and 
A) therefore 
B) because 
C) but 
D) hence 
E) and

Question 6

Which of the following arguments is an analogy?

Accepted Answer

A) Because all presidents who win a second term are popular, Richard Nixon was popular. 
B) Pirate treasure is rarely found in densely populated areas, so finding pirate treasure in New York City is unlikely. 
C) Cursive is like printing, but sometimes it is harder to read.Because of this, it is better to print your papers than to write them in cursive. 
D) Weasels and otters share a common ancestry and therefore their skeletons are probably quite similar. 
E) Failure to maintain roads is dangerous, since it is like failure to maintain your health. 
A) Because all presidents who win a second term are popular, Richard Nixon was popular. 
B) Pirate treasure is rarely found in densely populated areas, so finding pirate treasure in New York City is unlikely. 
C) Cursive is like printing, but sometimes it is harder to read.Because of this, it is better to print your papers than to write them in cursive. 
D) Weasels and otters share a common ancestry and therefore their skeletons are probably quite similar. 
E) Failure to maintain roads is dangerous, since it is like failure to maintain your health.

Question 7

Which of the following diagrams is the best fit for this argument? Because
(1) the human heart has more than three valves and
(2) it has fewer than five valves,
(3) it must have four valves.

Accepted Answer

A)    
B)    
C)    
D)    
E)    
A)    
B)    
C)    
D)    
E)

Question 8

What is the implicit premise in the following argument? I can't take a plane to Houston, so I will take a bus.

Accepted Answer

A) I need to go to Houston. 
B) I have no reason to go to Dallas. 
C) The airport is snowed in. 
D) I can't afford a plane ticket. 
E) I must either take a plane or a bus to Houston. 
A) I need to go to Houston. 
B) I have no reason to go to Dallas. 
C) The airport is snowed in. 
D) I can't afford a plane ticket. 
E) I must either take a plane or a bus to Houston.

Question 9

Can every paragraph be classified either as an argument or as an explanation?

Accepted Answer

A) Yes, because every paragraph either reasons forward from premises to a conclusion or backward from a fact to its cause. 
B) Yes, because every paragraph is an explanation of some kind, and arguments are a particular sort of explanation. 
C) No, because some paragraphs contain no reasoning at all. 
D) No, because some paragraphs provide evidence for a conclusion without making an argument. 
E) No, because some paragraphs present reasoning that is too complicated to be called an argument or an explanation. 
A) Yes, because every paragraph either reasons forward from premises to a conclusion or backward from a fact to its cause. 
B) Yes, because every paragraph is an explanation of some kind, and arguments are a particular sort of explanation. 
C) No, because some paragraphs contain no reasoning at all. 
D) No, because some paragraphs provide evidence for a conclusion without making an argument. 
E) No, because some paragraphs present reasoning that is too complicated to be called an argument or an explanation.

Question 10

Can every proposition be used as a premise in one argument and as a conclusion in another?

Accepted Answer

A) No, since some propositions could never be used as a premise or a conclusion. 
B) Yes. 
C) All propositions can be used as premises, but only some can be used as conclusions. 
D) All propositions can be used as conclusions, but only some can be used as premises. 
E) Each proposition is either a premise or a conclusion, but no proposition can be both. 
A) No, since some propositions could never be used as a premise or a conclusion. 
B) Yes. 
C) All propositions can be used as premises, but only some can be used as conclusions. 
D) All propositions can be used as conclusions, but only some can be used as premises. 
E) Each proposition is either a premise or a conclusion, but no proposition can be both.

Question 11

In argument diagrams, a plus sign is placed between:

Accepted Answer

A) a premise and a conclusion 
B) independent premises 
C) dependent premises 
D) two arrows 
E) Plus signs aren't used in diagrams. 
A) a premise and a conclusion 
B) independent premises 
C) dependent premises 
D) two arrows 
E) Plus signs aren't used in diagrams.

Question 12

Is it possible to construct an argument with no premises?

Accepted Answer

A) Yes, as long as there is more than one conclusion. 
B) Yes, as long as the conclusion is very simple. 
C) Yes, as long as the conclusion is a proposition. 
D) No, since arguments require at least three premises. 
E) No, since there would be nothing from which to infer a conclusion. 
A) Yes, as long as there is more than one conclusion. 
B) Yes, as long as the conclusion is very simple. 
C) Yes, as long as the conclusion is a proposition. 
D) No, since arguments require at least three premises. 
E) No, since there would be nothing from which to infer a conclusion.

Question 13

What is the implicit premise in the following argument? Sally has a broken leg, so Sally can't go hiking.

Accepted Answer

A) No person with a broken leg can go hiking. 
B) Sally has a broken leg. 
C) Sally can't go hiking. 
D) Sally has a broken leg, so Sally can't go hiking. 
E) A broken leg is painful. 
A) No person with a broken leg can go hiking. 
B) Sally has a broken leg. 
C) Sally can't go hiking. 
D) Sally has a broken leg, so Sally can't go hiking. 
E) A broken leg is painful.

Question 14

Which of the following arguments is a generalization?

Accepted Answer

A) Mining copper is a lucrative business, so I should go into copper mining. 
B) All Spaniards are Iberians, and all Iberians are Europeans.So all Spaniards are Europeans. 
C) The power is out at my house and at both of my neighbors' houses, so the power must be out for our entire block. 
D) I only turn in my homework when it is complete, and this assignment isn't complete, so I will not turn it in. 
E) The damage from the fire was quite severe because the homeowner failed to maintain working smoke detectors.So the homeowner is partially at fault. 
A) Mining copper is a lucrative business, so I should go into copper mining. 
B) All Spaniards are Iberians, and all Iberians are Europeans.So all Spaniards are Europeans. 
C) The power is out at my house and at both of my neighbors' houses, so the power must be out for our entire block. 
D) I only turn in my homework when it is complete, and this assignment isn't complete, so I will not turn it in. 
E) The damage from the fire was quite severe because the homeowner failed to maintain working smoke detectors.So the homeowner is partially at fault.

Question 15

Which of the following premises provides the strongest support for the conclusion that Lockbart Detergent is the best laundry detergent?

Accepted Answer

A) It comes in an attractive container. 
B) It is available in many different scents. 
C) It gets clothes very clean. 
D) It keeps colors brighter than any other laundry detergent. 
E) It contains antibacterial soap. 
A) It comes in an attractive container. 
B) It is available in many different scents. 
C) It gets clothes very clean. 
D) It keeps colors brighter than any other laundry detergent. 
E) It contains antibacterial soap.

Question 16

In the diagram of an argument with independent premises, the minimum number of arrows is:

Accepted Answer

A) zero 
B) one 
C) two 
D) three 
E) There is no minimum. 
A) zero 
B) one 
C) two 
D) three 
E) There is no minimum.

Question 17

In logic, an argument is a:

Accepted Answer

A) list of premises that does not yet lead to any conclusion 
B) set of premises along with a conclusion supported by them 
C) verbal or written exchange in which two people disagree 
D) verbal or written exchange in which two people tell each other that they are wrong 
E) verbal or written exchange in which two people become angry 
A) list of premises that does not yet lead to any conclusion 
B) set of premises along with a conclusion supported by them 
C) verbal or written exchange in which two people disagree 
D) verbal or written exchange in which two people tell each other that they are wrong 
E) verbal or written exchange in which two people become angry

Question 18

What do cogent and sound arguments have in common?

Accepted Answer

A) They have true premises. 
B) They have true conclusions. 
C) They are inductive. 
D) They are deductive. 
E) They are valid. 
A) They have true premises. 
B) They have true conclusions. 
C) They are inductive. 
D) They are deductive. 
E) They are valid.

Question 19

What is the maximum number of premises that an argument can have?

Accepted Answer

A) 2 
B) 3 
C) 5 
D) 10 
E) there is no maximum 
A) 2 
B) 3 
C) 5 
D) 10 
E) there is no maximum

Question 20

Which of the following diagrams is the best fit for this argument, given that the first proposition is the conclusion? (1) Superman is an excellent superhero.
(2) Superman has X-ray vision.
(3) Superman can fly.

Accepted Answer

A)    
B)    
C)    
D)    
E)    
A)    
B)    
C)    
D)    
E)

Which of the following is an argument?

Which of the following words typically introduces a conclusion?

A premise is:

An implicit premise is:

Which of the following words typically introduces a premise?

Which of the following arguments is an analogy?

Which of the following diagrams is the best fit for this argument? Because (1) the human heart has more than three valves and (2) it has fewer than five valves, (3) it must have four valves.

What is the implicit premise in the following argument? I can't take a plane to Houston, so I will take a bus.

Can every paragraph be classified either as an argument or as an explanation?

Can every proposition be used as a premise in one argument and as a conclusion in another?

In argument diagrams, a plus sign is placed between:

Is it possible to construct an argument with no premises?

What is the implicit premise in the following argument? Sally has a broken leg, so Sally can't go hiking.

Which of the following arguments is a generalization?

Which of the following premises provides the strongest support for the conclusion that Lockbart Detergent is the best laundry detergent?

In the diagram of an argument with independent premises, the minimum number of arrows is:

In logic, an argument is a:

What do cogent and sound arguments have in common?

What is the maximum number of premises that an argument can have?

Which of the following diagrams is the best fit for this argument, given that the first proposition is the conclusion? (1) Superman is an excellent superhero. (2) Superman has X-ray vision. (3) Superman can fly.

Classification

Definitions

Propositions

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 4: Argument Analysis

Which of the following is an argument?

Which of the following words typically introduces a conclusion?

A premise is:

An implicit premise is:

Which of the following words typically introduces a premise?

Which of the following arguments is an analogy?

Which of the following diagrams is the best fit for this argument? Because (1) the human heart has more than three valves and (2) it has fewer than five valves, (3) it must have four valves.

What is the implicit premise in the following argument? I can't take a plane to Houston, so I will take a bus.

Can every paragraph be classified either as an argument or as an explanation?

Can every proposition be used as a premise in one argument and as a conclusion in another?

In argument diagrams, a plus sign is placed between:

Is it possible to construct an argument with no premises?

What is the implicit premise in the following argument? Sally has a broken leg, so Sally can't go hiking.

Which of the following arguments is a generalization?

Which of the following premises provides the strongest support for the conclusion that Lockbart Detergent is the best laundry detergent?

In the diagram of an argument with independent premises, the minimum number of arrows is:

In logic, an argument is a:

What do cogent and sound arguments have in common?

What is the maximum number of premises that an argument can have?

Which of the following diagrams is the best fit for this argument, given that the first proposition is the conclusion? (1) Superman is an excellent superhero. (2) Superman has X-ray vision. (3) Superman can fly.

Classification

Definitions

Propositions

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