Question 1

Which of the following arguments is an analogy?

Accepted Answer

A) Only a few foreign films are released in mainstream American theaters, so Il re è morto is unlikely to be released in my local theater. 
B) Air pollution is threatening the quality of life in big cities.Therefore tighter regulation of air quality is becoming more important. 
C) Porcupines would be good pets, because hedgehogs, which are similar to porcupines, are good pets. 
D) Bikinis are a type of swimsuit, and swimsuits are surprisingly expensive for their size.Therefore bikinis are surprisingly expensive for their size. 
E) Considering that Jennifer likes James and James likes Jennifer, their interest is mutual. 
A) Only a few foreign films are released in mainstream American theaters, so Il re è morto is unlikely to be released in my local theater. 
B) Air pollution is threatening the quality of life in big cities.Therefore tighter regulation of air quality is becoming more important. 
C) Porcupines would be good pets, because hedgehogs, which are similar to porcupines, are good pets. 
D) Bikinis are a type of swimsuit, and swimsuits are surprisingly expensive for their size.Therefore bikinis are surprisingly expensive for their size. 
E) Considering that Jennifer likes James and James likes Jennifer, their interest is mutual.

Question 2

Which of the following is an argument? (I) Since there is no firewood left, we will not be able to start a fire.
(II) The storm will begin soon, since the dark clouds are rapidly approaching.

Accepted Answer

A) there is not enough information to know 
B) neither 
C) both I and II 
D) only I 
E) only II 
A) there is not enough information to know 
B) neither 
C) both I and II 
D) only I 
E) only II

Question 3

A conclusion is:

Accepted Answer

A) an argument with only one premise 
B) an argument with at least two premises 
C) an argument to which there is no possible response 
D) the proposition for which an argument provides evidence 
E) whatever proposition a speaker says last 
A) an argument with only one premise 
B) an argument with at least two premises 
C) an argument to which there is no possible response 
D) the proposition for which an argument provides evidence 
E) whatever proposition a speaker says last

Question 4

Which of the following premises provides the strongest support for the conclusion that Harry is a lousy driver?

Accepted Answer

A) Harry got a parking ticket. 
B) Harry once dinged his door in a parking lot. 
C) Harry failed driver's ed three times. 
D) Harry was involved in a major accident. 
E) Harry has poor vision and can't tell the brake pedal from the accelerator. 
A) Harry got a parking ticket. 
B) Harry once dinged his door in a parking lot. 
C) Harry failed driver's ed three times. 
D) Harry was involved in a major accident. 
E) Harry has poor vision and can't tell the brake pedal from the accelerator.

Question 5

Can every argument be diagrammed?

Accepted Answer

A) No, because some arguments involve too many propositions. 
B) No, because in some arguments the premises are neither dependent nor independent. 
C) No, because some arguments do not consist of relationships between premises and conclusions. 
D) Yes, because no argument requires more than two steps. 
E) Yes, because every argument consists of relationships between premises and conclusions. 
A) No, because some arguments involve too many propositions. 
B) No, because in some arguments the premises are neither dependent nor independent. 
C) No, because some arguments do not consist of relationships between premises and conclusions. 
D) Yes, because no argument requires more than two steps. 
E) Yes, because every argument consists of relationships between premises and conclusions.

Question 6

For which argument below are the premises dependent?

Accepted Answer

A) Premises: It is hot outside.Lemons are on sale.Conclusion: We should make lemonade. 
B) Premises: Blanche can find a new boyfriend quickly.Rose didn't realize that she was dating Blanche's boyfriend.Conclusion: Blanche should forgive Rose. 
C) Premises: My car needs expensive repairs.My car is too small.Conclusion: I should replace my car. 
D) Premises: Birds depend on worms for nutrition.Worms depend on soil for nutrition.Conclusion: Birds depend on soil for nutrition. 
E) Premises: Shooting stars are lucky.Shooting stars are beautiful.Conclusion: It would be good to see a shooting star. 
A) Premises: It is hot outside.Lemons are on sale.Conclusion: We should make lemonade. 
B) Premises: Blanche can find a new boyfriend quickly.Rose didn't realize that she was dating Blanche's boyfriend.Conclusion: Blanche should forgive Rose. 
C) Premises: My car needs expensive repairs.My car is too small.Conclusion: I should replace my car. 
D) Premises: Birds depend on worms for nutrition.Worms depend on soil for nutrition.Conclusion: Birds depend on soil for nutrition. 
E) Premises: Shooting stars are lucky.Shooting stars are beautiful.Conclusion: It would be good to see a shooting star.

Question 7

Which of the following diagrams is the best fit for this argument? (1) No good deed goes unrewarded and
(2) volunteering at the children's hospital is a good deed.Thus
(3) volunteering at the children's hospital will be rewarded.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

Which of the following is an inductive argument?

Accepted Answer

A) All of the disease's victims had recently eaten strawberries from California, and they have nothing else in common.So something in the strawberries caused the disease. 
B) The motive for the assault was either robbery or vengeance.But the motive was not robbery.So the motive must have been vengeance. 
C) All water flows downhill and all rivers in Taiwan are water.Therefore, all rivers in Taiwan flow downhill. 
D) Any driver convicted of three moving violations will have his or her license suspended.Roxanne has been convicted of three moving violations, so she will have her license suspended. 
E) The Renaissance festival featured many different performers, some local and some from out of town.But everyone who attended had a wonderful time. 
A) All of the disease's victims had recently eaten strawberries from California, and they have nothing else in common.So something in the strawberries caused the disease. 
B) The motive for the assault was either robbery or vengeance.But the motive was not robbery.So the motive must have been vengeance. 
C) All water flows downhill and all rivers in Taiwan are water.Therefore, all rivers in Taiwan flow downhill. 
D) Any driver convicted of three moving violations will have his or her license suspended.Roxanne has been convicted of three moving violations, so she will have her license suspended. 
E) The Renaissance festival featured many different performers, some local and some from out of town.But everyone who attended had a wonderful time.

Question 9

What is the implicit premise in the following argument? Some students are failing French, so those students are not enjoying French.

Accepted Answer

A) French is a Romance language. 
B) Paris is beautiful in the springtime. 
C) Most students do not enjoy French. 
D) People never enjoy anything that they find difficult. 
E) Students never enjoy subjects in which they are failing. 
A) French is a Romance language. 
B) Paris is beautiful in the springtime. 
C) Most students do not enjoy French. 
D) People never enjoy anything that they find difficult. 
E) Students never enjoy subjects in which they are failing.

Question 10

In a diagram, implicit premises are represented by:

Accepted Answer

A) numbers 
B) arrows 
C) letters 
D) underlining 
E) plus signs 
A) numbers 
B) arrows 
C) letters 
D) underlining 
E) plus signs

Question 11

For which argument below are the premises independent?

Accepted Answer

A) Premises: Spinach contains iron.This omelet contains spinach.Conclusion: This omelet contains iron. 
B) Premises: The rule of law allows people to know the consequences of their actions.The rule of law is fair to all people.Conclusion: The rule of law is a worthy idea. 
C) Premises: Lagos is in Nigeria.Nigeria is in Africa.Conclusion: Lagos is in Africa. 
D) Premises: Japan has a thriving electronics industry.Any country with a thriving electronics industry is wealthy.Conclusion: Japan is wealthy. 
E) Premises: Laser eye surgery is getting cheaper.Cheaper goods have greater appeal.Conclusion: Laser eye surgery is becoming more appealing. 
A) Premises: Spinach contains iron.This omelet contains spinach.Conclusion: This omelet contains iron. 
B) Premises: The rule of law allows people to know the consequences of their actions.The rule of law is fair to all people.Conclusion: The rule of law is a worthy idea. 
C) Premises: Lagos is in Nigeria.Nigeria is in Africa.Conclusion: Lagos is in Africa. 
D) Premises: Japan has a thriving electronics industry.Any country with a thriving electronics industry is wealthy.Conclusion: Japan is wealthy. 
E) Premises: Laser eye surgery is getting cheaper.Cheaper goods have greater appeal.Conclusion: Laser eye surgery is becoming more appealing.

Question 12

An implicit premise is a premise that:

Accepted Answer

A) plays no useful role in an argument 
B) we can be certain is true 
C) we can be certain is false 
D) is borrowed from an opponent's own argument 
E) is assumed but not stated 
A) plays no useful role in an argument 
B) we can be certain is true 
C) we can be certain is false 
D) is borrowed from an opponent's own argument 
E) is assumed but not stated

Question 13

Principally, analyzing an argument means:

Accepted Answer

A) determining its strengths and weaknesses 
B) identifying its logical structure 
C) determining whether its premises are true 
D) determining whether its conclusion is true 
E) exactly the same thing as evaluating an argument 
A) determining its strengths and weaknesses 
B) identifying its logical structure 
C) determining whether its premises are true 
D) determining whether its conclusion is true 
E) exactly the same thing as evaluating an argument

Question 14

What is the conclusion of the following argument? Even if Meg can find her brush in the next two minutes, there still will not be time for her to brush her hair before the bus arrives.

Accepted Answer

A) Meg can find her brush in the next two minutes 
B) there will not be time for Meg to brush her hair 
C) the bus arrives 
D) there will not be time for Meg to brush her hair before the bus arrives 
E) There is no conclusion, since this is not an argument at all. 
A) Meg can find her brush in the next two minutes 
B) there will not be time for Meg to brush her hair 
C) the bus arrives 
D) there will not be time for Meg to brush her hair before the bus arrives 
E) There is no conclusion, since this is not an argument at all.

Question 15

Which of the following could only be known by reasoning (not by direct observation)?

Accepted Answer

A) when the next full moon will occur 
B) how a hamburger tastes 
C) where your bed is located in your bedroom 
D) who is ringing the doorbell 
E) what is blocking the road ahead 
A) when the next full moon will occur 
B) how a hamburger tastes 
C) where your bed is located in your bedroom 
D) who is ringing the doorbell 
E) what is blocking the road ahead

Question 16

Which of the following arguments is a generalization?

Accepted Answer

A) Jennifer has many friends and she gets invited to a lot of parties, so she must be popular. 
B) Closing the 5th Street parking garage will make it harder for customers to visit businesses downtown.So downtown businesses will suffer. 
C) Friday was the deadline for registration, and no one signed up, so we will have to extend the registration deadline. 
D) Bricks made in the traditional way are stronger than modern bricks, so there ought to be a market for bricks made in the traditional way. 
E) The last three businesses in this building failed within three months of opening.So no business can succeed in this building. 
A) Jennifer has many friends and she gets invited to a lot of parties, so she must be popular. 
B) Closing the 5th Street parking garage will make it harder for customers to visit businesses downtown.So downtown businesses will suffer. 
C) Friday was the deadline for registration, and no one signed up, so we will have to extend the registration deadline. 
D) Bricks made in the traditional way are stronger than modern bricks, so there ought to be a market for bricks made in the traditional way. 
E) The last three businesses in this building failed within three months of opening.So no business can succeed in this building.

Question 17

Which of the following is an argument?

Accepted Answer

A) Since the weather is nice, I will walk to work. 
B) Since I am happy, I will do my little happy dance. 
C) Since the beginning of my marriage, I have been happy. 
D) Since the dagger has Arnold's fingerprints, he was the murderer. 
E) Since Laverne's roommate left her, their show is canceled. 
A) Since the weather is nice, I will walk to work. 
B) Since I am happy, I will do my little happy dance. 
C) Since the beginning of my marriage, I have been happy. 
D) Since the dagger has Arnold's fingerprints, he was the murderer. 
E) Since Laverne's roommate left her, their show is canceled.

Question 18

Which of the following is an explanation?

Accepted Answer

A) Because I bought a gym membership, I will be much fitter by this time next year. 
B) Since the founding of this country, there have been 44 presidents. 
C) After the thief left, my jewelry was missing. 
D) Many North American species went extinct as a result of the saber-toothed cat. 
E) I have not spotted a red squirrel since I arrived at the park. 
A) Because I bought a gym membership, I will be much fitter by this time next year. 
B) Since the founding of this country, there have been 44 presidents. 
C) After the thief left, my jewelry was missing. 
D) Many North American species went extinct as a result of the saber-toothed cat. 
E) I have not spotted a red squirrel since I arrived at the park.

Question 19

Does every argument use indicator words to introduce its premises and conclusion?

Accepted Answer

A) No, for both premises and conclusion. 
B) Yes for all premises, no for the conclusion. 
C) Yes for at least one premise, no for the conclusion. 
D) Yes for the conclusion, no for the premises. 
E) Yes, for both premises and conclusion. 
A) No, for both premises and conclusion. 
B) Yes for all premises, no for the conclusion. 
C) Yes for at least one premise, no for the conclusion. 
D) Yes for the conclusion, no for the premises. 
E) Yes, for both premises and conclusion.

Question 20

For which argument below are the premises independent?

Accepted Answer

A) Premises: I need income.Income requires a job.Conclusion: I need a job. 
B) Premises: Learning a skill requires practice.Logic is a skill.Conclusion: Learning logic requires practice. 
C) Premises: A standard billiards set has 15 balls.This set has only 13 balls.Conclusion: This billiards set is missing 2 balls. 
D) Premises: The flu is spread by a virus.Washing your hands kills viruses.Conclusion: Washing your hands helps to prevent the spread of the flu. 
E) Premises: A humidifier would help my congestion.A humidifier would be good for my wooden floors.Conclusion: I should buy a humidifier. 
A) Premises: I need income.Income requires a job.Conclusion: I need a job. 
B) Premises: Learning a skill requires practice.Logic is a skill.Conclusion: Learning logic requires practice. 
C) Premises: A standard billiards set has 15 balls.This set has only 13 balls.Conclusion: This billiards set is missing 2 balls. 
D) Premises: The flu is spread by a virus.Washing your hands kills viruses.Conclusion: Washing your hands helps to prevent the spread of the flu. 
E) Premises: A humidifier would help my congestion.A humidifier would be good for my wooden floors.Conclusion: I should buy a humidifier.

Which of the following arguments is an analogy?

Which of the following is an argument? (I) Since there is no firewood left, we will not be able to start a fire. (II) The storm will begin soon, since the dark clouds are rapidly approaching.

A conclusion is:

Which of the following premises provides the strongest support for the conclusion that Harry is a lousy driver?

Can every argument be diagrammed?

For which argument below are the premises dependent?

Which of the following diagrams is the best fit for this argument? (1) No good deed goes unrewarded and (2) volunteering at the children's hospital is a good deed.Thus (3) volunteering at the children's hospital will be rewarded.

Which of the following is an inductive argument?

What is the implicit premise in the following argument? Some students are failing French, so those students are not enjoying French.

In a diagram, implicit premises are represented by:

For which argument below are the premises independent?

An implicit premise is a premise that:

Principally, analyzing an argument means:

What is the conclusion of the following argument? Even if Meg can find her brush in the next two minutes, there still will not be time for her to brush her hair before the bus arrives.

Which of the following could only be known by reasoning (not by direct observation)?

Which of the following arguments is a generalization?

Which of the following is an argument?

Which of the following is an explanation?

Does every argument use indicator words to introduce its premises and conclusion?

For which argument below are the premises independent?

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 arguments is an analogy?

Which of the following is an argument? (I) Since there is no firewood left, we will not be able to start a fire. (II) The storm will begin soon, since the dark clouds are rapidly approaching.

A conclusion is:

Which of the following premises provides the strongest support for the conclusion that Harry is a lousy driver?

Can every argument be diagrammed?

For which argument below are the premises dependent?

Which of the following diagrams is the best fit for this argument? (1) No good deed goes unrewarded and (2) volunteering at the children's hospital is a good deed.Thus (3) volunteering at the children's hospital will be rewarded.

Which of the following is an inductive argument?

What is the implicit premise in the following argument? Some students are failing French, so those students are not enjoying French.

In a diagram, implicit premises are represented by:

For which argument below are the premises independent?

An implicit premise is a premise that:

Principally, analyzing an argument means:

What is the conclusion of the following argument? Even if Meg can find her brush in the next two minutes, there still will not be time for her to brush her hair before the bus arrives.

Which of the following could only be known by reasoning (not by direct observation)?

Which of the following arguments is a generalization?

Which of the following is an argument?

Which of the following is an explanation?

Does every argument use indicator words to introduce its premises and conclusion?

For which argument below are the premises independent?

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