Question 1

Which of the following is most clearly an explanation, rather than an argument?

Accepted Answer

A) The war began due to an argument over control of the river. 
B) Considering that there is no liquid water on Mars, there cannot be life there. 
C) We can't get mom a puppy for her birthday, since she is allergic to dogs. 
D) It is time to raise the taxes on imports, because domestic producers are finding it harder to compete with foreign goods. 
E) Since the table and chairs in the dining room are wooden, we can't put up plastic shelving in that room. 
A) The war began due to an argument over control of the river. 
B) Considering that there is no liquid water on Mars, there cannot be life there. 
C) We can't get mom a puppy for her birthday, since she is allergic to dogs. 
D) It is time to raise the taxes on imports, because domestic producers are finding it harder to compete with foreign goods. 
E) Since the table and chairs in the dining room are wooden, we can't put up plastic shelving in that room. A

Question 2

Which of the following explanations is most plausible?

Accepted Answer

A) The bank robbers were not seen on the security cameras because they were invisible. 
B) This road is full of potholes because the birds peck at it all day. 
C) My socks disappear when I do laundry because someone is stealing them. 
D) Large cities tend to be near large bodies of water because water is an important resource for sustaining a large community. 
E) The glass of water I poured an hour ago is empty because all of the water evaporated. 
A) The bank robbers were not seen on the security cameras because they were invisible. 
B) This road is full of potholes because the birds peck at it all day. 
C) My socks disappear when I do laundry because someone is stealing them. 
D) Large cities tend to be near large bodies of water because water is an important resource for sustaining a large community. 
E) The glass of water I poured an hour ago is empty because all of the water evaporated. D

Question 3

When we say that an explanation should be informative, we mean that it should:

Accepted Answer

A) anticipate and address every possible follow-up question 
B) be presented in such a way that no one will have any follow-up questions to ask 
C) present every known piece of information that might relate to the explanandum 
D) present several competing hypotheses 
E) identify the fundamental cause or reason for the explanandum 
A) anticipate and address every possible follow-up question 
B) be presented in such a way that no one will have any follow-up questions to ask 
C) present every known piece of information that might relate to the explanandum 
D) present several competing hypotheses 
E) identify the fundamental cause or reason for the explanandum E

Question 4

Suppose that a hypothesis has three predicted consequences, C1, C2, and C3.However, we are able to observe that C2 has not occurred.The hypothesis could still be true if:

Accepted Answer

A) the explanandum is false 
B) one of the other assumptions connecting the hypothesis to C2 is false 
C) there is more than one explanandum 
D) C1 and C3 are both true 
E) either C1 or C3 is true 
A) the explanandum is false 
B) one of the other assumptions connecting the hypothesis to C2 is false 
C) there is more than one explanandum 
D) C1 and C3 are both true 
E) either C1 or C3 is true

Question 5

The truth of the explanandum is not enough to guarantee the truth of the hypothesis, so hypotheses must be tested:

Accepted Answer

A) indirectly 
B) without the use of logic 
C) only by a trained scientist 
D) randomly 
E) by means of pure mathematics 
A) indirectly 
B) without the use of logic 
C) only by a trained scientist 
D) randomly 
E) by means of pure mathematics

Question 6

Which of the following explanations has the most logical strength?

Accepted Answer

A) Melinda is smiling because she just got a raise in her salary. 
B) The door was painted green to prevent burglary. 
C) The cat lost weight because the pet store is in debt. 
D) The tree grew horizontally rather than vertically due to several cold winters. 
E) James will take the bus to work today since he lost his wallet. 
A) Melinda is smiling because she just got a raise in her salary. 
B) The door was painted green to prevent burglary. 
C) The cat lost weight because the pet store is in debt. 
D) The tree grew horizontally rather than vertically due to several cold winters. 
E) James will take the bus to work today since he lost his wallet.

Question 7

In which of the following explanations is the hypothesis underlined?

Accepted Answer

A) I am eating a plain peanut butter sandwich because I don't like jelly. 
B) Since I ate all of my chocolate last week, my candy drawer is empty. 
C) Due to the ants in my kitchen, I bought a can of insecticide. 
D) The groceries will have to go on the back seat, because the trunk is already full. 
E) Considering that these floors are new, no one may wear shoes in the house. 
A) I am eating a plain peanut butter sandwich because I don't like jelly. 
B) Since I ate all of my chocolate last week, my candy drawer is empty. 
C) Due to the ants in my kitchen, I bought a can of insecticide. 
D) The groceries will have to go on the back seat, because the trunk is already full. 
E) Considering that these floors are new, no one may wear shoes in the house.

Question 8

What is the most obvious flaw in the following explanation? Swiss cheese has holes in it because they are carved out by high-precision lasers during the manufacturing process.

Accepted Answer

A) It lacks strength. 
B) It is incomplete. 
C) It is uninformative. 
D) It is implausible. 
E) There is no obvious flaw. 
A) It lacks strength. 
B) It is incomplete. 
C) It is uninformative. 
D) It is implausible. 
E) There is no obvious flaw.

Question 9

What is the most obvious flaw in the following explanation? The reconstruction of the skyscraper finished four days behind schedule because one of the foremen had a cold for a week.

Accepted Answer

A) It lacks strength. 
B) It is incomplete. 
C) It is uninformative. 
D) It is implausible. 
E) There is no obvious flaw. 
A) It lacks strength. 
B) It is incomplete. 
C) It is uninformative. 
D) It is implausible. 
E) There is no obvious flaw.

Question 10

What is the most obvious flaw in the following explanation? There are three roses on Tom's grave, because he was a marine.

Accepted Answer

A) It lacks strength. 
B) It is incomplete. 
C) It is uninformative. 
D) It is implausible. 
E) There is no obvious flaw. 
A) It lacks strength. 
B) It is incomplete. 
C) It is uninformative. 
D) It is implausible. 
E) There is no obvious flaw.

Question 11

What is the most obvious flaw in the following explanation? Pizza is made with tomato sauce since it is also usually made with cheese.

Accepted Answer

A) It lacks strength. 
B) It is incomplete. 
C) It is uninformative. 
D) It is implausible. 
E) There is no obvious flaw. 
A) It lacks strength. 
B) It is incomplete. 
C) It is uninformative. 
D) It is implausible. 
E) There is no obvious flaw.

Question 12

When we evaluate explanations, we typically ask two questions.The second is:

Accepted Answer

A) How many explananda could possibly follow from the hypothesis? 
B) Is the hypothesis true? 
C) Is the explananda true? 
D) Would most people be likely to believe the explanation? 
E) Is the explanandum adequate? 
A) How many explananda could possibly follow from the hypothesis? 
B) Is the hypothesis true? 
C) Is the explananda true? 
D) Would most people be likely to believe the explanation? 
E) Is the explanandum adequate?

Question 13

In which of the following explanations is the hypothesis underlined?

Accepted Answer

A) Pearl Jam stopped for supper in our town because it was on their tour route. 
B) Because my sister-in-law was born in Lithuania, we decided to visit there for a week. 
C) The rubberized case is the best one, since it protects the phone if it is dropped. 
D) The fourth movie in the series wasn't as good, because the writers scripted it more quickly. 
E) We stopped putting seed in our birdfeeder because squirrels were stealing it all. 
A) Pearl Jam stopped for supper in our town because it was on their tour route. 
B) Because my sister-in-law was born in Lithuania, we decided to visit there for a week. 
C) The rubberized case is the best one, since it protects the phone if it is dropped. 
D) The fourth movie in the series wasn't as good, because the writers scripted it more quickly. 
E) We stopped putting seed in our birdfeeder because squirrels were stealing it all.

Question 14

The proposition that an explanation seeks to explain is called the:

Accepted Answer

A) A-proposition 
B) B-proposition 
C) contrivance 
D) explanandum 
E) hypothesis 
A) A-proposition 
B) B-proposition 
C) contrivance 
D) explanandum 
E) hypothesis

Question 15

Which of the following is most clearly an explanation, rather than an argument?

Accepted Answer

A) We should follow the path to the left, since it looks flatter and safer. 
B) The kids are probably doing fine, since they are with a very competent babysitter. 
C) Considering that the groundhog saw its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. 
D) Because our guest room isn't prepared, you'll need to stay at the hotel. 
E) The victim was probably killed somewhere else, because there is no blood at the crime scene. 
A) We should follow the path to the left, since it looks flatter and safer. 
B) The kids are probably doing fine, since they are with a very competent babysitter. 
C) Considering that the groundhog saw its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. 
D) Because our guest room isn't prepared, you'll need to stay at the hotel. 
E) The victim was probably killed somewhere else, because there is no blood at the crime scene.

Question 16

What part of the following explanation is underlined? The office building burned down due to faulty electrical wiring.

Accepted Answer

A) introduction 
B) premise 
C) explanandum 
D) conclusion 
E) hypothesis 
A) introduction 
B) premise 
C) explanandum 
D) conclusion 
E) hypothesis

Question 17

Which of the following explanations has the most logical strength?

Accepted Answer

A) The Trudeaus financed the building of the new campground, since their baby had leukemia. 
B) The low turnout for the grand opening of the art show means that Phil will be a plumber. 
C) We bought a new kite string because the old one broke. 
D) This house needs to be dusted weekly because we have a gas stove. 
E) Since champion horses are expensive, the town will be able to renovate city hall. 
A) The Trudeaus financed the building of the new campground, since their baby had leukemia. 
B) The low turnout for the grand opening of the art show means that Phil will be a plumber. 
C) We bought a new kite string because the old one broke. 
D) This house needs to be dusted weekly because we have a gas stove. 
E) Since champion horses are expensive, the town will be able to renovate city hall.

Question 18

Is it possible to give an explanation for something that hasn't happened yet?

Accepted Answer

A) No, since explanations are always given after the fact. 
B) No, since future events are always unknown, so we can argue for them, but not explain them. 
C) No, since explanation requires us to work backward, not forward. 
D) Yes, since we could try to convince someone that a future event will happen. 
E) Yes, since some facts about the future are known in advance. 
A) No, since explanations are always given after the fact. 
B) No, since future events are always unknown, so we can argue for them, but not explain them. 
C) No, since explanation requires us to work backward, not forward. 
D) Yes, since we could try to convince someone that a future event will happen. 
E) Yes, since some facts about the future are known in advance.

Question 19

The primary goal of an argument is to _____, while the primary goal of an explanation is to _____.

Accepted Answer

A) show that some proposition is true; show why it is true 
B) show why some proposition is true; show that it is true 
C) convince another person of some proposition; convince oneself 
D) convince oneself of some proposition; convince another person 
E) show that some proposition is true; show that some proposition is false 
A) show that some proposition is true; show why it is true 
B) show why some proposition is true; show that it is true 
C) convince another person of some proposition; convince oneself 
D) convince oneself of some proposition; convince another person 
E) show that some proposition is true; show that some proposition is false

Question 20

The proposition that an explanation uses to explain something is called the:

Accepted Answer

A) A-proposition 
B) B-proposition 
C) contrivance 
D) explanandum 
E) hypothesis 
A) A-proposition 
B) B-proposition 
C) contrivance 
D) explanandum 
E) hypothesis

Which of the following is most clearly an explanation, rather than an argument?

Which of the following explanations is most plausible?

When we say that an explanation should be informative, we mean that it should:

Suppose that a hypothesis has three predicted consequences, C₁, C₂, and C₃.However, we are able to observe that C₂ has not occurred.The hypothesis could still be true if:

The truth of the explanandum is not enough to guarantee the truth of the hypothesis, so hypotheses must be tested:

Which of the following explanations has the most logical strength?

In which of the following explanations is the hypothesis underlined?

What is the most obvious flaw in the following explanation? Swiss cheese has holes in it because they are carved out by high-precision lasers during the manufacturing process.

What is the most obvious flaw in the following explanation? The reconstruction of the skyscraper finished four days behind schedule because one of the foremen had a cold for a week.

What is the most obvious flaw in the following explanation? There are three roses on Tom's grave, because he was a marine.

What is the most obvious flaw in the following explanation? Pizza is made with tomato sauce since it is also usually made with cheese.

When we evaluate explanations, we typically ask two questions.The second is:

In which of the following explanations is the hypothesis underlined?

The proposition that an explanation seeks to explain is called the:

Which of the following is most clearly an explanation, rather than an argument?

What part of the following explanation is underlined? The office building burned down due to faulty electrical wiring.

Which of the following explanations has the most logical strength?

Is it possible to give an explanation for something that hasn't happened yet?

The primary goal of an argument is to _, while the primary goal of an explanation is to _.

The proposition that an explanation uses to explain something is called the:

Classification

Definitions

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

Probability

Filters

Exam 15: Explanation

Which of the following is most clearly an explanation, rather than an argument?

Which of the following explanations is most plausible?

When we say that an explanation should be informative, we mean that it should:

Suppose that a hypothesis has three predicted consequences, C1, C2, and C3.However, we are able to observe that C2 has not occurred.The hypothesis could still be true if:

The truth of the explanandum is not enough to guarantee the truth of the hypothesis, so hypotheses must be tested:

Which of the following explanations has the most logical strength?

In which of the following explanations is the hypothesis underlined?

What is the most obvious flaw in the following explanation? Swiss cheese has holes in it because they are carved out by high-precision lasers during the manufacturing process.

What is the most obvious flaw in the following explanation? The reconstruction of the skyscraper finished four days behind schedule because one of the foremen had a cold for a week.

What is the most obvious flaw in the following explanation? There are three roses on Tom's grave, because he was a marine.

What is the most obvious flaw in the following explanation? Pizza is made with tomato sauce since it is also usually made with cheese.

When we evaluate explanations, we typically ask two questions.The second is:

In which of the following explanations is the hypothesis underlined?

The proposition that an explanation seeks to explain is called the:

Which of the following is most clearly an explanation, rather than an argument?

What part of the following explanation is underlined? The office building burned down due to faulty electrical wiring.

Which of the following explanations has the most logical strength?

Is it possible to give an explanation for something that hasn't happened yet?

The primary goal of an argument is to _____, while the primary goal of an explanation is to _____.

The proposition that an explanation uses to explain something is called the:

Classification

Definitions

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

Probability

Filters

Suppose that a hypothesis has three predicted consequences, C₁, C₂, and C₃.However, we are able to observe that C₂ has not occurred.The hypothesis could still be true if:

The primary goal of an argument is to _, while the primary goal of an explanation is to _.