Question 1

An explanation has logical strength when:

Accepted Answer

A) the hypothesis leads to the explanandum with only a small gap in between 
B) the explanandum leads to the hypothesis with only a small gap in between 
C) it provides many different hypotheses 
D) it provides every possible hypothesis 
E) the hypothesis is a simpler idea than the explanandum 
A) the hypothesis leads to the explanandum with only a small gap in between 
B) the explanandum leads to the hypothesis with only a small gap in between 
C) it provides many different hypotheses 
D) it provides every possible hypothesis 
E) the hypothesis is a simpler idea than the explanandum

Question 2

If a hypothesis is implausible, then we do not use it in an explanation because:

Accepted Answer

A) it is false 
B) it is inadequate 
C) it is uninformative 
D) it is incomplete 
E) it is unlikely to be true 
A) it is false 
B) it is inadequate 
C) it is uninformative 
D) it is incomplete 
E) it is unlikely to be true

Question 3

Which of the following explanations is the most informative?

Accepted Answer

A) Your bedtime will be 10 p.m.because I said so. 
B) The city adopted a $6 million tax increase because the council thought that it was for the best. 
C) The earth has an elliptical orbit around the sun because the other planets have elliptical orbits as well. 
D) Levels of air pollution have been increasing in Asia because there are greater quantities of pollutants in the air. 
E) Fishing at Upper Mill Lake was restricted because fish populations in the lake were declining. 
A) Your bedtime will be 10 p.m.because I said so. 
B) The city adopted a $6 million tax increase because the council thought that it was for the best. 
C) The earth has an elliptical orbit around the sun because the other planets have elliptical orbits as well. 
D) Levels of air pollution have been increasing in Asia because there are greater quantities of pollutants in the air. 
E) Fishing at Upper Mill Lake was restricted because fish populations in the lake were declining.

Question 4

Other things being equal, one hypothesis is more plausible than another if:

Accepted Answer

A) it would more fundamentally change the way we see the world 
B) it is more interesting than the other one 
C) we want to believe it more than we want to believe the other 
D) it is more consistent with the rest of our knowledge and simpler than the other 
E) it is more consistent with the rest of our knowledge and more complex than the other 
A) it would more fundamentally change the way we see the world 
B) it is more interesting than the other one 
C) we want to believe it more than we want to believe the other 
D) it is more consistent with the rest of our knowledge and simpler than the other 
E) it is more consistent with the rest of our knowledge and more complex than the other

Question 5

Which of the following explanations is probably the most complete?

Accepted Answer

A) The team lost the game because Maltano dropped the ball in the fourth inning. 
B) The car was totaled because a large tree fell on it. 
C) The colonel died due to an infected knee. 
D) The congressman won reelection due to his position on stem cell research. 
E) Doctors earn more than factory workers because they work longer hours. 
A) The team lost the game because Maltano dropped the ball in the fourth inning. 
B) The car was totaled because a large tree fell on it. 
C) The colonel died due to an infected knee. 
D) The congressman won reelection due to his position on stem cell research. 
E) Doctors earn more than factory workers because they work longer hours.

Question 6

What is the most obvious flaw in the following explanation? Loren's cancer has spread, since it is now in more than one part of her body.

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 7

Can a hypothesis be true without being adequate?

Accepted Answer

A) No, because adequacy and truth are the same thing. 
B) No, because if it is true, then it is strong, and if it is strong, then it is adequate. 
C) Yes, because it might not have a sufficient logical connection to the explanandum. 
D) Yes, because no adequate hypothesis is ever 100% true. 
E) Yes, but only if the explanandum is false. 
A) No, because adequacy and truth are the same thing. 
B) No, because if it is true, then it is strong, and if it is strong, then it is adequate. 
C) Yes, because it might not have a sufficient logical connection to the explanandum. 
D) Yes, because no adequate hypothesis is ever 100% true. 
E) Yes, but only if the explanandum is false.

Question 8

Is it possible to determine whether a diagram represents an argument or an explanation if there is no information beyond the diagram itself?

Accepted Answer

A) No, because both diagrams will consist of premises and a conclusion. 
B) No, because all parts of the diagrams are analogous. 
C) Yes, because explanations never have dependent hypotheses. 
D) Yes, because arguments always have two steps, whereas explanations have one. 
E) Yes, because an argument ends with a conclusion and an explanation ends with an explanandum. 
A) No, because both diagrams will consist of premises and a conclusion. 
B) No, because all parts of the diagrams are analogous. 
C) Yes, because explanations never have dependent hypotheses. 
D) Yes, because arguments always have two steps, whereas explanations have one. 
E) Yes, because an argument ends with a conclusion and an explanation ends with an explanandum.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

A) Because of the problems we had with this year's Christmas party, we will need to start preparing for next year's much earlier. 
B) Since the dodo was a bird, it probably tasted a lot like chicken. 
C) The Sun will rise in the east tomorrow, since the Earth is spinning eastward. 
D) We ought to vacation in Aruba next year, because the tickets are cheap. 
E) The right to free speech must be limited, since we would otherwise have to permit slander and incitement of riots. 
A) Because of the problems we had with this year's Christmas party, we will need to start preparing for next year's much earlier. 
B) Since the dodo was a bird, it probably tasted a lot like chicken. 
C) The Sun will rise in the east tomorrow, since the Earth is spinning eastward. 
D) We ought to vacation in Aruba next year, because the tickets are cheap. 
E) The right to free speech must be limited, since we would otherwise have to permit slander and incitement of riots.

Question 10

Explanations are similar to arguments in that an argument's premises are like an explanation's _____, and an argument's conclusion is like an explanation's _____.

Accepted Answer

A) explanandum; hypotheses 
B) hypotheses; explanandum 
C) A-proposition; B-proposition 
D) conclusion; premises 
E) premises; conclusion 
A) explanandum; hypotheses 
B) hypotheses; explanandum 
C) A-proposition; B-proposition 
D) conclusion; premises 
E) premises; conclusion

Question 11

Suppose that our explanandum would properly follow from a particular hypothesis, but so would three other consequences, C1, C2, and C3.However, we are able to observe that C2 has not occurred.What might this tell us about the hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

A) It is inadequate to account for the explanandum. 
B) It is true. 
C) It is false. 
D) It probably accounts for some other consequence, C4. 
E) It provides no information relevant to the hypothesis. 
A) It is inadequate to account for the explanandum. 
B) It is true. 
C) It is false. 
D) It probably accounts for some other consequence, C4. 
E) It provides no information relevant to the hypothesis.

Question 12

In which of the following explanations is the explanandum underlined?

Accepted Answer

A) I ironed my shirts again because they still looked wrinkly. 
B) Brandy is selling her car to Will, since it is not big enough for two car seats. 
C) Because of a belief that it is bad for birds, people don't throw rice at most weddings anymore. 
D) Due to the freezing weather, it is a good idea to wear two layers under your coat. 
E) Since the 18th was a Monday, the 31st will be a Sunday. 
A) I ironed my shirts again because they still looked wrinkly. 
B) Brandy is selling her car to Will, since it is not big enough for two car seats. 
C) Because of a belief that it is bad for birds, people don't throw rice at most weddings anymore. 
D) Due to the freezing weather, it is a good idea to wear two layers under your coat. 
E) Since the 18th was a Monday, the 31st will be a Sunday.

Question 13

Which of the following explanations has the most logical strength?

Accepted Answer

A) Tomorrow will be cloudy because I left my bath water running. 
B) Carl is running for governor because he just bought a new car. 
C) Tina bought new skates in order to meet a basketball player. 
D) The panther will go hunting tomorrow since it is hungry. 
E) Toby is a vegetarian because of his aunt. 
A) Tomorrow will be cloudy because I left my bath water running. 
B) Carl is running for governor because he just bought a new car. 
C) Tina bought new skates in order to meet a basketball player. 
D) The panther will go hunting tomorrow since it is hungry. 
E) Toby is a vegetarian because of his aunt.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

A) The mail arrived late today because there was an automotive accident near the post office. 
B) We will certainly have a manned mission to Mars within the next 30 years because we are devoting so much effort to preparing for it. 
C) The next president will be tall since, historically, most presidents have been tall. 
D) This bill should be enacted into law since it will help many people. 
E) Since American students are falling behind in science and mathematics, American schools should approach these subjects differently. 
A) The mail arrived late today because there was an automotive accident near the post office. 
B) We will certainly have a manned mission to Mars within the next 30 years because we are devoting so much effort to preparing for it. 
C) The next president will be tall since, historically, most presidents have been tall. 
D) This bill should be enacted into law since it will help many people. 
E) Since American students are falling behind in science and mathematics, American schools should approach these subjects differently.

Question 15

In which of the following explanations is the explanandum underlined?

Accepted Answer

A) I had to wear a different sweater, since I didn't have pants to match this one. 
B) Due to the current strike, all classes will be canceled. 
C) It was impossible to take a relaxing shower, because we were out of hot water. 
D) No one eats at that restaurant anymore, because of its history of health code violations. 
E) The legislation passed easily, since it appealed to the interests of both parties. 
A) I had to wear a different sweater, since I didn't have pants to match this one. 
B) Due to the current strike, all classes will be canceled. 
C) It was impossible to take a relaxing shower, because we were out of hot water. 
D) No one eats at that restaurant anymore, because of its history of health code violations. 
E) The legislation passed easily, since it appealed to the interests of both parties.

Question 16

Do different fields of inquiry have different patterns of explanation?

Accepted Answer

A) No, because the pattern of explanation is determined by logic, which is the same in every field. 
B) No, because if that were true, then the word "explanation" would lose all meaning. 
C) Yes, because no two fields could ever have the same pattern of explanation. 
D) Yes, because different fields are interested in different sorts of explanations. 
E) There are no patterns of explanation; every explanation is completely unique. 
A) No, because the pattern of explanation is determined by logic, which is the same in every field. 
B) No, because if that were true, then the word "explanation" would lose all meaning. 
C) Yes, because no two fields could ever have the same pattern of explanation. 
D) Yes, because different fields are interested in different sorts of explanations. 
E) There are no patterns of explanation; every explanation is completely unique.

Question 17

Concluding that a hypothesis must be true because it adequately accounts for the explanandum commits which of the following fallacies?

Accepted Answer

A) division 
B) appeal to majority 
C) undistributed middle 
D) affirming the consequent 
E) denying the antecedent 
A) division 
B) appeal to majority 
C) undistributed middle 
D) affirming the consequent 
E) denying the antecedent

Question 18

Usually, an explanandum is:

Accepted Answer

A) perfectly simple, with only one aspect to explain 
B) complex, with several aspects that could be explained 
C) assumed to be false 
D) chosen after the hypotheses have all been identified 
E) assigned a number between 1 and 5 to indicate its complexity 
A) perfectly simple, with only one aspect to explain 
B) complex, with several aspects that could be explained 
C) assumed to be false 
D) chosen after the hypotheses have all been identified 
E) assigned a number between 1 and 5 to indicate its complexity

Question 19

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 20

Which ought to be more fundamental, the hypothesis or the explanandum?

Accepted Answer

A) The hypothesis when the explanation provides a cause, but the explanandum when it provides a reason. 
B) The hypothesis when the explanation provides a reason, but the explanandum when it provides a cause. 
C) The two should be equally fundamental. 
D) Always the explanandum. 
E) Always the hypothesis. 
A) The hypothesis when the explanation provides a cause, but the explanandum when it provides a reason. 
B) The hypothesis when the explanation provides a reason, but the explanandum when it provides a cause. 
C) The two should be equally fundamental. 
D) Always the explanandum. 
E) Always the hypothesis.

An explanation has logical strength when:

If a hypothesis is implausible, then we do not use it in an explanation because:

Which of the following explanations is the most informative?

Other things being equal, one hypothesis is more plausible than another if:

Which of the following explanations is probably the most complete?

What is the most obvious flaw in the following explanation? Loren's cancer has spread, since it is now in more than one part of her body.

Can a hypothesis be true without being adequate?

Is it possible to determine whether a diagram represents an argument or an explanation if there is no information beyond the diagram itself?

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

Explanations are similar to arguments in that an argument's premises are like an explanation's _, and an argument's conclusion is like an explanation's _.

Suppose that our explanandum would properly follow from a particular hypothesis, but so would three other consequences, C₁, C₂, and C₃.However, we are able to observe that C₂ has not occurred.What might this tell us about the hypothesis?

In which of the following explanations is the explanandum underlined?

Which of the following explanations has the most logical strength?

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

In which of the following explanations is the explanandum underlined?

Do different fields of inquiry have different patterns of explanation?

Concluding that a hypothesis must be true because it adequately accounts for the explanandum commits which of the following fallacies?

Usually, an explanandum is:

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

Which ought to be more fundamental, the hypothesis or the explanandum?

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

An explanation has logical strength when:

If a hypothesis is implausible, then we do not use it in an explanation because:

Which of the following explanations is the most informative?

Other things being equal, one hypothesis is more plausible than another if:

Which of the following explanations is probably the most complete?

What is the most obvious flaw in the following explanation? Loren's cancer has spread, since it is now in more than one part of her body.

Can a hypothesis be true without being adequate?

Is it possible to determine whether a diagram represents an argument or an explanation if there is no information beyond the diagram itself?

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

Explanations are similar to arguments in that an argument's premises are like an explanation's _____, and an argument's conclusion is like an explanation's _____.

Suppose that our explanandum would properly follow from a particular hypothesis, but so would three other consequences, C1, C2, and C3.However, we are able to observe that C2 has not occurred.What might this tell us about the hypothesis?

In which of the following explanations is the explanandum underlined?

Which of the following explanations has the most logical strength?

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

In which of the following explanations is the explanandum underlined?

Do different fields of inquiry have different patterns of explanation?

Concluding that a hypothesis must be true because it adequately accounts for the explanandum commits which of the following fallacies?

Usually, an explanandum is:

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

Which ought to be more fundamental, the hypothesis or the explanandum?

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

Explanations are similar to arguments in that an argument's premises are like an explanation's _, and an argument's conclusion is like an explanation's _.

Suppose that our explanandum would properly follow from a particular hypothesis, but so would three other consequences, C₁, C₂, and C₃.However, we are able to observe that C₂ has not occurred.What might this tell us about the hypothesis?