Question 1

In research writing, those taken-for-granted and often unstated beliefs about the way we think are referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  reasoning or sampling errors. 
B)  descriptive assumptions. 
C)  prescriptive or value assumptions. 
D)  fallacies and arguments. 
A)  reasoning or sampling errors. 
B)  descriptive assumptions. 
C)  prescriptive or value assumptions. 
D)  fallacies and arguments. C

Question 2

The basis of arguments is usually based on either inductive or deductive reasoning.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

The purposes of critical thinking and questioning are to enable you to examine and test propositions of any kind that are offered for acceptance, in order to find out whether the reasons and conclusions align with the argument.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

The inductive generalisation is a logical fallacy that is based on insufficient evidence.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

An unsupported claim is simply an opinion.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Descriptive assumptions are

Accepted Answer

A)  unstated values about the way the world is. 
B)  explicit beliefs about the way the world is. 
C)  assumptions that give a general rather than a specific character to a subject. 
D)  found in the results section of a research report. 
A)  unstated values about the way the world is. 
B)  explicit beliefs about the way the world is. 
C)  assumptions that give a general rather than a specific character to a subject. 
D)  found in the results section of a research report.

Question 7

Syllogisms contain at least two premises leading to a conclusion. They are

Accepted Answer

A)  inductive and deductive premises. 
B)  major and minor premises. 
C)  introduction and conclusion premises. 
D)  exemplary and evidentiary premises. 
A)  inductive and deductive premises. 
B)  major and minor premises. 
C)  introduction and conclusion premises. 
D)  exemplary and evidentiary premises.

Question 8

In critical thinking, persuasion involves

Accepted Answer

A)  influencing others to change their beliefs or behaviours through moral or logical argument. 
B)  convincing others of your point of view through the presentation of facts. 
C)  debating with others about moral issues. 
D)  appealing to others' emotions to sway them in an argument. 
A)  influencing others to change their beliefs or behaviours through moral or logical argument. 
B)  convincing others of your point of view through the presentation of facts. 
C)  debating with others about moral issues. 
D)  appealing to others' emotions to sway them in an argument.

Question 9

A consequence of persuasion is making good judgements.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The relationship between a conclusion and an argument in research writing is that

Accepted Answer

A)  an argument is composed of several premises and the conclusion of a single premise. 
B)  a conclusion consists of evidence in support of premises. 
C)  a conclusion is based on the reasoning and evidence in the argument. 
D)  an argument and the conclusion are both made up of evidence. 
A)  an argument is composed of several premises and the conclusion of a single premise. 
B)  a conclusion consists of evidence in support of premises. 
C)  a conclusion is based on the reasoning and evidence in the argument. 
D)  an argument and the conclusion are both made up of evidence.

Question 11

Critical thinking has a single definition.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Which type of fallacy implies that an idea is unreliable because of the person holding it?

Accepted Answer

A)  Either/or thinking 
B)  Ad hominem 
C)  Appeals to emotion 
D)  Ad populum 
A)  Either/or thinking 
B)  Ad hominem 
C)  Appeals to emotion 
D)  Ad populum

Question 13

In critical thinking, what do you need to think about when you are reading?

Accepted Answer

A)  Challenging the author's ideas 
B)  Questioning the structure, purpose and audience of the text 
C)  Skimming and scanning the text for the main themes 
D)  What else the author has written on the subject 
A)  Challenging the author's ideas 
B)  Questioning the structure, purpose and audience of the text 
C)  Skimming and scanning the text for the main themes 
D)  What else the author has written on the subject

Question 14

Deductive logic allows for sampling of a large target audience to save time and money.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

A reasoning fallacy arises from

Accepted Answer

A)  a thorough examination of an argument. 
B)  a preponderance of evidence. 
C)  the bias of the reader or listener. 
D)  generalisations and interpretations of findings. 
A)  a thorough examination of an argument. 
B)  a preponderance of evidence. 
C)  the bias of the reader or listener. 
D)  generalisations and interpretations of findings.

Question 16

The position taken in the argument is important because it

Accepted Answer

A)  shows the speaker's opinion. 
B)  shows the speaker's conviction. 
C)  reveals the knowledge the speaker has. 
D)  is the starting point for presenting a convincing case. 
A)  shows the speaker's opinion. 
B)  shows the speaker's conviction. 
C)  reveals the knowledge the speaker has. 
D)  is the starting point for presenting a convincing case.

Question 17

Through successful persuasion

Accepted Answer

A)  we effect change in others despite their initial resistance. 
B)  we affect others and they affect us. 
C)  we reach our goals irrespective of obstacles. 
D)  we effect change in others but we remain unaffected. 
A)  we effect change in others despite their initial resistance. 
B)  we affect others and they affect us. 
C)  we reach our goals irrespective of obstacles. 
D)  we effect change in others but we remain unaffected.

Question 18

An appeal to character is an appeal based on

Accepted Answer

A)  the credibility of the speaker. 
B)  the credibility of the listener or reader. 
C)  the image to which the listener or reader aspires. 
D)  the image projected by the speaker. 
A)  the credibility of the speaker. 
B)  the credibility of the listener or reader. 
C)  the image to which the listener or reader aspires. 
D)  the image projected by the speaker.

Question 19

There is a tendency to overgeneralise, particularly if data contradicts the researcher's premise, in

Accepted Answer

A)  deductive logic. 
B)  syllogisms. 
C)  inductive logic. 
D)  the premises. 
A)  deductive logic. 
B)  syllogisms. 
C)  inductive logic. 
D)  the premises.

Question 20

To convince readers, an argument is based on

Accepted Answer

A)  evidence. 
B)  theories. 
C)  one's own opinion. 
D)  a literature review. 
A)  evidence. 
B)  theories. 
C)  one's own opinion. 
D)  a literature review.

Exam 15: Critical Thinking, Argument, Logic and Persuasion

In research writing, those taken-for-granted and often unstated beliefs about the way we think are referred to as

The basis of arguments is usually based on either inductive or deductive reasoning.

The purposes of critical thinking and questioning are to enable you to examine and test propositions of any kind that are offered for acceptance, in order to find out whether the reasons and conclusions align with the argument.

The inductive generalisation is a logical fallacy that is based on insufficient evidence.

An unsupported claim is simply an opinion.

Descriptive assumptions are

Syllogisms contain at least two premises leading to a conclusion. They are

In critical thinking, persuasion involves

A consequence of persuasion is making good judgements.

The relationship between a conclusion and an argument in research writing is that

Critical thinking has a single definition.

Which type of fallacy implies that an idea is unreliable because of the person holding it?

In critical thinking, what do you need to think about when you are reading?

Deductive logic allows for sampling of a large target audience to save time and money.

A reasoning fallacy arises from

The position taken in the argument is important because it

Through successful persuasion

An appeal to character is an appeal based on

There is a tendency to overgeneralise, particularly if data contradicts the researcher's premise, in

To convince readers, an argument is based on

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