Question 1

The terms "antecedent" and "consequent" refer to which kind of reasoning?

Accepted Answer

A)  Generalization 
B)  Analogy 
C)  Causal 
D)  Example 
A)  Generalization 
B)  Analogy 
C)  Causal 
D)  Example C

Question 2

Lulu: "The wings of a bird cannot be compared to the wings of an airplane, because a bird's wings perform two functions; they provide lift and propel the bird forward. In contrast, an airplane wing only provides lift. The propeller is what moves a plane forward.

Accepted Answer

A)  Analogy 
B)  Sign 
C)  Generalization 
D)  Cause-effect 
E)  Example 
A)  Analogy 
B)  Sign 
C)  Generalization 
D)  Cause-effect 
E)  Example A

Question 3

If you had the measles as a child, you remain immune to measles for the rest of your life. Such immunity represents which type of cause?

Accepted Answer

A)  Necessary 
B)  Sufficient 
C)  Sole 
D)  Reciprocal 
A)  Necessary 
B)  Sufficient 
C)  Sole 
D)  Reciprocal B

Question 4

Including which qualifier below reduces the odds that a generalization will be contested?

Accepted Answer

A)  All 
B)  None 
C)  Many 
D)  Every 
E)  Always 
A)  All 
B)  None 
C)  Many 
D)  Every 
E)  Always

Question 5

A detective infers that someone recently rearranged the furniture in a room, because there are depressions in the carpet where the furniture used to be. The detective is relying on which type of reasoning?

Accepted Answer

A)  Analogy 
B)  Generalization 
C)  Sign 
D)  Example 
E)  Parallel case 
A)  Analogy 
B)  Generalization 
C)  Sign 
D)  Example 
E)  Parallel case

Question 6

The saying, "don't judge a book by its cover," refers to which type of reasoning?

Accepted Answer

A)  Analogy 
B)  Generalization 
C)  Sign 
D)  Cause-effect 
E)  Example 
A)  Analogy 
B)  Generalization 
C)  Sign 
D)  Cause-effect 
E)  Example

Question 7

Marisol has just returned home from a job interview. She slams the door behind her, wads up her resume, and throws it in the trash can. Her husband, Bert, decides she could use some comforting. Bert is probably using what kind of reasoning?

Accepted Answer

A)  Analogy 
B)  Generalization 
C)  Deduction 
D)  Cause-effect 
E)  Sign 
A)  Analogy 
B)  Generalization 
C)  Deduction 
D)  Cause-effect 
E)  Sign

Question 8

"The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is to Christianity what the ISIS is to Islam." The type of reasoning employed in this argument is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Analogy 
B)  Cause-effect 
C)  Example 
D)  Sign 
E)  Generalization 
A)  Analogy 
B)  Cause-effect 
C)  Example 
D)  Sign 
E)  Generalization

Question 9

A spokesperson for a stationary bike claims, "I've been riding the Spinmaster 3000 for 30 minutes a day, for the last two months, and I've lost 5 lbs. per week. You can shed pounds with the Spinmaster 3000, too."

Accepted Answer

A)  Analogy 
B)  Sign 
C)  Reciprocal cause 
D)  Necessary cause 
E)  Example 
A)  Analogy 
B)  Sign 
C)  Reciprocal cause 
D)  Necessary cause 
E)  Example

Question 10

A ________________ is capable of producing a given effect in and of itself. However, other causes may also be capable of producing that same effect.

Accepted Answer

A)  Valid cause 
B)  Necessary cause 
C)  Coincidental cause 
D)  Sufficient cause 
E)  Sole cause 
A)  Valid cause 
B)  Necessary cause 
C)  Coincidental cause 
D)  Sufficient cause 
E)  Sole cause

Question 11

Analogies can be:

Accepted Answer

A)  Valid or invalid 
B)  Fallible or infallible 
C)  Literal or figurative 
D)  Logical or illogical 
A)  Valid or invalid 
B)  Fallible or infallible 
C)  Literal or figurative 
D)  Logical or illogical

Question 12

You don't have to be raised in a two-parent family to succeed in life. Adele, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama were all raised by single mothers, and all became famous and successful.

Accepted Answer

A)  Analogy 
B)  Sign 
C)  Reciprocal cause 
D)  Sufficient cause 
E)  Example 
A)  Analogy 
B)  Sign 
C)  Reciprocal cause 
D)  Sufficient cause 
E)  Example

Question 13

Explain the difference between an inductive and a deductive generalization. Provide an example of each that clarifies the distinction.

Accepted Answer

An inductive generalization is a conclus

Question 14

Which of the following best represents a generalization?

Accepted Answer

A)  My dog likes to bark at squirrels. 
B)  My neighbor owns a Collie. 
C)  Most dogs bark at mail carriers. 
D)  Different barks signify different warnings. 
A)  My dog likes to bark at squirrels. 
B)  My neighbor owns a Collie. 
C)  Most dogs bark at mail carriers. 
D)  Different barks signify different warnings.

Question 15

What type of reasoning is involved in the following argument? "My first Toyota was reliable. My second Toyota was also reliable. In my opinion, Toyotas are very reliable cars."

Accepted Answer

A)  Correlation 
B)  Causation 
C)  Analogy 
D)  Sign 
E)  Generalization 
A)  Correlation 
B)  Causation 
C)  Analogy 
D)  Sign 
E)  Generalization

Question 16

Naomi is a social-justice warrior, so she probably favors universal health care and a guaranteed living wage.

Accepted Answer

A)  Analogy 
B)  Sign 
C)  Generalization 
D)  Cause-effect 
E)  Example 
A)  Analogy 
B)  Sign 
C)  Generalization 
D)  Cause-effect 
E)  Example

Question 17

A cause may be said to be ________________ if, without its presence, the effect will not occur.

Accepted Answer

A)  Valid 
B)  Necessary 
C)  Coincidental 
D)  Sufficient 
E)  Reciprocal 
A)  Valid 
B)  Necessary 
C)  Coincidental 
D)  Sufficient 
E)  Reciprocal

Question 18

"Since I started jogging every morning, I seem to sleep better at night. I think the exercise is giving me a better night's rest." What is the most likely form of reasoning being used here?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sign reasoning 
B)  Analogy 
C)  Cause-effect 
D)  Generalization 
E)  Example 
A)  Sign reasoning 
B)  Analogy 
C)  Cause-effect 
D)  Generalization 
E)  Example

Question 19

Explain the differences between a necessary cause, a sufficient cause, and a sole cause. Prove an example that illustrates each form of causal reasoning.

Accepted Answer

A necessary cause is a factor that must

Question 20

Which of the following statements about causal reasoning is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  A single cause may produce multiple effects. 
B)  A single effect may have multiple causes. 
C)  An effect may precede its cause. 
D)  Two events may be correlated without necessarily being causally connected. 
E)  Causal relationships can be inferred, but not directly observed. 
A)  A single cause may produce multiple effects. 
B)  A single effect may have multiple causes. 
C)  An effect may precede its cause. 
D)  Two events may be correlated without necessarily being causally connected. 
E)  Causal relationships can be inferred, but not directly observed.

The terms "antecedent" and "consequent" refer to which kind of reasoning?

Lulu: "The wings of a bird cannot be compared to the wings of an airplane, because a bird's wings perform two functions; they provide lift and propel the bird forward. In contrast, an airplane wing only provides lift. The propeller is what moves a plane forward.

If you had the measles as a child, you remain immune to measles for the rest of your life. Such immunity represents which type of cause?

Including which qualifier below reduces the odds that a generalization will be contested?

A detective infers that someone recently rearranged the furniture in a room, because there are depressions in the carpet where the furniture used to be. The detective is relying on which type of reasoning?

The saying, "don't judge a book by its cover," refers to which type of reasoning?

Marisol has just returned home from a job interview. She slams the door behind her, wads up her resume, and throws it in the trash can. Her husband, Bert, decides she could use some comforting. Bert is probably using what kind of reasoning?

"The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is to Christianity what the ISIS is to Islam." The type of reasoning employed in this argument is:

A spokesperson for a stationary bike claims, "I've been riding the Spinmaster 3000 for 30 minutes a day, for the last two months, and I've lost 5 lbs. per week. You can shed pounds with the Spinmaster 3000, too."

A ________________ is capable of producing a given effect in and of itself. However, other causes may also be capable of producing that same effect.

Analogies can be:

You don't have to be raised in a two-parent family to succeed in life. Adele, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama were all raised by single mothers, and all became famous and successful.

Explain the difference between an inductive and a deductive generalization. Provide an example of each that clarifies the distinction.

Which of the following best represents a generalization?

What type of reasoning is involved in the following argument? "My first Toyota was reliable. My second Toyota was also reliable. In my opinion, Toyotas are very reliable cars."

Naomi is a social-justice warrior, so she probably favors universal health care and a guaranteed living wage.

A cause may be said to be ________________ if, without its presence, the effect will not occur.

"Since I started jogging every morning, I seem to sleep better at night. I think the exercise is giving me a better night's rest." What is the most likely form of reasoning being used here?

Explain the differences between a necessary cause, a sufficient cause, and a sole cause. Prove an example that illustrates each form of causal reasoning.

Which of the following statements about causal reasoning is false?

Why Study Argument?

Arguing Ethically

Argument Theories, Models, and Definitions

The Nature of Critical Thinking

Building Blocks of Argument

Evidence and Proof

Fallacies in Reasoning, Part I

Fallacies in Reasoning, Part II

Judgment, Decision Making and Problem Solving

Deductive Reasoning

Effective Advocacy

Filters

Exam 7: Informal Reasoning

The terms "antecedent" and "consequent" refer to which kind of reasoning?

Lulu: "The wings of a bird cannot be compared to the wings of an airplane, because a bird's wings perform two functions; they provide lift and propel the bird forward. In contrast, an airplane wing only provides lift. The propeller is what moves a plane forward.

If you had the measles as a child, you remain immune to measles for the rest of your life. Such immunity represents which type of cause?

Including which qualifier below reduces the odds that a generalization will be contested?

A detective infers that someone recently rearranged the furniture in a room, because there are depressions in the carpet where the furniture used to be. The detective is relying on which type of reasoning?

The saying, "don't judge a book by its cover," refers to which type of reasoning?

Marisol has just returned home from a job interview. She slams the door behind her, wads up her resume, and throws it in the trash can. Her husband, Bert, decides she could use some comforting. Bert is probably using what kind of reasoning?

"The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is to Christianity what the ISIS is to Islam." The type of reasoning employed in this argument is:

A spokesperson for a stationary bike claims, "I've been riding the Spinmaster 3000 for 30 minutes a day, for the last two months, and I've lost 5 lbs. per week. You can shed pounds with the Spinmaster 3000, too."

A ________________ is capable of producing a given effect in and of itself. However, other causes may also be capable of producing that same effect.

Analogies can be:

You don't have to be raised in a two-parent family to succeed in life. Adele, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama were all raised by single mothers, and all became famous and successful.

Explain the difference between an inductive and a deductive generalization. Provide an example of each that clarifies the distinction.

Which of the following best represents a generalization?

What type of reasoning is involved in the following argument? "My first Toyota was reliable. My second Toyota was also reliable. In my opinion, Toyotas are very reliable cars."

Naomi is a social-justice warrior, so she probably favors universal health care and a guaranteed living wage.

A cause may be said to be ________________ if, without its presence, the effect will not occur.

"Since I started jogging every morning, I seem to sleep better at night. I think the exercise is giving me a better night's rest." What is the most likely form of reasoning being used here?

Explain the differences between a necessary cause, a sufficient cause, and a sole cause. Prove an example that illustrates each form of causal reasoning.

Which of the following statements about causal reasoning is false?

Why Study Argument?

Arguing Ethically

Argument Theories, Models, and Definitions

The Nature of Critical Thinking

Building Blocks of Argument

Evidence and Proof

Fallacies in Reasoning, Part I

Fallacies in Reasoning, Part II

Judgment, Decision Making and Problem Solving

Deductive Reasoning

Effective Advocacy

Filters