Deck 15: Explanation

Question 1

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

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

Answer 1

A

Question 2

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

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.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

In an explanation, can the same hypothesis be used to explain two different explananda?

A)No, because each diagram is limited to a single explanandum.
B)No, since that would require two different propositions to be true at the same time.
C)Yes, but never any more than two explananda.
D)Yes, and possibly even more than two explananda.
E)Yes, but only one of the explananda can be true.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

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

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

Question 5

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

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

Question 6

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

A)Because there is a tornado watch in our county, we ought to go to our basement.
B)The virus was able to spread very rapidly because the residents of the town were not washing their hands frequently.
C)You shouldn't invest in that company because it has a track record of failure.
D)Contrary to popular belief, medieval people couldn't have believed that the Earth was flat, because they could see its round shadow on the moon during any lunar eclipse.
E)The snails in your box must be dead, because they have been in there for three days and you haven't given them any food.

Question 7

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

A)Would some other hypothesis be more obvious?
B)Does the person providing the explanation know much about the explanandum?
C)Is the conclusion true?
D)Is the explanandum true?
E)Is the hypothesis adequate?

Question 8

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

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 9

Are the hypotheses in an explanation dependent on each other or independent of each other?

A)always dependent
B)always independent
C)sometimes dependent, sometimes independent
D)neither-only premises can be dependent or independent; hypotheses can't
E)always dependent in one respect, but independent in another

Question 10

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

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 11

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

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 12

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

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

Question 13

In which of the following explanations is the hypothesis underlined?

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 14

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 _____.

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

Question 15

In which of the following explanations is the explanandum underlined?

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 16

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

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 17

In which of the following explanations is the explanandum underlined?

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 18

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

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

Question 19

In which of the following explanations is the hypothesis underlined?

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 20

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

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.

Question 21

An explanation has logical strength when:

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 22

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.

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

Question 23

An explanation is considered logically complete when:

A)the person providing it has stopped talking
B)it accounts for every possible detail of the explanandum
C)it accounts for every significant detail of the explanandum
D)it makes use of every conceivable hypothesis that might be relevant
E)the number of hypotheses is at least as great as the number of explananda

Question 24

Which of the following explanations has the most logical strength?

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 25

Evaluating the strength of an explanation requires us to identify its:

A)implicit assumptions
B)creator
C)time of creation
D)secondary explanandum
E)ulterior motive

Question 26

Is it possible to construct an explanation for a false explanandum?

A)Yes, but at least one hypothesis would have to be false or inadequate.
B)Yes, but it could not have any hypotheses that are true or adequate.
C)Yes, and it could have hypotheses that are all true and adequate.
D)No, since such a construction would be an argument rather than an explanation.
E)No, since an explanandum is not an explanandum unless it is true.

Question 27

What is the most obvious flaw in the following explanation? Ernie has very white teeth because he practices good dental hygiene.

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

Question 28

Usually, an explanandum is:

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 29

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.

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

Question 30

Which of the following explanations is probably the most complete?

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 31

Could a hypothesis be inadequate for one explanation, yet adequate for another?

A)Yes, because a hypothesis is usually only inadequate for a small number of explanations, and adequate for all others.
B)Yes, because adequacy is not a property of the hypothesis but of its relationship to the particular explanandum.
C)No, because adequacy is a property of the hypothesis that would follow it into any explanation.
D)No, because if the hypothesis is not adequate, it lacks strength, completeness, or informativeness.
E)No, because no hypothesis is adequate for only one explanation.

Question 32

Which of the following explanations has the most logical strength?

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 33

Which of the following explanations is probably the most complete?

A)Becky lost 43 pounds because she started taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
B)The Larosas are getting a divorce because of an argument over a lawn ornament.
C)The old post office building was condemned because some of the windows were broken.
D)Since Albert made a left turn without signaling, he is spending eight years in prison.
E)The hotel is closing because it wasn't getting enough business.

Question 34

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

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 35

Which of the following explanations has the most logical strength?

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 36

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

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

Question 37

Can a hypothesis be true without being adequate?

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 38

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

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

Question 39

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.

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

Question 40

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

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

Question 41

Which of the following explanations is the most informative?

A)Sailing is a fun pastime because it is an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.
B)Because the Taj Mahal is a popular tourist destination, it receives many visitors each year.
C)Playing the piano is relaxing, because it gently occupies your muscles and produces soothing sounds.
D)Large quantities of almonds are not good for you, because my doctor said so.
E)Ballet requires a lot of concentration, because to do it well, you must stay focused.

Question 42

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?

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 43

Usually, in order to connect a hypothesis to its explanandum, we must make a few additional assumptions.These are called _____ assumptions.

A)partial
B)auxiliary
C)connective
D)arbitrary
E)hypothetical

Question 44

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

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

Question 45

Which of the following explanations is most plausible?

A)Sun spots are caused by human industrial activity.
B)The vending machine is empty because Jerry ate all of the food in it.
C)The vase broke because a leprechaun knocked it off the table.
D)We didn't notice the snake because it blended in with the dried leaves.
E)The hamburgers are overcooked because this campfire is 50 times hotter than usual.

Question 46

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

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

Question 47

Which of the following explanations is the most informative?

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 48

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:

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 49

Which of the following explanations is most plausible?

A)The water in the pool is burning people's eyes because it has too much chlorine.
B)The cow died because it choked to death on a large lizard it was eating.
C)This diet drink tastes sweet because the company is lying about it not containing sugar.
D)The ancient Egyptians were able to build the pyramids because they knew how to levitate stone.
E)The ostrich has never been observed flying because ostriches are afraid to fly in front of humans.

Question 50

Which of the following explanations is most plausible?

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.

Question 51

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

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

Question 52

Which of the following explanations is the most informative?

A)Dogs are easier to train than cats because dogs are canines.
B)Children enjoy candy because it is sweet.
C)Salamander grocery stores are the most successful in our town, because they are the best.
D)The Washington Monument is quite tall, since the designers wanted to build it very high.
E)Soup is not a good supper food, since it is inappropriate for an evening meal.

Question 53

Do different fields of inquiry have different patterns of explanation?

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 54

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

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 55

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

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.