Deck 5: Analyzing Arguments

Question 1

If all people would learn the skills of analyzing arguments, then there would be no more disagreements.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

If you can think of any reasons why a conclusion is false, then you should decide that the conclusion is false.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

When you add weak support to a conclusion, you strengthen the quality of the argument.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Sometimes, one strong reason that supports a conclusion, is "good enough" to believe in the conclusion.

Question 5

Rationalizing is a good way to judge the quality of an argument.

Question 6

Propaganda is almost always based on false reasons.

Question 7

With a little care, it should be easy to tell the differences among facts, opinions, and reasoned judgments.

Question 8

In visual arguments, the verbal portion is more persuasive than the more subtle visual elements.

Question 9

Fallacies can be identified by checking the rules for sound arguments and deciding if any have been violated.

Question 10

The rules for changing beliefs can be used to check your own arguments for persuasiveness.

Question 11

A/An __________ consists of one or more statements that are used to provide support for a conclusion

A) premise
B) argument
C) hypothesis
D) reason
E) None of the above

Question 12

A premise is __________ when several premises are presented and they do not contradict each other.

A) consistent
B) presumptive
C) convergent
D) acceptable

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT important when evaluating credibility of internet sources?

A) What are the author's qualifications?
B) Is the site a public service or a sales pitch?
C) Is the information complete?
D) Is the information on the site still relevant?
E) All of the above are important when evaluating credibility of internet sources

Question 14

Adequate grounds is when

A) the author of an argument is credible.
B) an argument makes very few assumptions.
C) the premises are strong enough to support a conclusion.
D) an argument contains no counterarguments.
E) All of the above comprise adequate grounds

Question 15

The sons of former U.S. presidents are more likely than the average man to become President, and the offspring of television and movie actors are more likely than the average person to become famous. These events are likely to occur because the average person reasons using

A) social desirability.
B) virtue by association.
C) halo effects.
D) appeals to snobbery.
E) None of the above

Question 16

If I told you that "80% of all people abducted by space aliens are supporting themselves as criminals," I am guilty of

A) using contradictory premises.
B) knowing the unknowable.
C) creating a false dichotomy.
D) covariation ignorance.
E) None of the above

Question 17

The use of statements like "Brand X is best" is an example of a/an

A) false dichotomy.
B) inappropriate analogy.
C) guilt by association.
D) incomplete comparison.
E) None of the above

Question 18

"We need to raise the speed limit because the current legal speed is too slow." This statement is an example of

A) card stacking.
B) part-whole fallacies.
C) slippery slope.
D) circular reasoning.

Question 19

Presenting a very weak form of an opposing argument is one component of

A) testimonials.
B) creating false cause.
C) appeals to tradition.
D) a straw person.
E) None of the above

Question 20

Premises that consist of the idea that certain events lie along a continuum, and affecting one event affects all events, are involved in

A) part-whole fallacies.
B) circular reasoning.
C) slippery slope.
D) a straw person.
E) None of the above

Question 21

When I argue that churches cause prostitution because they increase together and one can be predicted from the other, I am relying on

A) the fallacy of false cause.
B) guilt by association.
C) circular reasoning.
D) a straw person.
E) All of the above

Question 22

Irrelevant attacks against the source of an argument that are designed to mislead people from examining the factual and evidentiary support of an argument are called

A) appeals to pity.
B) testimonials.
C) emotional appeals.
D) arguments against the person.
E) None of the above

Question 23

List and define the 5 anatomical parts of an argument.

Question 24

Diagram the structure of this argument. Would you call this argument "sound"? Why or why not? " Although gardening can be difficult, those who learn to do it correctly often report enjoying it a lot. There are many pretty varieties of plants that are likely to thrive with good care. Some plants and flowers can be expensive, but there are many inexpensive varieties too. Depending on the climate, gardening can be an active, satisfying hobby all year long."

Question 25

Describe the various steps involved in determining the credibility of the source of an argument.

Question 26

List and describe the various criteria used to evaluate information found on websites.

Question 27

A premise is __________ when it is true or when we can reasonably believe that it is true

A) consistent
B) presumptive
C) convergent
D) acceptable

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT a criterion for evaluating the strength of an argument?

A) Are the premises acceptable and consistent?
B) Do the premises support the conclusions?
C) Does the argument have a chained structure?
D) What's missing that would change the conclusion?
E) All of the above are criteria for evaluating the strength of an argument

Question 29

Which of the following is NOT true of arguments?

A) They have been called "the giving of reasons"
B) Making an argument involves an objective of changing an old view into a new belief
C) Arguments contain one or more reasons for a conclusion
D) Arguments can be strong or weak
E) All of the above are true of arguments

Question 30

Which of the following is NOT contained in arguments?

A) A conclusion
B) A premise
C) A qualifier
D) A counterargument
E) All of the above are contained in arguments

Question 31

Which of the following statements is NOT an argument?

A) Green apples are delicious
B) You shouldn't buy fast food
C) We saw the dogs jump over the fence
D) We went to Bob's house, and then out to dinner
E) None of the above statements are actual arguments

Question 32

Which of the following statements is an argument?

A) Green apples are delicious
B) You shouldn't buy fast food because it's expensive
C) We saw the dogs jump over the fence
D) We went to Bob's house, and then out to dinner
E) None of the above statements are actual arguments

Question 33

Which of the following is NOT a "premise indicator"?

A) Because
B) Since
C) Given that
D) As shown by
E) All of the above are actual premise indicators

Question 34

Which of the following is NOT a "premise indicator"?

A) Because
B) Therefore
C) Given that
D) As shown by
E) All of the above are actual premise indicators

Question 35

Which of the following is NOT true of assumptions?

A) They are statements for which no proof or evidence is offered
B) They can be explicitly stated in an argument
C) They can be unstated or implied by an argument
D) Assumptions provide strong support for premises
E) All of the above are true of assumptions

Question 36

A qualifier is

A) a statement that refutes a particular conclusion.
B) used to build the main arguments.
C) a constraint or restriction on the conclusion.
D) the main argument in an extended passage.
E) None of the above

Question 37

A main point is

A) a statement that refutes a particular conclusion.
B) used to build the main arguments.
C) a constraint or restriction on the conclusion.
D) the main argument in an extended passage.
E) None of the above

Question 38

A counterargument is

A) a statement that refutes a particular conclusion.
B) used to build the main arguments.
C) a constraint or restriction on the conclusion.
D) the main argument in an extended passage.
E) All of the above

Question 39

A/an __________ involves arguments in which the conclusion of one subargument becomes the premise of a second argument

A) assumption
B) chained structure
C) convergent structure
D) counterargument

Question 40

A/an __________ occurs when more than one premise supports a conclusion.

A) assumption
B) chained structure
C) convergent structure
D) counterargument

Question 41

Carefully read the argument below and then answer questions about it. You shouldn't smoke because it causes lung cancer and other serious diseases. Smoking also causes premature aging, is very expensive, and causes harm to others around you. It makes your clothes, car, and home smell bad. It might make you feel good, but it's not worth it. Which statement is the conclusion?

A) You shouldn't smoke
B) Smoking makes your car, clothes, and home smell bad
C) Smoking causes harm to others around you
D) Smoking causes premature aging
E) None of the above

Question 42

Carefully read the argument below and then answer questions about it. You shouldn't smoke because it causes lung cancer and other serious diseases. Smoking also causes premature aging, is very expensive, and causes harm to others around you. It makes your clothes, car, and home smell bad. It might make you feel good, but it's not worth it. Which statement is NOT a premise?

A) It might make you feel good
B) Smoking makes your car, clothes, and home smell bad
C) Smoking causes harm to others around you
D) Smoking causes premature aging
E) None of the above

Question 43

Carefully read the argument below and then answer questions about it. You shouldn't smoke because it causes lung cancer and other serious diseases. Smoking also causes premature aging, is very expensive, and causes harm to others around you. It makes your clothes, car, and home smell bad. It might make you feel good, but it's not worth it. The argument above involves a __________ structure.

A) contradictory
B) FALSE
C) chained
D) convergent
E) None of the above

Question 44

Describe rationalizing, including the various cognitive processes involved in it, and how critical thinking instruction may affect rationalizing.