Question 1

The heavily cratered lunar highlands speak to us of an early epoch in the history of the solar system when cratering was much more common than it is today; the present population of interplanetary debris fails by a large factor to account for the abundance of the highland craters. (Carl Sagan, Broca's Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science)
This statement is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

A)   nonargument; report
B)   argument; conclusion: The present population of interplanetary debris fails by a large factor to account for the abundance of the highland craters
C)   nonargument; explanation
D)   argument; conclusion: The heavily cratered lunar highlands speak to us of an early epoch in the history of the solar system when cratering was much more common than it is today D

Question 2

If we want our children to possess the traits of character we most admire, we need to teach them what those traits are and why they deserve both admiration and allegiance. (William J. Bennett, The Book of Virtues)
This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

A)   unsupported assertion
B)   explanation
C)   conditional statement
D)   report
E)   argument C

Question 3

He that makes use of the light and faculties God has given him and seeks sincerely to discover truths by those helps and abilities he has, may have this satisfaction in doing his duty as a rational creature, that, though he should miss truth, he will not miss the reward of it. For he governs his assent right, and places it as he should, who, in any case or matter whatsoever, believes or disbelieves, according as his reason directs him. (John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding)
This passage is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

A)   argument; conclusion: He that makes use of the light and faculties God has given him and seeks sincerely to discover truths by those helps and abilities he has, may have this satisfaction in doing his duty as a rational creature, that, though he should miss truth, he will not miss the reward of it
B)   nonargument; unsupported assertion
C)   nonargument; explanation
D)   nonargument; conditional statement A

Question 4

Because narcotics are highly addictive and potentially harmful, they are usually either regulated by prescription or banned outright. (Robert J. Sternberg, Pathways to Psychology)
This statement is an example of a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

A)   conditional statement
B)   argument
C)   illustration
D)   explanation
E)   unsupported assertion

Question 5

There are two statements in the sentence "Roses are red and violets are blue."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

This is for the person who wrote in the SAYSO column that George Bush is a breath of fresh air. I think he is an airhead. (From a newspaper call-in column)
This statement is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

A)   nonargument; unsupported assertion
B)   argument; conclusion: I think he is an airhead
C)   nonargument; report
D)   nonargument; explanation

Question 7

When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle. (Edmund Burke, "Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents")
This statement is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

A)   argument; conclusion: Else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle
B)   nonargument; explanation
C)   argument; conclusion: When bad men combine, the good must associate
D)   nonargument; unsupported assertion

Question 8

The following sentence is an argument: "Experts in any field learn new things faster than novices do, because their rich, highly accessible background knowledge gives them a greater variety of means for capturing the new ideas." (E. D. Hirsch, Jr., The Schools We Deserve-And Why We Don't Have Them)

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

"If Aretha had a garden, she would be very proud of it. If Aretha was proud of her garden, she'd throw wonderful parties to show it off. So, if Aretha wanted a garden, she'd throw wonderful parties." These statements exemplify a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

A)   illustration
B)   report
C)   chain argument
D)   nonargument
E)   ought imperative

Question 10

If the statement that a passage seeks to prove or explain is a matter of common knowledge, then the passage is probably an explanation rather than an argument.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

To make sense of complex issues, you need to have thought critically and reasoned analytically about them, before reaching a well-supported conclusion. (John Chaffee, The Thinker's Way)
This statement is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

A)   argument; conclusion: You need to have thought critically and reasoned analytically about them
B)   nonargument; unsupported assertion
C)   nonargument; explanation
D)   argument; conclusion: Before reaching a well-supported conclusion

Question 12

Indicator words provide clues that premises or conclusions are being offered.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

I don't think that Americans have the right to fly other countries' flags, I really don't. If this isn't illegal, it should be. If they want to fly another flag, let them go to live in that country. It offends me very, very much. (From a newspaper call-in column)
This passage exemplifies a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

A)   report
B)   unsupported assertion
C)   illustration
D)   argument
E)   explanation

Question 14

Many arguments contain no indicator words at all.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The California Psychological Inventory (CPI) was initially developed and first published by Harrison Gough in 1957. Thirty years later Gough revised his inventory by adding several new scales and revamping or eliminating a number of dated, sexist, or difficult to read items. The current version of the CPI contains 462 true-false items designed to measure various facets of the normal personality. It is intended to be used with both adolescents and adults to predict how individuals will behave and react in a variety of interpersonal situations. (Kevin R. Murphy and Charles O. Davidshofer, Psychological Testing: Principles and Applications, 4th ed.)
This passage exemplifies a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

A)   explanation
B)   report
C)   argument
D)   illustration
E)   unsupported assertion

Question 16

The following sentence is a conditional statement: "If it's past 8:00, then the store will be closed."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

"What time is it?" is an example of a statement.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Ought imperatives are statements.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

AARP is greatly feared in Washington, D.C., because of the fierce way it lobbies for issues of concern to senior citizens, such as Social Security, Medicare, and the constitutional right to drive without any clue where the actual road is. (Dave Barry, Dave Barry Turns 50)
This passage exemplifies a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

A)   illustration
B)   unsupported assertion
C)   argument
D)   conditional statement
E)   explanation

Question 20

If miracles are not possible, then they cannot be actual. (Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli, Handbook of Christian Apologetics)
This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

A)   report
B)   explanation
C)   conditional statement
D)   unsupported assertion
E)   argument

Exam 2: Recognizing Arguments

If we want our children to possess the traits of character we most admire, we need to teach them what those traits are and why they deserve both admiration and allegiance. (William J. Bennett, The Book of Virtues) This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

Because narcotics are highly addictive and potentially harmful, they are usually either regulated by prescription or banned outright. (Robert J. Sternberg, Pathways to Psychology) This statement is an example of a(n) _____.

There are two statements in the sentence "Roses are red and violets are blue."

This is for the person who wrote in the SAYSO column that George Bush is a breath of fresh air. I think he is an airhead. (From a newspaper call-in column) This statement is made up of a(n) _ and a(n) _.

When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle. (Edmund Burke, "Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents") This statement is made up of a(n) _ and a(n) _.

The following sentence is an argument: "Experts in any field learn new things faster than novices do, because their rich, highly accessible background knowledge gives them a greater variety of means for capturing the new ideas." (E. D. Hirsch, Jr., The Schools We Deserve-And Why We Don't Have Them)

"If Aretha had a garden, she would be very proud of it. If Aretha was proud of her garden, she'd throw wonderful parties to show it off. So, if Aretha wanted a garden, she'd throw wonderful parties." These statements exemplify a(n) _____.

If the statement that a passage seeks to prove or explain is a matter of common knowledge, then the passage is probably an explanation rather than an argument.

To make sense of complex issues, you need to have thought critically and reasoned analytically about them, before reaching a well-supported conclusion. (John Chaffee, The Thinker's Way) This statement is made up of a(n) _ and a(n) _.

Indicator words provide clues that premises or conclusions are being offered.

I don't think that Americans have the right to fly other countries' flags, I really don't. If this isn't illegal, it should be. If they want to fly another flag, let them go to live in that country. It offends me very, very much. (From a newspaper call-in column) This passage exemplifies a(n) _____.

Many arguments contain no indicator words at all.

The following sentence is a conditional statement: "If it's past 8:00, then the store will be closed."

"What time is it?" is an example of a statement.

Ought imperatives are statements.

If miracles are not possible, then they cannot be actual. (Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli, Handbook of Christian Apologetics) This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

Exam 2: Recognizing Arguments

If we want our children to possess the traits of character we most admire, we need to teach them what those traits are and why they deserve both admiration and allegiance. (William J. Bennett, The Book of Virtues) This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

Because narcotics are highly addictive and potentially harmful, they are usually either regulated by prescription or banned outright. (Robert J. Sternberg, Pathways to Psychology) This statement is an example of a(n) _____.

There are two statements in the sentence "Roses are red and violets are blue."

This is for the person who wrote in the SAYSO column that George Bush is a breath of fresh air. I think he is an airhead. (From a newspaper call-in column) This statement is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle. (Edmund Burke, "Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents") This statement is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

The following sentence is an argument: "Experts in any field learn new things faster than novices do, because their rich, highly accessible background knowledge gives them a greater variety of means for capturing the new ideas." (E. D. Hirsch, Jr., The Schools We Deserve-And Why We Don't Have Them)

"If Aretha had a garden, she would be very proud of it. If Aretha was proud of her garden, she'd throw wonderful parties to show it off. So, if Aretha wanted a garden, she'd throw wonderful parties." These statements exemplify a(n) _____.

If the statement that a passage seeks to prove or explain is a matter of common knowledge, then the passage is probably an explanation rather than an argument.

To make sense of complex issues, you need to have thought critically and reasoned analytically about them, before reaching a well-supported conclusion. (John Chaffee, The Thinker's Way) This statement is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

Indicator words provide clues that premises or conclusions are being offered.

Many arguments contain no indicator words at all.

The following sentence is a conditional statement: "If it's past 8:00, then the store will be closed."

"What time is it?" is an example of a statement.

Ought imperatives are statements.

If miracles are not possible, then they cannot be actual. (Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli, Handbook of Christian Apologetics) This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

This is for the person who wrote in the SAYSO column that George Bush is a breath of fresh air. I think he is an airhead. (From a newspaper call-in column) This statement is made up of a(n) _ and a(n) _.

When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle. (Edmund Burke, "Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents") This statement is made up of a(n) _ and a(n) _.

To make sense of complex issues, you need to have thought critically and reasoned analytically about them, before reaching a well-supported conclusion. (John Chaffee, The Thinker's Way) This statement is made up of a(n) _ and a(n) _.