Question 1

A hypothetical syllogism has the following form:

Accepted Answer

A)  If A, then B; Not B; So, not A. B. If A, then B; If B, then C; So, if A, then C. 
C)  If A, then C; If B, then D; Either A or B; So, either C or D. 
D)  Either A or B; Not A; So, B.

Question 2

All sound arguments have

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

A counterexample to an argument form is a substitution instance whose

Accepted Answer

A)  premises and conclusion are well-known truths. 
B)  premises are well-known falsehoods. 
C)  premises are well-known truths and conclusion a well-known falsehood. 
D)  conclusion is a well-known falsehood.

Question 4

If an argument is strong, then

Accepted Answer

A)  its premises are all true. 
B)  it is improbable (but possible) that the conclusion is false on the assumption that the premises are true. 
C)  it is impossible for the conclusion to be false on the assumption that the premises are true. 
D)  the conclusion is true.

Question 5

Use a counterexample to show that the following argument is invalid. (Remember, it is usually best to use terms-or statements-whose interrelations are well known.) "No people whose attention is easily distracted while they are working are people who are keenly interested in their work. No successful people are people whose attention is easily distracted while they are working. So, all successful people are people who are keenly interested in their work."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Use a counterexample to show that the...

Question 6

All strong arguments have

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

If the following argument is an instance of one of the "famous" argument forms, name the form and indicate whether the form is valid or invalid; if the argument is NOT an instance of one of the "famous" forms, simply write "unnamed form."
Either we should launch a preemptive strike or else we should adopt a policy of containment. We should not launch a preemptive strike. Therefore, we should adopt a policy of containment.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If the following argument is an instance...

Question 8

A category statement asserts some relation between sets or collections of things.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Every argument intends to guarantee the truth of its conclusion.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

A term is

Accepted Answer

A)  a 15-week semester of college. 
B)  a word or phrase that stands for a class. 
C)  a length of time in public office. 
D)  a pattern of reasoning.

Question 11

An invalid argument can have false premises and a

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Use a counterexample to show that the following argument is invalid. (Remember, it is usually best to use terms-or statements-whose interrelations are well known.) "If Bob loves his country, Bob votes. Bob does not vote. It follows that Bob loves his country."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Use a counterexample to show that the...

Question 13

If the following argument is an instance of one of the "famous" argument forms, name the form and indicate whether the form is valid or invalid; if the argument is NOT an instance of one of the "famous" forms, simply write "unnamed form."
Either terrorists are wicked or terrorists are freedom fighters. Terrorists are wicked. It follows that terrorists are not freedom fighters.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If the following argument is an instance...

Question 14

Use a counterexample to show that the following argument is invalid. (Remember, it is usually best to use terms-or statements-whose interrelations are well known.) "All business executives are active opponents of increased corporate taxes, for all active opponents of increased corporate taxes are members of the chamber of commerce, and all members of the chamber of commerce are business executives."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Use a counterexample to show that the...

Question 15

Identify the following as valid, invalid, strong, or weak: "All men are mortal. Socrates is mortal. ∴ Socrates is a man."

Accepted Answer

A)  valid 
B)  invalid 
C)  strong 
D)  weak

Question 16

A good counterexample employs well-known truths for its premises and conclusion.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

All sentences are statements.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Use a counterexample to show that the following argument is invalid. (Remember, it is usually best to use terms-or statements-whose interrelations are well known.) "Churchill was a politician or a painter. Churchill was a politician. So, Churchill was not a painter."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Use a counterexample to show that the...

Question 19

Identify the following as valid, invalid, strong, or weak: "No one has ever run a three-minute mile. ∴ No one ever will."

Accepted Answer

A)  valid 
B)  invalid 
C)  strong 
D)  weak

Question 20

Identify the following as valid, invalid, strong, or weak: "Either Williams will win the election or Jarboe will win it. If Williams wins the election, then recycling will become mandatory. If Jarboe wins the election, then universal garbage collection will become mandatory. So, either recycling or universal garbage collection will become mandatory."

Accepted Answer

A)  valid 
B)  invalid 
C)  strong 
D)  weak

Exam 1: Basic Concepts

A hypothetical syllogism has the following form:

All sound arguments have

A counterexample to an argument form is a substitution instance whose

If an argument is strong, then

All strong arguments have

A category statement asserts some relation between sets or collections of things.

Every argument intends to guarantee the truth of its conclusion.

A term is

An invalid argument can have false premises and a

Use a counterexample to show that the following argument is invalid. (Remember, it is usually best to use terms-or statements-whose interrelations are well known.) "If Bob loves his country, Bob votes. Bob does not vote. It follows that Bob loves his country."

Identify the following as valid, invalid, strong, or weak: "All men are mortal. Socrates is mortal. ∴ Socrates is a man."

A good counterexample employs well-known truths for its premises and conclusion.

All sentences are statements.

Use a counterexample to show that the following argument is invalid. (Remember, it is usually best to use terms-or statements-whose interrelations are well known.) "Churchill was a politician or a painter. Churchill was a politician. So, Churchill was not a painter."

Identify the following as valid, invalid, strong, or weak: "No one has ever run a three-minute mile. ∴ No one ever will."