Critical Thinking Midterm

When you know enough to judge the truth of falsity of the premises, indicate if the argument is sound: Baseball is the US de facto national sport. A country's official or de facto national sport is likely to be very popular in that country. Therefore, baseball is likely to be very popular in the US.

Sound

When you know enough to judge the truth of falsity of the premises, indicate if the argument is sound: Fez is north of Casablanca. Tangier is north of Fez. Therefore, Tangier is north of Casablanca.

Sound

When you know enough to judge the truth of falsity of the premises, indicate if the argument is sound: At this moment, I am reading a book. If I am reading a book, I must be awake. Therefore, I must be awake.

Sound However if you did not interpret I as referring to yourself the correct answer would be that it is merely a logically strong argument

When you know enough to judge the truth of falsity of the premises, indicate if the argument is sound: No human being is immortal. Even the President is a human being. Therefore, the President is not immortal.

Sound It is not necessary to know who the president is in order to know that he or she is a human being

When you know enough to judge the truth of falsity of the premises, indicate if the argument is sound: Albany is in New York. New York is in the US. Therefore, Albany is in the US.

Sound. if you did not know that Albany is in NY or that NY is in the US you should have answered that it is merely a logically strong argument

Determine wether the sentence is best interpreted as analytic synthetic or contradictory: death comes for us all sooner or later

Synthetic as far as we know this is a true statement but its truth is something we have learned and is not determined by the meaning of the sentence

Determine wether the sentence is best interpreted as analytic synthetic or contradictory: In the southern hemisphere the sun rises in the west and sets in the east

Synthetic assuming that the speaker correctly understands the meanings of the words in this sentence he or she could only be proven wrong by sending him or her to the southern hemisphere with a compass

Determine wether the sentence is best interpreted as analytic synthetic or contradictory: All parents love their children when they are newborn

Synthetic observations would be needed to determine the truth of this statement

Determine wether the sentence is best interpreted as analytic synthetic or contradictory: A rose by any other name would smell as sweet

Synthetic on both the literal and metaphorical interpretation in both cases the truth of the sentence could only be determined by investigating the facts

Determine wether the sentence is best interpreted as analytic synthetic or contradictory: No one has ever run the marathon in less than two hours

Synthetic the truth or falsity of this sentence can only be determined by checking a reference book on sports records the meaning of the sentence leaves its truth or falsity an open question

Determine wether the sentence is best interpreted as analytic synthetic or contradictory: it is better to be free and unhappy than to be a contended slave

Synthetic there is nothing about the meaning of the words in this sentence that guarantees its truth or falsity

identify the kind of ambiguity in the sentence and state the different ways in which each sentence can be interpreted: 80% of the stores tested illegally sell cigarettes to minors with no questions asked

The sentence is grammatically ambiguous if illegally modifies tested the sentence means that the stores were illegally tested if illegally modified sell it means that the stores were illegally selling cigarettes

identify the kind of ambiguity in the sentence and state the different ways in which each sentence can be interpreted: In multi-section courses the instructions should be free to choose the text

The term instructors is referentially ambiguous if it is being used collectively the sentence means that the instructors as a group are fee to choose whatever text they can all agree on if the term is being used distributively the sentence means that each instructor is free to choose whatever text he or she wishes

identify the kind of ambiguity in the sentence and state the different ways in which each sentence can be interpreted: Melissa only has one dress

There is a grammatical ambiguity in this sentence. Literally, the sentence means that Melissa has nothing else in the world besides her one dress. If the location of the world only is changed to make the sentence read Melissa has only one dress it means that although she may have many possessions she has only one dress. That is more likely the meaning.

identify the kind of ambiguity in the sentence and state the different ways in which each sentence can be interpreted: billy gave his sisters a box of candy for Chirstmas

There is a referential ambiguity here since it is unclear weather the term his sisters is being distributively the sentence means that billy gave two boxes of candy one to each sister if it is being used collectively the sentence means that Billy gave his sisters one box of candy to be shared between them

The company laid off 250 assembly line workers last week I think they were justified because their sales had declined by 23 percent in the past three months

This is an argument P: the company's sales declined by 23 percent in the last 3 months C: The company was justified in laying off 250 assembly line workers

Is this passage an argument? Identify the premise and the conclusion: My purse with several hundred dollars in cash my watch and my necklace have gone missing from my hotel room the door was locked while I was out and there's no sign of forced entry It looks like someone on staff at this hotel is a thief

This is an argument. P1: my purse with cash, my watch, and my necklace are missing from my hotel room P2: the door of the room was locked P3: there is no sign of forced entry into the room P4: only someone working in the hotel could have entered the room C: It looks like someone on staff at the hotel stole these items

Is this passage an argument? Identify the premise and the conclusion: You should go home next weekend because you promised your parents you would

This is an argument. Premise: you promised your parents you would go home Conclusion: You should go home next weekend

Is this passage an argument? Identify the premise and the conclusion: many people think that thunder is caused by lightning. This is a mistake.

This is not an argument it is just a claim

Is this passage an argument? Identify the premise and the conclusion: Most evenings I go for a walk after dinner Usually I walk to the park and back which is about two miles but last night I only went as far as the library

This is not an argument it is just a description

Is this passage an argument? Identify the premise and the conclusion: You should go home next weekend and have a good time with your friends

This is probably not an argument. However, it is possible that the speaker means that a reason for going home would be to have a good time, then it would be an argument.

Is this passage an argument? Identify the premise and the conclusion: His car skidded on the ice and hit a van in the middle of the intersection the car was a write off and the van suffered $3,000 in damage

This isnt an argument it is just a description of an event

Is this passage an argument? Identify the premise and the conclusion: it is obvious that no great leader ever suffered from low self-esteem

This isnt an argument it is just a statement that is unsupported by any reasons or evidence

identify the kind of ambiguity in the sentence and state the different ways in which each sentence can be interpreted: The apartment superintendent came to our door during the party last night to complain about the nose in his pajamas

This sentence is grammatically ambiguous literally it says that the noise the superintendent complained about was coming from his own pajamas however the principle of charity encourages us to interpret the speaker as saying that the superintendent was wearing his pajamas when he was complaining about noise coming from the apartment the comic effect of the sentence depends on seeing the literal meaning and recognizing that the speaker intends us to interpret it as the principle of charity suggests

Determine wether the sentence is necessary or sufficient: The Bruce Prize of $500 will be awarded to the graduating student who has the highest cumulative average in all his or her philosophy classes

This statement gives both the necessary and sufficient conditions for winning the prize if interpreted merely as a necessary condition it would mean that although every winner would have the highest average some years the student with the highest average might not be awarded the prize if interpreted merely as a sufficient condition it would mean that although each year the student with the highest average would receive the prize another student who failed to achieve the highest average might also receive the prize perhaps with the money divided between them

What errors are committed by the following definitions (assume a context in which they have been put forward as reportive definitions): Poetry is an art form that uses words to communicate ideas and images

Too broad the defining phrase (art form that uses words to communicate ideas and images) includes other art forms that use words to communicate ideas and images such as novels and plays

What errors are committed by the following definitions (assume a context in which they have been put forward as reportive definitions): A sport is any activity involving competition between individuals or groups of individuals

Too broad since the defining phrase also includes such competitive activities as operating a business playing chess and competing in music festivals none of which are sports it is also too narrow since the defining phrase excludes such individual sports as sports as sport fishing surf boarding and sky diving which are not normally competitive

Determine wether the sentence is necessary or sufficient: be admitted as a grad student applicants must have a four year honors degree with a 75% average on all courses taken in their last two years

almost always a necessary condition since while no applicants will be admitted unless they meet the stated conditions not every student who meets these conditions can expect to be admitted if the sentence is interpreted as stating a sufficient condition it interpreted as stating a sufficient condition it means that every student who meets these conditions will be admitted which is a highly implausible interpretation (although not impossible)

What errors are committed by the following definitions (assume a context in which they have been put forward as reportive definitions): restoration is the process or activity of restoring something to its former condition

circular

Determine wether the sentence is best interpreted as analytic synthetic or contradictory: My bicycle is an excellent condition once both wheels are straightened out the broken frame is welded the tires are patched the handlebar gets replaced and a seat is put on it

contradictory usually excellent condition means that a bicycle does not have any problems and that it does not require the kind of extensive repair work described in the second part of the sentence

Using the contextual clues proved, which of the nine functions listed in 2.3 is the most likely primary purpose for the following sentence: Retail clothing stores can increase sales by about 30% through advertising in local media (said by a teacher in a business class at a community college)

descriptive

Using the contextual clues proved, which of the nine functions listed in 2.3 is the most likely primary purpose for the following sentence: She loves him more than anyone she's ever known (said by a father about his daughter and her boyfriend)

descriptive

Using the contextual clues proved, which of the nine functions listed in 2.3 is the most likely primary purpose for the following sentence: Cloven Picard, stop, in the name of the law (said by a police officer to a fleeting suspect)

directive

Using the contextual clues proved, which of the nine functions listed in 2.3 is the most likely primary purpose for the following sentence: your essay must be at least 1,500 words and must include a full bibliography (said a professor to a class)

directive

Using the contextual clues proved, which of the nine functions listed in 2.3 is the most likely primary purpose for the following sentence: Pedestrians cross here (a sign at a cross walk)

directive note, however, that although it appears to be addressed to all pedestrians it is really a directive only for those pedestrians who want to cross the street

Using the contextual clues proved, which of the nine functions listed in 2.3 is the most likely primary purpose for the following sentence: I love you more than anyone else I've ever known (said by a young woman to a young man)

emotive

Using the contextual clues proved, which of the nine functions listed in 2.3 is the most likely primary purpose for the following sentence: Reading an old copy of a Dickens novel is like spending an afternoon in the attic of an old house: the feel of the old paper the look of the dated typeface and the musty smell all take you back to the days when even your grandparents were still children (from an article by a literacy critic entitled why reading literature is important)

emotive and evocative it is likely that the author has both purposes in mind

When you know enough to judge the truth of falsity of the premises, indicate if the argument is sound: Shaquille O'Neal is taller than Steve Nash. Steve Nash is taller than Tom Cruse. Therefore, Tom Cruse is shorter than Shaquille O'Neal.

logically strong

When you know enough to judge the truth of falsity of the premises, indicate if the argument is sound: Montreal is larger than Beaver Creek. Beaver Creek is larger than Vancouver. Therefore, Montreal is larger than Vancouver.

merely logically strong if you really thought Beaver Creek is larger than Vancouver you should've answered that it is a sound argument

What errors are committed by the following definitions (assume a context in which they have been put forward as reportive definitions): A tritone is the musical interval of an augumented fourth or a diminished fifth

obscure this definition would only be informative to someone who already has extensive knowledge of music theory

Determine wether the sentence is best interpreted as analytic synthetic or contradictory: a rose is a rose

on a literal interpretation this is an analytic statement however it would normally be used to mean something like you should not adopt romantic or highly speculative interpretation of ordinary things which is synthetic

Determine wether the sentence is best interpreted as analytic synthetic or contradictory: you cant fit a square peg into a round hole

on this usual interpretation of this cliche it is analytic according to the analytic interpretation fit is understood to mean that the peg sits snugly in the hole

Using the contextual clues proved, which of the nine functions listed in 2.3 is the most likely primary purpose for the following sentence: Cloven Pickard, you are under arrest and being charged for the murder or Oma sage (Said by a police officer to Cloven Pickard)

performative

Using the contextual clues proved, which of the nine functions listed in 2.3 is the most likely primary purpose for the following sentence: I now declare this building officially open (said by a politician when cutting the ribbon at the opening of a new school building)

performative

Using the contextual clues proved, which of the nine functions listed in 2.3 is the most likely primary purpose for the following sentence: If you want to succeed in life you need a good education (said by a father to his 17-year-old daughter who has just told him she wants to drop out of school)

persuasive

Using the contextual clues proved, which of the nine functions listed in 2.3 is the most likely primary purpose for the following sentence: You can increase your sales by 30% through advertising in local media (said by an advertising sales person from a local TV station when talking to the manager of a clothing store)

persuasive

Using the contextual clues proved, which of the nine functions listed in 2.3 is the most likely primary purpose for the following sentence: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers (said by a father to his four-year-old daughter)

recreational

Determine wether the sentence is necessary or sufficient: The results of a departmental vote are valid if and only if at least 25% of members are present at the meeting in which the vote took place

the condition is both necessary and sufficient the only if means that it is a necessary condition and the if means that it is also a sufficient condition

identify the kind of ambiguity in the sentence and state the different ways in which each sentence can be interpreted: the general loses battle with nurses (a newspaper headline)

the term General is referentially ambiguous it could refer to a local hospital, in which case the sentence means that the nurses won their strike with the hospital or it could refer to a specific military officer in which case the sentence means that the officer was beaten by the nurses in some kind of contest or struggle in a town that has a local hospital that is routinely called the general however it will usually be clear which interpretation is best

identify the kind of ambiguity in the sentence and state the different ways in which each sentence can be interpreted: Children need discipline to become responsible adults

the term discipline is referentially ambiguous it could refer simply to corporal punishment which is how some people use the term but it could also refer to self-discipline that is to a set of rules that children learn to develop for themselves the meaning of the sentence is quite different depending upon which reference we choose

Determine wether the sentence is best interpreted as sufficient or necessary: Any student who has not paid his or her tuition fee by the first day of the term or who has not made arrangements with the bursara's office for delayed payment will be automatically required to withdraw from the university

the two conditions stated are jointly sufficient conditions for being required to withdraw from the university if interpreted as a necessary condition for being required to withdraw the statement would mean that this is the only way of being required to withdraw which is false since one can be required to withdraw for other reasons such as failing too many courses

Is this passage an argument? Identify the premise and the conclusion: Peter took the first place in the mile run at the NCAA Division III championships last year and has been training hard ever since so he should win the championship easily this year

this is an argument P1: Peter won the mile run at the NCAA Division III championships last year P2: He has been training hard every since Conclusion: He should win the DIII mile run this year

Is this passage an argument? Identify the premise and the conclusion: you're crazy if you think you can take a full course load while working 20 hours a week and pass your semester you should remember wha happened to Van and Patti when they tried to do that last year

this is an argument although the premises and conclusion need to be rewritten to make it explicit what the argument implies P1: last year Van and Patti both took a full course load while working 20 hours a week P2: last year Van and Patti both failed their semesters C: if you take a full course load while working 20 hours a week you will fail your semester

identify the kind of ambiguity in the sentence and state the different ways in which each sentence can be interpreted: if you think it over you still decide to drop out of school I promise I won't say another word to you

this is grammatically ambiguous it is likely that the speaker is promising to drop this subject after the condition has been met that is if the person thinks over once again the plan to drop out of school however if we read the passage according to its literal meaning their is another claim on the surface: the speaker promises he or she will never speak to the person again if the condition is met in most contexts the principle of charity would require us to interpret the speaker as meaning... I wont say another word to you about dropping out of school

Is this passage an argument? Identify the premise and the conclusion: We drove to Pittsburgh to visit sally in the morning we spent the afternoon in Latrobe with Onno and his family and then stopped at betty's for dinner in Greensburg by the time we finally arrived in Philadelphia last night we were happy about visiting friends but tired from all of the driving

this is not an argument it is just a narrative description of a journey

identify the kind of ambiguity in the sentence and state the different ways in which each sentence can be interpreted: She arrived at the theater in a white limousine with a bright read hood

this sentence is grammatically ambiguous if with a bright read hood modifies limousine the sentence means that the limousine has a bright red hood but if with a bright red hood completes she arrived the sentence means that she was wearing a bright red hood

identify the kind of ambiguity in the sentence and state the different ways in which each sentence can be interpreted: tell me where she hit you

this sentence is referentially ambiguous the speaker could be asking about where on the persons body they were struck or the speaker could be asking about where the person was at the time they were struck

What errors are committed by the following definitions (assume a context in which they have been put forward as reportive definitions): A stapler is a device for fastening pages together

too broad since the defining phrase includes several other devices that are used to fasten pages together such as paper clips and binders it is also too narrow since the defining phrase excludes staplers that are designed for use in construction and for other industrial uses

What errors are committed by the following definitions (assume a context in which they have been put forward as reportive definitions): A snowplow is an implement designed to remove snow

too broad the defining phrase (implement designed to remove snow) includes other implements designed to remove snow such as snow shovels and snow blowers it is also circular which would make the definition unless for anyone who does not know what snow is

What errors are committed by the following definitions (assume a context in which they have been put forward as reportive definitions): The UN is an organization aimed at fostering co-operation and peace between nations

too broad since the defining phrase also refers to other internation organizations such as the European Community the Olympics NATO and the International Civil Aviation Organization

What errors are committed by the following definitions (assume a context in which they have been put forward as reportive definitions): A bungalow is a one-story building

too broad since the defining phrase includes other kinds of one-story buildings such as garages and shops

What errors are committed by the following definitions (assume a context in which they have been put forward as reportive definitions): A supreme court is the highest court in the US

too narrow the defining phrase (the highest court in the US) applies only to the supreme court of the US and excludes the Supreme Courts of other countries

What errors are committed by the following definitions (assume a context in which they have been put forward as reportive definitions): a nurse is a woman who is trained to look after the sick

too narrow because the defining phrase excludes male nurses it is also too broad because it includes other health care professionals such as doctors and chiropractors

Determine wether the sentence is necessary or sufficient: You cannot watch TV tonight until your homework is done and you have had a bath

two necessary conditions which are probably jointly sufficient both completing the homework and having a bath are necessary conditions for Sarah being allowed to watch TV presumably permission is automatically granted once these conditions are satisfied

Determine wether the sentence is necessary or sufficient: In the US only US citizens can be elected president

A necessary condition if interpreted as a sufficient condition it would mean that every US citizen could become president which is false since one must be US-born to become president

Determine wether the sentence is necessary or sufficient: No one can become a university professor theses days unless he or she has a PHD

A necessary condition if it were a sufficient condition it would mean that everyone with a PHD could become a university professor which isn't rue as there are other prerequisites to being a university professor (public speaking skills ect.)

Determine wether the sentence is necessary or sufficient: You have to have good physical coordination to be a good skier

A necessary condition since good physical coordination is necessary for becoming a good skier but it is not a sufficient condition or else anyone with good physical coordination who had never skied before would already be a good skier which is absurd

Determine wether the sentence is necessary or sufficient: for the business community to regain confidence in the economy interest rates must come down

A necessary condition since presumably if interest rates do not come down the confidence of the business community will not be restored it might also be sufficient condition if reducing interest rates is the only thing necessary to restore confidence in the economy but this would only make sense if it assumed that all the other factors necessary to restore confidence (such as stable international markets acceptable exchange rates reasonable taxes) are already present and unlikely to change

Determine wether the sentence is necessary or sufficient: Essays will be returned to the student without being graded if they are submitted without a proper bibliography

A sufficient condition since there are normally other defects that may lead to an essays being returned ungraded for example if it is illegible or submitted late

Is the italicized phrase necessary or sufficient: to bring down a fever apply a cloth dampened in cold water to the patient's face arms and legs

A sufficient condition since this is only one of several ways to bring down a fever if interpreted as a necessary condition it would mean that this is the only way of bringing down a fever which is false

Determine wether the sentence is best interpreted as analytic synthetic or contradictory: A yard is longer than a foot

Analytic since a foot is defined as 1/3 of a yard a foot is by definition shorter than a yard

Determine wether the sentence is best interpreted as analytic synthetic or contradictory: A full deck of playing cards contains 52 cards

Analytic. If you know what a full deck of cards is you know it must have 52 cards

identify the kind of ambiguity in the sentence and state the different ways in which each sentence can be interpreted: He's a chicken

Because chicken can be used metaphorically to characterize a cowardly person or literally to refer to a kind of bird this sentence is referentially ambiguous

Determine wether the sentence is best interpreted as analytic synthetic or contradictory: Im not saying that postal workers should not have the legal right to strike but the postal service is so vital to the economy and postal service is so vital to the economy and postal service is so vital to the economy and postal strikes cause so much personal inconvenience to so many people that I think the government should enact legislation banning strikes in the post office

Contradictory the first clause in the sentence is contradicted by the last clause

identify the kind of ambiguity in the sentence and state the different ways in which each sentence can be interpreted: conversational German is extremely difficult

If the term conversational German is being merely mentioned then it refers to a textbook or a course and the sentence means that it is a difficult book or course if the term is being used then the sentence means that it is difficult to learn how to speak conversational german

When you know enough to judge the truth of falsity of the premises, indicate if the argument is sound: Everybody loves a winner. The New York Yankees have won more games than any other baseball team since its inception. Therefore, everybody loves the Yankees.

Merely logically strong First while the second premise may be true of the New York Yankees in North American MLB it may well be that there is an amateur team somewhere or a professional team outside North America that has won more games in addition it is not true that everybody loves a winner: some people detest winners

When you know enough to judge the truth of falsity of the premises, indicate if the argument is sound: The HMS Pinafore is a faster vessel than the SS Minnow. The SS Minnow is faster than the Yellow Submarine. Therefore, the Yellow Submarine is the slowest of the three vessels.

Merely logically strong All of the ships names in the passage are fictional and its not possible to capture how fast or slow they are in relation to each other

When you know enough to judge the truth of falsity of the premises, indicate if the argument is sound: Dogs make excellent companions. Cerberus is a dog. Therefore, Cerberus is an excellent companion.

Merely logically strong Not all dogs are excellent companions and this claim seems to be implicit in the first premise

When you know enough to judge the truth of falsity of the premises, indicate if the argument is sound: A cat makes a good house pet. A tiger is a cat. Therefore, a tiger makes a good house pet.

Merely logically strong Since the context indicates that the word cat is being used in a very broad sense the first premise is obviously false

When you know enough to judge the truth of falsity of the premises, indicate if the argument is sound: No one under the age of 18 is legally an adult. Katherine is only 15 years old. Katherine is not legally an adult.

Merely logically strong. Even if you knew that the first premise is true, since you don't know who Katherine is, it would be incorrect to say that the argument is sound

Is this passage an argument? Identify the premise and the conclusion: I will be able to visit you next month after all the doctor just told me that a second operation wont be necessary and that ill be able to go home this Friday

Most likely its an argument. P1: the dr told me that a second operation wont be necessary P2: I will be able to go home this Friday Conclusion: I will be able to visit you next month However it is possible to interpret this passage in a way that it doesn't attempt to prove that the speaker can make it you would need context to know more

Determine wether the sentence is necessary or sufficient: You cannot get an A average unless you work hard throughout the whole term

Probably a necessary condition since working hard throughout the term is not the only thing most students have to do to get an A average if interpreted as a sufficient condition it means that working hard will always produce an A average this is an unlikely interpretation since even students who work hard throughout the whole term would probably not get an A if they failed to hand in their term assignments