Logical Reasoning

The city council ought to ease restrictions on outdoor advertising because the city's economy is currently in a slump. Furthermore, the city should not place restrictions on forms of speech such as advertising. Identify, Premise, Conclusion and additional premise indicators.

P: "...Because the city's economy is currently in a slump." C: "The city council ought to ease restrictions advertising." Premise Indicator: "because" additional premise: "furthermore"

The political situation in Somalia is unstable owing to the ability of individual warlords to maintain powerful armed forces. Identify Premise(s), Conclusion, and Premise Indicator.

P: "...owing to the ability of individual warlords to maintain powerful armed forces." C: "The political situation in Somalia is unstable." Premise indicator: "owing to"

In the last three months, I have received four tickets for speeding, and as a result my automobile insurance rates have been increased. While I admittedly often disregard the speed limit, I have been in no accidents, and do not deserve a rate increase. Idenify the premise(s), conclusion, and counter-premise indicator.

P: "In the last three months, I have received tickets for speeding. Counter-Premise indicator: "...admittedly often disregard the speed limit." Conclusion: "...do not deserve a rate increase.

Since we need to have many different interests to sustain us, the scientists' belief must be incorrect. Identify Premise(s), Conclusion, and Premise Indicator.

P: "Since we need to have many different interests to sustain us," C: "the scientists' belief must be incorrect."

Television has harmful effect on society. This can be seen from the poor school performance of children who watch significant amounts of television and from the fact that children who watch more than six hours of television a day tend to read less than non-television watching children. Identify Premise(s), Conclusion, and Premise Indicator.

P: "This can be seen from the poor school performance of children who watch significant amounts of television..." P: "...and from the fact that children who watch more than six hours of television a day tend to read less than non-television watching children." C: "Television has a harmful effect on society." Premise indicator: "This can be seen from"

During last night's robbery, the thief was unable to open the safe. Thus, last night's robbery was unsuccessful despite the fact that the their stole several documents. After all, nothing in those documents was as valuable as the money in the safe. Identify the conclusion, the premise(s), and any additional premises or counter-premises.

Premise: "During last night's robbery, the thief was unable to open the safe." Counter-premise: "despite the fact that the their stole several documents." Additional Premise: "After all, nothing in those documents was as valuable as the money in the safe." Conclusion: "Thus, last night's robbery was unsuccessful."

Wine is made by crushing grapes and eventually separating the juice from the grape skins. However, the separated juice contains impurities and many wineries do not filter the juice. These wineries claim the unfiltered juice ultimately produces a more flavorful and intense wine. Since these wine makers are experts, we should trust their judgment and not shy away form unfiltered wine. Identify the conclusion, the premise(s), and any additional premises or counter-premises.

Premise: "Wine is made by crushing grapes and eventually separating the juice from the grape skins." Counter-premise: "However, the separated juice contains impurities and many wineries do not filter the juice." Premise: "These wineries claim the unfiltered juice ultimately produces a more flavorful and intense wine." Premise: "Since these wine makers are experts," Conclusion: "we should trust their judgement and not shy away from unfiltered wine."

Phenyleketonurics are people who cannot metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine. There are dangers associated with phenylketonuria, and products containing phenylalanine must carry a warning label that states, "Phenyleketonurics: contains phenylalanine." In addition, all children in developed societies receive a phenylekeonuria test at birth. Hence, at the moment, we are doing as much as possible to protect against this condition. Identify the conclusion, the premise(s), and any additional premises or counter-premises.

Premise: Phenyleketonurics are people who cannot metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine. Premise: There are dangers associated with phenylketonuria, and products containing phenylalanine must carry a warning label that states, "Phenyleketonurics: contains phenylalanine." Additional Premise: In addition, all children in developed societies receive a phenylekeonuria test at birth. Conclusion: Hence, at the moment, we are doing as much as possible to protect against this condition.

Identify the Question Stem: Which one of the following is an assumption required by the argument above?

Question Type: Assumption The key word in this stem are "required" and "assumption," making this an Assumption question. You must be careful when you see the word "assumption" because that word can also be used in Justify the Conclusion questions.

Identify the Question Stem: Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the astronomer's statement?

Question Type: Must Be True The word "inferred" means "must be true," hence that is the classification of this question.

Identify the Question Stem: Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the viewpoint of the scientists discussed above?

Question Type: Resolve the Paradox The presence of the phrase "Which one of the following, if true," indicates that this question stem must be from either the second or third question family. Because the third family is Weaken, and the question stem asks you to "explain," the question cannot be from the third family. Thus, the question must be from the second family and can only be an Assumption, Justify, Strengthen, or Resolve question. The idea of explaining is most closely aligned with Resloving the Paradox.

Identify the Question Stem: Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the reasoning above?

Question Type: Weaken The presence of the phrase "Which one of the following, if true," indicates that this question stem must be from either the second or third question family. The presence of the word "weakens" indicates that this is a Weaken question.

Every endeavour that increases one's self-awareness is an endeavor worth trying. Therefore, even though some ventures are dangerous and even life-threatening, any person would be well-served to undertake any endeavor presented to them, no matter how dangerous. After all, it is only through increasing self-awareness that one can discover the value and richness of life. Summarize what you have read, identify the conclusion(s) and supporting premise(s), if any.

Summary: Because doing things makes you more self-aware, they are worth trying. This means you should do anything you are offered, even if it's dangerous. That's because being more self-aware helps you discover the value of life. Conclusion: Any person would be well-served to undertake any endeavor presented to them, no matter how dangerous. Premise: Every endeavor that increases one's self-awareness is an endeavor worth trying. Premise: Even though some ventures are dangerous and even life-threatening. Premise: After all, it is only through increasing self-awareness that one can discover the value and richness of life. The argument is weak. Although the premise indicates that every endeavor that increases one's self-awarness is worth trying, the conclusion goes too far in saying any person should undertake any endeavor might increase self-awareness. The las sentence serves as an additional premise that does not affect the reasoning in the prior sentences.

Hog farming is known to produce dangerous toxic runoff, which enters the surrounding ecosystem and contaminates the environment. Despite this, however, hog farming practices should not be more closely regulated because research has shown there is no better method for dispersing effluent from hog farms Summarize what you have read, identify the conclusion(s) and supporting premise(s), if any.

Summary: Hog farming has toxic runoff which contaminates the surrounding environment. but don't regulate it more closely because there's no better way to handle that runoff. Conclusion: Despite this, however, hog farming practices should not be more closely regulated. Premise: Hog farming is known to produce dangerous toxic runoff, which enters the surrounding ecosystem and contaminates the environment. Premise: Research has shown there is not better method for dispersing effluent from hog farms. The argument is weak. Just because there is not a better method of dispersing effluent does not mean there should not be more regulations. Considering current regulations, it may be the case that closer monitoring or further regulation is required in order to provide sufficient oversight.

While it was once believed that the health of the human body was dependent on a balance between four substances, or "humours," the advent of medical research in the nineteenth century led to the understanding that this view was both simplistic and inaccurate. Thereafter, physicians - especially those in Europe, such as Edward Jenner - began formulating theories of treatment that are now the foundation of modern medicine. Summarize what you have read, identify the conclusion(s) and supporting premise(s), if any.

Summary: People used yo believe in four humors but research in the 1800s changed those simple views. Afterwards, European doctors such as Jenner came up with treatment that lead to modern medicine. Premise: "While it was once believed that the health of the human body was dependent on a balance between four substances, or "humours," the advent of medical research in the nineteenth century led to the understanding that this view was both simplistic and inaccurate." Premise: "Thereafter, physicians - especially those in Europe, such as Edward Jenner - began formulating theories of treatment that are now the foundation of modern medicine." No conclusion.