Quiz 2 Critical Thinking

Certain key words signal that a reason is being offered in support of a conclusion.

True

An invalid deductive form that we commonly use in our thinking goes by the name modus ponens, or "affirming the antecedent."

False

Arguments are statements that support, justify, or make another statement (the conclusion) more probable as well as provide evidence for the conclusion.

False

In terms of arguments, truth and validity are considered the same concepts.

False

The two major types of argument forms are passive and dominant arguments.

False

34. A(n) __________ is a statement that asserts itself as true; it's the statement in an argument that you are trying to prove using reasons.

conclusion

33. A common form of a valid deductive argument is known as a(n) __________, which, in part, means offering several alternatives.

disjunctive syllogism

28. When an argument includes both true reasons and a valid structure, the argument is considered to be __________.

sound

30. An argument that has either false reasons or an invalid structure is said to be __________.

unsound

35. __________ is a thinking process you use to reason based on what you already know (or believe to be the case) in order to form new knowledge or beliefs.

Inferring

If a deductive argument proves to be invalid, then it is considered unsound and you don't have to evaluate whether the premises are true.

True

The concept of validity requires that we assume that all the reasons in the argument are true and then determine whether they prove the conclusion.

True

22. Consider the following argument: Premise: Either I left my credit card in my car or I have lost it. Premise: The credit card is not in the car. Conclusion: Therefore, I must have lost it. What form does this argument follow? a. Disjunctive syllogism b. Modus tollens c. Modus ponens d. Application of a general rule

a. Disjunctive syllogism

16. To construct effective arguments, you must evaluate both the structure of an argument (how the reasons/premises relate to the conclusion) and the truth of the reasons/premises. Which of the following is NOT one of the questions you should ask yourself when evaluating the truth of the reasons/premises? a. What evidence exists that this reason is commonly held by others? b. Does each reason make sense? c. What evidence is being offered as part of each reason? d. Is each reason based on a source that can be trusted?

a. What evidence exists that this reason is commonly held by others?

All of the following are reasons we construct arguments EXCEPT: a. to infer. b. to decide. c. to predict. d. to persuade.

a. to infer

26. A(n) __________ is a form of reasoning in which certain statements (reasons/premises) are offered in support of another statement (the conclusion).

argument

21. All of the following are examples of cue words signaling reasons EXCEPT: a. "because." b. "thereby showing." c. "as indicated by." d. "given that."

b. "thereby showing."

20. Consider the following argument: Premise: If a country is interested in nuclear disarmament, it would not develop or stockpile nuclear weapons. Premise: Iran is developing nuclear weapons. Conclusion: Therefore, Iran is not genuinely interested in nuclear disarmament. What form does this argument follow? a. Disjunctive syllogism b. Modus tollens c. Modus ponens d. Application of a general rule

b. Modus tollens

A form of reasoning in which certain statements (reasons/premises) are offered in support of another statement (the conclusion) is called a(n): a. decision. b. argument. c. judgment. d. reflection.

b. argument

In the art of discussing and debating ideas with others, effective discussion includes all the following EXCEPT: a. listening carefully to other points of view. b. supporting views with reasons and evidence. c. assuring that your point of view will be accepted as best. d. responding to the points being made.

c. assuring that your point of view will be accepted as best.

An argument form in which the conclusion is meant to follow necessarily from the premises is known a(n) __________ argument. a. inductive b. persuasive c. deductive d. contradictory

c. deductive

17. An argument in which the reasons do not support the conclusion so that the conclusion does not follow from the reasons being offered is called: a. inductive. b. deductive. c. invalid. d. inconclusive.

c. invalid.

24. In the chapter's Thinking Passage, Justine Sacco was a victim of: a. reverse racism. b. fraping. c. viral outrage. d. racial profiling.

c. viral outrage.

18. Consider the following argument: Premise: All dogs have hair. Premise: Clifford is a dog. Conclusion: Therefore, Clifford has hair. What form does this argument follow? a. Disjunctive syllogism b. Modus tollens c. Modus ponens d. Application of a general rule

d. Application of a general rule

27. An argument form in which the conclusion is meant to follow necessarily from the premises is known as a(n) __________.

deductive argument

29. An argument in which the reasons do not support the conclusion so that the reasons could be true but the conclusion could be false is known as a(n) __________.

invalid argument

32. The valid deductive form meaning "denying the consequent" is called __________.

modus tollens

An argument that includes a valid structure yet contains false reasons is considered to be a sound argument.

False

Reason: Anything that is a threat to our health should not be legal. Reason: Marijuana is a threat to our health. Conclusion: Therefore, marijuana should not be legal. This is an invalid argument because it assumes reasons to be true that are in fact not proven.

False

31. One of the valid deductive forms commonly used in our thinking that means "affirming the antecedent" is known as __________.

Modus Ponens

When you construct an argument, you are relating to the world by means of your ability to infer.

True

Deductive arguments aim at __________, whereas inductive arguments aim at __________. a. assumption reality b. certainty; probability c. reality; assumption d. probability; certainty

b. certainty; probability

25. Although learning to discuss ideas with others in an organized fashion is crucial for thinking critically, it is equally important to be able to present your ideas: a. through a premise. b. in written form. c. before other people present theirs. d. in cue words.

b. in written form.

19. An argument in which if the premises (reasons) are true, then the conclusion would have to be true as well is called: a. inductive. b. valid. c. disjunctive. d. conclusive.

b. valid