Chapter 10

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

True

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?

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

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

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?

Application of a general rule

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

False

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?

Modus tollens

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:

in written form.

An argument in which if the premises (reasons) are true, then the conclusion would have to be true as well is called:

valid.

In the chapter's Thinking Passage, Justine Sacco was a victim of:

viral outrage.

All of the following are examples of cue words signaling reasons EXCEPT:

"thereby showing."

Deductive arguments aim at __________, whereas inductive arguments aim at ______

certainty; probability

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

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

argument

In the art of discussing and debating ideas with others, effective discussion includes all the following EXCEPT:

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

Certain key words that signal a reason is being offered in support of a conclusion or that a conclusion is being asserted are known as __________ words.

cue

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

deductive

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:

invalid

All of the following are reasons we construct arguments EXCEPT:

to infer.

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?

Disjunctive syllogism

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

False

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

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

True