Practice Exam 1 - Chapter One, Two, Three and Four

INSTRUCTIONS: The following problems relate to identifying and evaluating inductive and deductive arguments. Select the best answer for each. Sixty percent of the members of the Theta Society drive American cars. Hence, since Kristy is a member of the Theta Society, it is likely that she drives an American car.

Inductive, strong.

INSTRUCTIONS: The following problems relate to identifying and evaluating inductive and deductive arguments. Select the best answer for each. The print at the bottom of this full box of Cheerios says NET WT 15 OZ. Therefore, the contents weigh 15 ounces.

Inductive, strong.

Diagram the following argument drawing from material from section 1.6 (1) Valerie Nelson's last three novels sold well over a million copies each. (2) She's now finished a new novel, and (3) it has gotten better reviews than the earlier ones. Hence, (4) her new novel should sell over a million copies, too.

1+2+3/->4

Diagram the following argument: (1) After taking LSD, Alice said she saw a flying saucer land in the shopping center parking lot. Since (2) Alice has a reputation for always telling the truth, (3) we must conclude that a flying saucer really did land there.

1+2/->3

Diagram the following argument using strategies from section 1.6 (1) Not all cancers are life-threatening. For example, (2) basal cell carcinoma, the most common of all skin cancers, can produce disfigurement, but (3) it almost never results in death.

2+3/->1

INSTRUCTIONS: The following problems relate to identifying and evaluating inductive and deductive arguments. Select the best answer for each. Graffiti written on the side of this wall says "Crips Rule." Thus, the mayor and city council must be members of the Crips.

Inductive, weak.

INSTRUCTIONS: Select the correct answer for the following multiple choice question. An argument that proceeds from our knowledge of an effect to a claim about the cause is:

An Inductive Argument.

INSTRUCTIONS: Distinguish between argument and non-argument. It it's an argument also identify the conclusion. The plane mirror is perhaps the oldest optical instrument known to man. It remains an important element in the modern arsenal of sophisticated optical devices. For example, the earth-moon laser-ranging experiments, initiated in 1969, rely on high-quality reflectors. Dentists are still using them today too.

Argument: Conclusion, "It remains an important element in the modern arsenal of sophisticated optical devices."

INSTRUCTIONS: The following problems relate to identifying and evaluating inductive and deductive arguments. Select the best answer for each. Right wing columnist and author Michelle Malkin says that the forced relocation of Japanese Americans to internment camps during World war II was really for their own protection. Therefore, we must drop that silly nonsense that this internment was a monstrous injustice and start thinking of it as a humanitarian endeavor.

Inductive, weak.

INSTRUCTIONS: The following problems relate to identifying inductive and deductive arguments only. Select the best answer for each. George is an egotist. Therefore, he has an inflated impression of his own importance.

Deductive

INSTRUCTIONS: The following problems relate to identifying and evaluating inductive and deductive arguments. Select the best answer for each. Amanda is taller than Jacqueline, and Jacqueline is shorter than Laura. Hence, it necessarily follows that Amanda is taller than Laura.

Deductive, invalid

INSTRUCTIONS: The following problems relate to identifying and evaluating inductive and deductive arguments. Select the best answer for each. No theocracies are true democracies. No secular governments are theocracies. Thus, some secular governments are true democracies.

Deductive, invalid

INSTRUCTIONS: The following problems relate to identifying and evaluating inductive and deductive arguments. Select the best answer for each. If stun guns are safe, then police officers will use them. Stun guns are not safe. Therefore, police officers will not use them.

Deductive, invalid.

INSTRUCTIONS: The following problems relate to identifying and evaluating inductive and deductive arguments. Select the best answer for each. Either Maurice Green or Justin Gatlin won an Olympic gold medal in 2004. Maurice Green did not win one in 2004. Thus, Justin Gatlin did.

Deductive, valid

INSTRUCTIONS: The following problems relate to identifying and evaluating inductive and deductive arguments. Select the best answer for each. Every dancer on the floor has a partner. Hence, there are an even number of dancers on the floor.

Deductive, valid

INSTRUCTIONS: The following problems relate to identifying and evaluating inductive and deductive arguments. Select the best answer for each. Jennifer's cat Pinky has been constantly scratching itself today. Apparently Pinky probably has fleas.

Inductive, strong.

INSTRUCTIONS: The following problems relate to identifying and evaluating inductive and deductive arguments. Select the best answer for each. Silvia is a middle-aged, dark haired Catholic woman who supports right-to-life issues. Shelly is also a middle-aged, dark haired Catholic woman. Therefore, she probably also supports right-to-life issues.

Inductive, strong.

INSTRUCTIONS: Select the correct answer for the following multiple choice questions. Which of the following are all conclusion indicators? It follows that, given that, inasmuch as. Consequently, thus, for the reason that. Hence, for this reason, consequently. Implies that, as indicated by, seeing that. Entails that, as, accordingly.

Hence, for this reason, consequently.

INSTRUCTIONS: The following problems relate to identifying inductive and deductive arguments only. Select the best answer for each. Valerie Nelson's last three novels sold well over a million copies each. She's now finished a new novel, and it has gotten better reviews than the earlier ones. Hence, her new novel should sell over a million copies, too.

Inductive

INSTRUCTIONS: The following problems relate to identifying and evaluating the strength of reasoning of inductive and deductive arguments. Select the best answer for each. On the inside surface of this gold ring some small print reads "14k." Therefore, the ring must be made of 14 caret gold.

Inductive, strong

INSTRUCTIONS: The following problems relate to identifying and evaluating inductive and deductive arguments. Select the best answer for each. Cancer is a deadly disease that has afflicted humans for thousands of years. Like us, the Romans would be no exception. Therefore, some of the ancient Romans must have died of cancer.

Inductive, strong.

INSTRUCTIONS: Is this passage an argument? Bear one thing in mind before you begin to write your paper. Famous literary works, especially works regarded as classics, have been thoroughly studied to the point where prevailing opinion on them has assumed the character of orthodoxy.

No

INSTRUCTIONS: Is this passage an argument? It is strongly recommended that you have your house inspected for termite damage.

No

INSTRUCTIONS: Distinguish the following passage as either a non-argument or an argument; and if it is an argument then identify the conclusion. The voting public is as full of bull as the politicians. We get the the kind of officeholders we ask for. Show me a politician who will stand up and tell Americans the truth, and I'll show you a person who will never be elected.

Nonarguement

INSTRUCTIONS: Distinguish the following passage as either a non-argument or an argument. If Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is correct in her assessment that "people who are well represented at trial do not get the death penalty," then the disparate skills of defense attorneys in capital cases throughout America guarantees that defendants who are legally innocent will continue to be executed and that manifest justice dictates that the death penalty be abolished.

Nonargument