Deck 8: Reasoning

Question 1

Which of the following is a characteristic of mathematical or scientific proof?

A) The support involves values and judgments.
B) A claim cannot be proven; it can only be supported.
C) The claims can often be proved with certainty.
D) A claim can only be used by scientific experts.

Answer 1

The claims can often be proved with certainty.

Question 2

Rhetorical proof consists of __________.

A) a claim, credibility, and common ground
B) reasons, rhetoric, and shared values
C) common values, beliefs, and judgments
D) supporting material, reasoning, and a claim

Answer 2

supporting material, reasoning, and a claim

Question 3

Rhetorical proof is established by __________.

A) the interaction between the speaker's and audience's reasoning
B) the audience's critical listening
C) the speaker's use of claims
D) effective supporting material.

Answer 3

the interaction between the speaker's and audience's reasoning

Question 4

Sarah reasoned that (1) she had earned A's in three previous English classes, and (2) past success predicts future success, so (3) she will likely get an A in her current English class. In this example of rhetorical proof, statement (1) is the __________.

A) supporting material
B) proof
C) attention getter
D) reasoning

Question 5

If a case is inferred to be typical and there is nothing unusual about it, the case is referred to as a(n) __________.

A) extended example
B) false example
C) aggregate example
D) representative example

Question 6

During his speech, Karl claimed that the elderly are bad drivers. He supported this claim by pointing out that his 75-year-old grandfather has had three accidents this year, an old lady was driving 10 mph under the speed limit the other day, and a 68-year-old woman ran into a building at the mall after having a stroke. Karl is using reasoning by __________.

A) example
B) sign
C) analogy
D) narrative

Question 7

Jesse argues in his speech that drug use really is not a problem among teens because hardly anyone he knows has even tried drugs. Jesse uses his friends as examples, but this reasoning by example fails because the examples are __________.

A) not representative
B) analogous
C) hypothetical
D) false

Question 8

Statistics are a type of example known as __________ examples.

A) individual
B) aggregate
C) hypothetical
D) brief

Question 9

Reasoning by comparing people, places, things, and events that are familiar to the audience to those that are unfamiliar to them is reasoning by __________.

A) analogy
B) cause
C) example
D) testimony

Question 10

What are the two types of analogy?

A) division and composition
B) metaphor and simile
C) literary and oral
D) literal and figurative

Question 11

In a speech advocating gun control, Yuki argues that the United States would have fewer gun deaths if it made guns illegal because Japan has few gun deaths and guns are illegal there. What type of reasoning is Yuki using?

A) example
B) analogy
C) testimony
D) cause

Question 12

Which of the following is least helpful when incorporating analogies into your speech?

A) using analogies sparingly
B) analyzing the two things you are comparing
C) using analogies sensitively
D) using analogies frequently

Question 13

Jimmy argues that the fact that major-league athletes are bigger, stronger, and faster than they were 20 years ago is an indicator that steroid use among these athletes has increased. What type of reasoning is this?

A) analogy
B) testimony
C) sign
D) narrative

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of reasoning by sign?

A) Gathering clouds and increased winds indicate that a storm is approaching.
B) A Surgeon General's warning indicates that smoking is harmful to your health.
C) Three straight playoff losses indicate that a team is unsuccessful in the postseason.
D) Inspiring stories of Michael Jordan, Bill Clinton, and Ross Perot indicate that even a person with a modest upbringing can be successful in America.

Question 15

Reasoning by sign proceeds by __________.

A) using specific instances to infer a general conclusion
B) showing that when one thing stands for another, one can infer the existence of what it stands for
C) inferring that facts or opinions from a reliable source are accurate and trustworthy
D) using a powerful story to lead the audience to the conclusion one wants to support

Question 16

When Jerry argued that the rise in teen pregnancy over the past twenty years is a direct result of sex education in the primary schools, he was using what type of causal reasoning?

A) assignment of responsibility
B) explanation
C) common cause
D) steps to a goal

Question 17

Reasoning by cause proceeds by __________.

A) using specific instances to infer a general conclusion
B) showing how one thing influences or brings about another
C) inferring that facts or opinions from a reliable source are accurate and trustworthy
D) using a powerful story to lead the audience to the conclusion one wants to support

Question 18

Charlton argued that if guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. What kind of reasoning is this?

A) example
B) cause
C) analogy
D) narrative

Question 19

What is lay testimony?

A) factual testimony that can be verified
B) another name for opinion testimony
C) expert testimony that has been paraphrased
D) testimony from someone who is not an expert

Question 20

Shaleen wanted to show that subtle racism exists on her campus, so she interviewed a number of students about incidents of discrimination they had experienced. She shared their remarks with her classmates during her speech. What was Shaleen using in support of her claim?

A) analogies
B) signs
C) lay testimony
D) expert testimony

Question 21

Which of the following qualities is essential when reasoning by narrative?

A) resonance, plausibility, coherence
B) consistency, fidelity, truthfulness
C) personal, coherent, organized
D) credibility, plausibility, paraphrased

Question 22

Because a narrative works like an extended example, what should be used to test its inference?

A) plot
B) representativeness
C) explicitness of the moral
D) personalization

Question 23

Jeremy's speech included the following statement: "Abstinence is the only way to have safe sex because by not having sex you are safe." Which error in reasoning did Jeremy commit?

A) non sequitur
B) post hoc reasoning
C) circular argument
D) ignoring the question

Question 24

Which of the following is the fallacy committed when the claim and the supporting material are unrelated to each other?

A) non sequitur
B) post hoc reasoning
C) circular argument
D) ignoring the question

Question 25

What should you do if the audience provides negative feedback on your inferences during the speech?

A) Move quickly to the next point.
B) Modify your speech as you are delivering it to support the inferences.
C) Make a mental note of it and strengthen that point in future speeches.
D) Remove the controversial point from your conclusion.

Question 26

Rhetorical proof establishes the truth of a speaker's claims by appealing to listeners' beliefs.

Question 27

The audience is the factor that determines how the speaker will support his or her claims.

Question 28

Whenever examples are used in an argument, the speaker is using reasoning by example.

Question 29

If your listeners can identify a noticeable difference between the people, objects, or events you are comparing, you cannot use reasoning by analogy.

Question 30

As you enter class, you see all of your classmates frantically studying their notes; from this you infer that there must be a quiz that you had forgotten about. This inference is reasoning by sign.

Question 31

When the speaker assumes that one thing causes an event, but in fact another factor really caused the event, the speaker is committing a common cause fallacy.

Question 32

Sign reasoning is usually effective because most signs are infallible.

Question 33

Because quoted testimony is stronger than paraphrased testimony, one should always use accurate quotes rather than paraphrased material.

Question 34

Narratives can be effective because they have a powerful dramatic structure.

Question 35

Whenever a listener disagrees with a speaker's reasoning, the speaker has committed a fallacy.

Question 36

In a rhetorical proof, the __________ is the statement that you want the audience to accept; it is what you are trying to prove.

Question 37

Rhetorical proof does not guarantee that claims are true but establishes that claims are __________ and should be taken seriously by critical listeners.

Question 38

If examples are not __________, then one cannot confidently infer that what is true of them is true in general.

Question 39

A __________ analogy is a direct comparison of objects, people, or events.

Question 40

The singing of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch of every Cubs game is a(n) __________.

Question 41

When you argue that two things are related because one thing influenced or brought about the other, you are using reasoning by __________.

Question 42

When you rely on the information or opinions of others to support your claims, you are using reasoning by __________.

Question 43

When using narrative reasoning, a speaker must ensure that the audience finds the narrative __________, meaning that it must be realistic and believable.

Question 44

__________ is a quality that makes a narrative strike a responsive chord with listeners, allowing them to identify with the story and to relate it to their own experiences.

Question 45

When preparing a speech, ask yourself why __________ should regard the supporting material as grounds for your claim.

Question 46

What is a unit of proof? What are its three components, and how are they related to each other? What are the five aspects of rhetorical proof?

Question 47

What are the different types of examples? Describe how each might be used appropriately.

Question 48

What is reasoning by analogy? What are the two types of analogies? Give examples of each and show how those examples reflect the type of inference made when using analogies.

Question 49

What are the strategies and tests of reasoning by narrative? Provide an example of a strong and weak narrative.

Question 50

Identify and define the six general fallacies. Discuss how the presence of fallacies affects the overall quality of a speech.