Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

Modus ponens, or "affirming the antecedent," is a valid argument form in logic, not an invalid one. It follows the structure: If P, then Q. P is true, therefore Q is true.

Question 2

Certain key words, known as cue words, signal that a reason is being offered in support of a conclusion.

Accepted Answer

Cue words like "because", "since", "therefore", "thus", etc. indicate that a reason is being given to support a conclusion.

Question 3

The following are all examples of cue words signaling reasons except
A)because
B)thereby showing
C)as indicated by
D)given that

Accepted Answer

"because," "given that," and "as indicated by" all signal reasons. "Thereby showing" is a cue word that signals a result, not a reason.

Question 4

We use a number of basic argument forms to organize, relate to, and make sense of the world.The two major types of argument forms are passive and dominant arguments.

Accepted Answer

There are many types of argument forms and there is no such thing as "passive" and "dominant" arguments. This statement is false.

Question 5

In constructing an argument, you must be skilled in evaluating its
A)effectiveness.
B)source.
C)structure.
D)original value.

Accepted Answer

When constructing an argument, it is important to evaluate its effectiveness in communicating the intended message and persuading the intended audience. This involves assessing the strength of the evidence presented, the logic of the reasoning used, and the overall organization and clarity of the argument. The other options - source, structure, and original value - are also important considerations, but they are more specific to certain types of arguments or contexts.

Question 6

All of the following are reasons to construct an argument except
A)inferring.
B)deciding.
C)predicting.
D)persuading.

Accepted Answer

Inferring is not a reason to construct an argument; it is a process of reaching a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning, rather than a purpose for arguing.

Question 7

A statement that explains, asserts, or predicts on the basis of statements (known as reasons) that are offered as evidence for it is called
A)an explanation.
B)a conclusion.
C)an argument.
D)an inference.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A statement that explains, asserts, or predicts...

Question 8

Consider the following argument: Either I left my credit card in my car or I have lost it.The credit card is not in the car; therefore, I must have lost it.What form does this argument follow?
A)Disjunctive syllogism
B)Modus tollens
C)Modus ponens
D)General rule

Accepted Answer

This argument follows the form of disjunctive syllogism, where two alternatives are presented and one is eliminated to arrive at the conclusion.

Question 9

A common form of a valid deductive argument is known as a disjunctive syllogism.The term disjunctive means presenting several alternatives.

Accepted Answer

This is true. In a disjunctive syllogism, there are two or more alternatives presented, and the argument concludes which alternative is correct by eliminating the others.

Question 10

In evaluating an argument, the first aspect you must evaluate is the truth of the reasons being used to support the conclusion.All of the following are questions you should ask yourself except
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?

Accepted Answer

The question "What evidence exists that this reason is commonly held by others?" is not directly relevant to evaluating the truth of the reasons being used to support the conclusion. The other three questions are all important to consider when evaluating the argument.

Question 11

Consider the following argument: All dogs have hair; you have hair; therefore you must be a dog. What form does this argument follow?
A)Invalid syllogism
B)Modus tollens
C)Modus ponens
D)General rule

Accepted Answer

This argument is an invalid syllogism because it assumes that having hair is a sufficient and necessary condition for being a dog. However, there are many other creatures (humans, cats, horses, etc.) that also have hair, so the argument does not hold up logically.

Question 12

A form of thinking in which certain statements (reasons) are offered in support of another statement (a conclusion) is called
A)reasoning.
B)argument.
C)judgment.
D)reflection.

Accepted Answer

A form of thinking in which certain statements (reasons) are offered in support of another statement (a conclusion) is called an argument.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

The argument is considered invalid not because it assumes reasons to be true that are not proven, but because it is a valid form of argument known as modus ponens, where if the premises are true, the conclusion logically follows. The issue lies in the truth of the premises, not the logical structure.

Question 14

The purpose of mastering the forms of arguments is to become a sophisticated critical thinker who can present her/his ideas to others effectively.Effective discussion and debate include 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 points being made.

Accepted Answer

Assuring that your point of view will be accepted as best is not a characteristic of effective discussion and debate. Rather, the goal is to explore different perspectives and arrive at a mutual understanding or resolution.

Question 15

Certain key words, known as________- , signal that a reason is being offered in support of a conclusion or that a conclusion is being announced on the basis of certain reasons.
A)adjectives
B)reasoning words
C)predictive terms
D)cue words

Accepted Answer

Cue words are words or phrases that signal the relationship between the reasons and the conclusion in an argument. They are used to indicate whether a statement is evidence to support a conclusion or a conclusion drawn from evidence. Examples of cue words include "because", "therefore", "since", "thus", "in conclusion", etc.

Question 16

Consider the following argument: If a county is interested in nuclear disarmament, it would not develop or stockpile nuclear weapons.Iran is developing nuclear weapons; 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)General rule

Accepted Answer

The argument follows the modus tollens form, which is: If P, then Q. Not Q, therefore not P. In this case, P is "interested in nuclear disarmament" and Q is "develop or stockpile nuclear weapons." The argument states that if a country is truly interested in nuclear disarmament, it will not develop or stockpile nuclear weapons. Since Iran is developing nuclear weapons, the argument concludes that Iran is not genuinely interested in nuclear disarmament.

Question 17

An argument in which the reasons do not support the conclusion so that the conclusion does not follow from the reasons offered is called
A)inductive.
B)deductive.
C)invalid.
D)inconclusive.

Accepted Answer

An argument that does not have support for the conclusion is invalid, as it does not follow logically from the reasons presented. A deductive argument can still be invalid if its premises are not true or do not provide adequate support for the conclusion. An inductive argument may not necessarily have a conclusion that follows with certainty, but it can still provide strong evidence for its conclusion. An inconclusive argument may lack enough information or evidence to support a clear conclusion, but it is not necessarily invalid.

Question 18

An argument in which the reasons support the conclusion so that the conclusion follows from the reasons offered is called
A)inductive
B)valid
C)disjunctive
D)conclusive

Accepted Answer

A valid argument is one in which the conclusion logically follows from the reasons given (i.e. the premises). Therefore, the reasons support the conclusion, and the argument is strong and reliable.

Question 19

Although learning to discuss ideas with others in an organized, productive fashion is essential for critical thinking, 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

Accepted Answer

Being able to present your ideas in written form allows for clear and concise communication that can be reviewed and analyzed by others. This is important in various professional and academic settings where written communication is required.

Question 20

An argument form in which one reasons from the premises that are known or assumed to be true to a conclusion that follows necessarily from these premises is known as what type of argument?
A)Inductive
B)Persuasive
C)Deductive
D)Contradictory

Accepted Answer

The definition given in the question matches with deductive reasoning, which is a logical process that goes from general to specific. The premises are assumed to be true, and the conclusion follows necessarily from them. Inductive reasoning, on the other hand, goes from specific to general and is based on probability rather than certainty. Persuasive arguments are designed to influence the beliefs or actions of others, while contradictory arguments are those that contradict each other and cannot both be true at the same time.

Quiz 10: Constructing Arguments

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

Certain key words, known as cue words, signal that a reason is being offered in support of a conclusion.

The following are all examples of cue words signaling reasons except

We use a number of basic argument forms to organize, relate to, and make sense of the world.The two major types of argument forms are passive and dominant arguments.

In constructing an argument, you must be skilled in evaluating its

All of the following are reasons to construct an argument except

A statement that explains, asserts, or predicts on the basis of statements (known as reasons) that are offered as evidence for it is called

Consider the following argument: Either I left my credit card in my car or I have lost it.The credit card is not in the car; therefore, I must have lost it.What form does this argument follow?

A common form of a valid deductive argument is known as a disjunctive syllogism.The term disjunctive means presenting several alternatives.

In evaluating an argument, the first aspect you must evaluate is the truth of the reasons being used to support the conclusion.All of the following are questions you should ask yourself except

Consider the following argument: All dogs have hair; you have hair; therefore you must be a dog. What form does this argument follow?

A form of thinking in which certain statements (reasons) are offered in support of another statement (a conclusion) is called

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

The purpose of mastering the forms of arguments is to become a sophisticated critical thinker who can present her/his ideas to others effectively.Effective discussion and debate include all the following except

Certain key words, known as________- , signal that a reason is being offered in support of a conclusion or that a conclusion is being announced on the basis of certain reasons.

Consider the following argument: If a county is interested in nuclear disarmament, it would not develop or stockpile nuclear weapons.Iran is developing nuclear weapons; therefore, Iran is not genuinely interested in nuclear disarmament.What form does this argument follow?

An argument in which the reasons do not support the conclusion so that the conclusion does not follow from the reasons offered is called

An argument in which the reasons support the conclusion so that the conclusion follows from the reasons offered is called

Although learning to discuss ideas with others in an organized, productive fashion is essential for critical thinking, it is equally important to be able to present your ideas_____________ .

An argument form in which one reasons from the premises that are known or assumed to be true to a conclusion that follows necessarily from these premises is known as what type of argument?