Deck 2: Arguments Good, Bad, and Weird

Question 1

Which of the following lines makes a valid argument from this statement?
"If Joe is a bachelor, then Joe is a male."

A) Joe is a male, therefore Joe is a bachelor.
B) Joe is not a male, therefore Joe is not a bachelor.
C) Joe is not a bachelor; therefore Joe is not a male.

Answer 1

Joe is not a male, therefore Joe is not a bachelor.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a common fallacy?

A) Strawman fallacy
B) Appeal to authority
C) Begging the question
D) Appeal to reason

Answer 2

Appeal to reason

Question 3

The conclusion of a cogent inductive argument must be

A) true.
B) false.
C) probable.
D) improbable.

Answer 3

probable.

Question 4

This argument form:
If p then q
Q
Therefore, p
Is an example of

A) denying the consequent.
B) disjunctive syllogism.
C) affirming the consequent.
D) denying the antecedent.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a fallacy with irrelevant premises?

A) Equivocation
B) Composition
C) Slippery slope
D) Division
E) Straw Man

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a fallacy with insufficient premises?

A) Genetic fallacy
B) Hasty generalization
C) Faulty analogy
D) False cause
E) Slippery slope

Question 7

Which is not a common conclusion indicator word or phrase?

A) it follows that
B) consequently
C) the reason being
D) thus

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT an example of an inductive argument?

A) Enumerative
B) Analogical
C) Hypothetical syllogism
D) Abduction

Question 9

An argument is fallacious if it contains

A) insufficient premises.
B) unacceptable premises.
C) irrelevant premises.
D) any of the above.

Question 10

______________ occurs when a word is used in two different senses in an argument.

A) Division
B) Straw Man
C) Equivocation
D) False dilemma

Question 11

Misrepresenting a claim to make it easier to reject is called

A) Begging the question.
B) False dilemma.
C) Equivocation.
D) Straw Man.

Question 12

If you have SARS, then you will experience shortness of breath. You are experiencing shortness of breath. Therefore, you must have SARS.
This argument form is

A) invalid.
B) modus ponens.
C) modus tollens.
D) hypothetical syllogism.

Question 13

If it rains, then the golf course will be closed. It is raining. Therefore, the golf course will be closed.
This argument form is

A) invalid.
B) modus ponens.
C) modus tollens.
D) hypothetical syllogism.

Question 14

Either John is lost or his girlfriend is wrong. John is not lost. Therefore, his girlfriend is wrong.
This argument form is

A) invalid.
B) modus ponens.
C) modus tollens.
D) disjunctive syllogism.

Question 15

Vancouver is located on the Pacific coast of North America, it is near the 49^th parallel, and it is cold in January. Seattle is located on the Pacific coast of North America, and it is near the 49^th parallel. Therefore, Seattle is cold in January.
This argument form is

A) invalid.
B) modus ponens.
C) modus tollens.
D) analogical induction.

Question 16

If it is a novel, then it will have words in it. This book does not have any words in it. Therefore, it is not a novel.
This argument form is

A) invalid.
B) modus ponens.
C) modus tollens.
D) hypothetical syllogism.

Question 17

In a conditional statement of the form ("If p, then q"), the p is called the

A) consequent.
B) antecedent.
C) primary clause.
D) pre-clause.
E) none of these

Question 18

A strong inductive argument that contains only true premises.

A) cogent
B) uncogent
C) sound
D) unsound
E) none of these

Question 19

An inductive argument that would establish its conclusion with a high degree of probability if its premises were true.

A) strong
B) weak
C) valid
D) invalid
E) none of these

Question 20

A deductive argument in which the conclusion logically follows from its premises.

A) strong
B) weak
C) valid
D) invalid
E) none of these

Question 21

There must be some truth to horoscopes since astrology has been around for over two thousand years.

A) appeal to ignorance
B) slippery slope
C) appeal to fear
D) faulty analogy
E) appeal to tradition

Question 22

Jimmy told me that he put a million dollars in the bank. Therefore, if we start digging on the side of the river, were bound to find it.

A) appeal to ignorance
B) appeal to fear
C) equivocation
D) faulty analogy
E) appeal to tradition

Question 23

Bigfoot exists because no one has ever been able to prove that he doesn't exist.

A) appeal to ignorance
B) appeal to fear
C) equivocation
D) faulty analogy
E) appeal to tradition

Question 24

James told me that smoking is bad for my health, but nothing he says can be true since he's a homeless bum.

A) faulty analogy
B) appeal to tradition
C) begging the question
D) appeal to the masses
E) genetic fallacy

Question 25

God exists because it is written in the Bible. The Bible is true because it is the word of God.

A) faulty analogy
B) appeal to tradition
C) begging the question
D) appeal to the masses
E) genetic fallacy

Question 26

Ancient Mesopotamian cultures believed in the existence of human souls. Since this belief is thousands of years old, it follows that humans must have souls.

A) appeal to ignorance
B) appeal to fear
C) equivocation
D) faulty analogy
E) appeal to tradition

Question 27

Nearly 80% of the world believes that Satan is responsible for all human suffering. Therefore, it stands to reason that Satan is the cause our suffering.

A) faulty analogy
B) appeal to tradition
C) begging the question
D) appeal to the masses
E) genetic fallacy

Question 28

Nick drives a white foreign car that gets good gas mileage. Mary drives a white foreign car as well. Mary's car must get good mileage, too.

A) faulty analogy
B) appeal to tradition
C) begging the question
D) appeal to the masses
E) genetic fallacy

Question 29

A group of statements that attempt to establish a claim is

A) a paragraph.
B) an argument.
C) a command.
D) a conclusion.

Question 30

An argument with an unstated premise or conclusion is

A) an implication.
B) an inference.
C) an enthymeme.
D) an assumption.

Question 31

The principle of charity says

A) take from the rich and give to the poor.
B) always give people a second chance.
C) choose the interpretation that makes the most sense from a logical point of view.
D) choose the interpretation that makes produces the most wealth.

Question 32

"If you grew up in the city, you must like rap music. You like rap music. So you must have grown up in the city."
This argument form is

A) affirming the antecedent.
B) affirming the consequent.
C) denying the antecedent.
D) denying the consequent.
E) none of the above.

Question 33

"If you studied hard, you would have received a passing grade. You didn't study hard. So you must not have received a passing grade."
This argument form is

A) affirming the antecedent.
B) affirming the consequent.
C) denying the antecedent.
D) denying the consequent.

Question 34

What is a valid deductive argument? A sound deductive argument?

Question 35

What is a strong inductive argument? A cogent inductive argument?

Question 36

What is the logical form of affirming the antecedent ( modus ponens)?

Question 37

What is the logical form of denying the consequent ( modus tollens)?

Question 38

What is analogical induction?

Question 39

What is the logical form of inference to the best explanation?

Question 40

What is the argument form known as modus ponens? modus tollens?

Question 41

How is the counterexample method used to check for validity?

Question 42

In enumerative induction, what is the target group? the sample? the relevant property?

Question 43

What is the fallacy of false dilemma? appeal to ignorance? straw man?

Question 44

A deductive argument in which the conclusion logically follows from the premises is said to be cogent.

Question 45

An inductive argument whose premises, if true, would make the conclusion probable is said to be strong.

Question 46

In an inductive argument is cogent, its premises are true.

Question 47

An inductive argument is sound if its premises are true.

Question 48

Common premise indicator words include: thus, hence, therefore, and consequently.

Question 49

A deductive argument is said to be valid if it's impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false.

Question 50

Denying the consequent is a valid deductive argument form.

Question 51

Affirming the consequent is a valid deductive argument form.

Question 52

Premises are relevant if they have no bearing on the truth of the conclusion.

Question 53

A fallacious argument fails to provide a good reason for accepting a claim.

Question 54

The conclusion of strong inductive argument cannot possibly be false.