Deck 3: Analyzing Arguments

Question 1

Choose the correct diagram for each of the following arguments.

-1. A chemistry course should be the most challenging course you take in college. This is because 2. chemistry courses require extensive lab work, and 3. extensive lab work makes a course challenging. Besides, 4. science is just hard to understand.

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Answer 1

Question 2

Diagram each of the following arguments.

-There are several good reasons to support private ownership of firearms. First, gun ownership reduces crime. This is because criminals are less likely to attack someone they believe may be armed. Second, owning a weapon makes a person feel safer, even if he or she never needs to use it, and feeling safe helps people lead happier, healthier lives. Finally, the right to own firearms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. As a result, gun ownership should be defended.

Answer 2

1. There are several good reasons to support private ownership of firearms. First, 2. gun ownership reduces crime. This is because 3. criminals are less likely to attack someone they believe may be armed. Second, 4. owning a weapon makes a person feel safer, even if he or she never needs to use it, and 5. feeling safe helps people lead happier, healthier lives. Finally, 6. the right to own firearms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. As a result, 7. gun ownership should be defended.

Question 3

Choose the correct diagram for each of the following arguments.

-1. Thomas has a family history of colon cancer. Accordingly, 2. he should maintain a high fiber diet, and 3. he should schedule a colonoscopy with his doctor.

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Answer 3

Question 4

Choose the correct diagram for each of the following arguments.

-Since 1. many people say they have seen angels, and 2. that many people cannot all be lying, 3. angels must exist. Consequently, 4. we are not the only intelligent beings in the universe.

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Question 5

Diagram each of the following arguments.

-Higher education should increase our ability to be self-reflective. So, it is a good plan to take courses in the humanities. Consequently, taking a course in the history of philosophy is wise.

Question 6

Diagram each of the following arguments.

-People who study history are wiser than those who do not. This is because studying history makes a person less likely to repeat the mistakes of the past, and not repeating past mistakes is a sign of wisdom. And since the primary aim of education is producing wisdom, all schools should require the study of history.

Question 7

Diagram each of the following arguments.

-A vegetable is the best source of vitamins and minerals, so members of the cabbage family must be good sources of vitamins and minerals. From this we can infer that broccoli is a good thing to eat. Besides, it tastes terrible, and things that taste terrible must be good to eat.

Question 8

Diagram each of the following arguments.

-For engineering majors, finding a suitable type of engineering to specialize in is important. But, which specialization should you pick? Well, there are three options: soils engineering, structural engineering, or civil engineering. Soils engineering is probably not a good choice since it requires a lot of time outdoors, and you've never been an outdoor kind of person. That means that you should choose either structural engineering or civil engineering. However, structural engineering wouldn't suit you very well given that it requires that you earn a Master's degree. Thus, the best type of engineering for you is civil engineering.

Question 9

Diagram each of the following arguments.

-If the economy doesn't improve soon, there will be large scale unemployment within the next few months. Because it won't improve soon, many people will be out of work by the end of the year. As a result, expect a bleak Christmas.

Question 10

Choose the correct diagram for each of the following arguments.

-There are three reasons why 1. a composition course should be the first class you take in college. First, 2. composition courses provide the writing skills needed for clear communication. Also, 3. they improve your logical reasoning. Finally, 4. composition courses are more fun than other courses.

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Question 11

Choose the correct diagram for each of the following arguments.

-1. Electric cars won't sell given that 2. they are too expensive. This means that, since 3. only electric cars qualify as zero-emission vehicles, 4. government mandates for zero-emission vehicles won't work.

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Question 12

Choose the correct diagram for each of the following arguments.

-1. Rhinoceros herds must be protected, so 2. you ought to support the Save African Rhinos campaign. Thus, 3. you should have fifty dollars a month deducted from your paycheck for the campaign.

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Question 13

Choose the correct diagram for each of the following arguments.

-1.We should resist the movement for universalizing health care. First, 2. it is unnecessary. Second, 3. it would be too expensive.

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Question 14

Choose the correct diagram for each of the following arguments.

-1. Your dog is either a purebred or a mutt, and 2. he certainly is not a purebred. Accordingly, 3. your dog must be a mutt.

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Question 15

Choose the correct diagram for each of the following arguments.

-1. Serena should take Geometry her freshman year. This is because 2. if she wants to be an engineer, then she needs to take math courses in high school, and 3. she does want to be an engineer, so 4. she will need those courses.

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Question 16

Choose the correct diagram for each of the following arguments.

-1. I practiced numerous examples from Aplia, and 2. diagramming doesn't seem as difficult as the material in the first chapter. Therefore, 3. this diagramming test should improve my grade in this class.

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Question 17

Diagram each of the following arguments.

-There has recently been a movement across the country to ban smoking on college campuses. There are two important reasons why our campus should follow this trend. First, allowing cigarette smoking on campus exposes all students, both smokers and non-smokers alike, to second hand smoke, and according to the US Surgeon General, second-hand smoke exposure causes cancer. Second, banning smoking on campus will help keep our campus clean since smokers will no longer be able to dispose of their cigarette butts on the campus grounds.

Question 18

Diagram each of the following arguments.

-Robert said that he will accept the job transfer offer if the company will pay his moving expenses. Given that he just heard that they will pay those expenses, you know what that means, don't you?

Question 19

Diagram each of the following arguments.

-Thomas should maintain a high fiber diet, and he should schedule a colonoscopy with his doctor. This is because he has a family history of colon cancer.

Question 20

Diagram each of the following arguments.

-Spinach growers will be successful in the long run, given that they make large profits, and any company that makes large profits is successful in the long run. Consequently, you should become a spinach grower, for if spinach growers are successful in the long run, you should become a spinach grower. Furthermore, you should choose a career that guarantees a good salary, and becoming a spinach grower is just such a career in that spinach is always in great demand.

Question 21

Write a Basic Analysis plus Argument Diagram (where appropriate) for each of the following passages.

-Given that drug companies make large profits, we can conclude that they make good investments. This is because whatever makes large profits makes a good investment. Now, if drug companies are a good investment, you should buy stock in them. Consequently, you should buy stock in them.

Question 22

Leakage of fluid from the site of a spinal tap can lead to severe headache, and for this reason, the patient is asked to remain lying down for 8 to 24 hours after the procedure to minimize the leakage of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) from the puncture site. -Gerard Tortora, Principles of Human Anatomy

Question 23

Write a Basic Analysis plus Argument Diagram (where appropriate) for each of the following passages.

-The city zoo is deeply in debt. And anytime a zoo is in debt, it ought to be sold to private investors. You know what follows from that, don't you?

Question 24

Write a Basic Analysis plus Argument Diagram (where appropriate) for each of the following passages.

-Gasoline prices will most likely continue to rise throughout the next decade. As a result, the US government ought to encourage drivers to move to electric vehicles, and it also need to encourage auto companies to phase out gasoline powered automobiles.

Question 25

If one looks at the whole world today, there is no place for Japan to secure commercial and industrial profits but Asia.-Peter Duus, Modern Japan