Question 1

Premises are supported by conclusions.

Accepted Answer

Premises are statements or pieces of evidence used to support a conclusion. Therefore, conclusions are supported by premises, not the other way around.

Question 2

An argument where the truth of the premises guarantees the truth of the conclusion is
A) strong
B) inductive
C) valid
D) likely

Accepted Answer

A valid argument is one where the truth of the premises guarantees the truth of the conclusion. Therefore, option C is the correct answer. Option A is incorrect because a strong argument may have true premises, but they may not necessarily guarantee the truth of the conclusion. Option B is incorrect because an inductive argument only provides support for the conclusion, but does not guarantee it. Option D is incorrect because likelihood does not necessarily imply certainty or truth.

Question 3

Of the following, which is an opinion?
A) I think chocolate tastes good.
B) Chocolate tastes good.
C) White chocolate does not include cocoa beans.
D) both a. and b.

Accepted Answer

Both A ("I think chocolate tastes good.") and B ("Chocolate tastes good.") express personal preferences or judgments, making them opinions rather than objective facts.

Question 4

When someone claims that his/her position is true because it hasn't been proven false, he/she is
A) truth
B) ignorance
C) charity
D) simplicity

Accepted Answer

This is an example of the fallacy known as argument from ignorance. Just because something hasn't been proven false, doesn't necessarily mean it is true. It could simply mean that there hasn't been enough evidence or testing done yet to determine its truth or falsehood. Therefore, claiming that something is true based on this lack of evidence is a logical mistake known as ignorance.

Question 5

As a general rule, what goes into determining who has the burden of proof?
A) the person who makes the more extraordinary claim
B) the person who makes the louder claim
C) the person who makes the positive claim
D) both a. and c.

Accepted Answer

The burden of proof generally falls on the person making the positive claim (C) and often on the one making a more extraordinary claim (A), as extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. This principle is foundational in both legal and philosophical arguments.

Question 6

When you provide an argument that shows that another argument fails, you are providing a
A) deductive argument
B) inductive argument
C) sound argument
D) counterargument

Accepted Answer

When you provide an argument that shows that another argument fails, you are presenting a counterargument.

Question 7

What premise is implicit in the following argument? If you're a Democrat, then your favorite color is blue. So, you can see why Tom loves blue.
A) Tom is a Democrat.
B) Tom is a carpenter
C) All blue things are democratic
D) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The argument states that if you're a Democrat, then your favorite color is blue. Tom loves blue, therefore the implicit premise is that Tom is a Democrat.

Question 8

How would you classify the following? You have to rob this bank with me. Remember, I helped you move into you apartment last week.
A) appeal to faith
B) appeal to instinct
C) appeal to emotion
D) none of the above

Accepted Answer

This is an appeal to emotion, as the speaker is attempting to manipulate the listener by reminding them of a past favor and creating a sense of obligation or guilt to comply with the request.

Question 9

Consider the following argument. Which claim is the conclusion?
A) Consider the following argument. Which claim is the conclusion?
B) because all men are mortal and
C) he's a man.

Accepted Answer

The question itself is mistakenly repeated as a choice. The actual conclusion of an argument is the statement that is being argued for, which is not provided in the options given. The options B and C are premises leading to a conclusion, but without a statement that ties them together to form a conclusion, none of the choices accurately represent a conclusion.

Question 10

Of the following, which is a part of an argument?
A) truth
B) conclusion
C) questions
D) none of the above

Accepted Answer

A conclusion is a statement that follows from the premises of an argument. It is the main point that the argument is trying to establish. Therefore, it is a crucial part of an argument.

Question 11

Let's say that we inductively conclude that since all of the ants that we've encountered have bitten us, then most ants bite. To show that the conclusion is unlikely (i.e., that the argument is not very strong) we need to find ants that do not bite.

Accepted Answer

This is a valid strategy to weaken the argument. By finding ants that do not bite, we can show that the conclusion "most ants bite" may not be accurate.

Question 12

The following is a factual statement: Clouds are made of marshmallow.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The following is a factual statement: Clouds...

Question 13

We can falsify an opinion by pointing to the way the world is.

Accepted Answer

If an opinion does not align with the way the world actually is, it can be considered false. This is the basis of scientific inquiry and the pursuit of objective truth.

Question 14

Circular arguments offer justification that assumes the truth of that which is being justified.

Accepted Answer

Circular arguments are fallacious because they are self-referential and do not provide any real evidence or support for the proposition being argued. Instead, they rely on circular reasoning to justify their position, assuming the truth of the conclusion they are trying to prove.

Question 15

The following is an argument: Stanley wants a firetruck with a tall ladder and loud siren for Christmas.

Accepted Answer

An argument consists of a claim supported by reasons or evidence. The statement about Stanley's Christmas wish is simply a declarative sentence expressing a desire, not an argument.

Quiz 2: The Nature of Argument

Premises are supported by conclusions.

An argument where the truth of the premises guarantees the truth of the conclusion is

Of the following, which is an opinion?

When someone claims that his/her position is true because it hasn't been proven false, he/she is

As a general rule, what goes into determining who has the burden of proof?

When you provide an argument that shows that another argument fails, you are providing a

What premise is implicit in the following argument? If you're a Democrat, then your favorite color is blue. So, you can see why Tom loves blue.

How would you classify the following? You have to rob this bank with me. Remember, I helped you move into you apartment last week.

Consider the following argument. Which claim is the conclusion?

Of the following, which is a part of an argument?

Let's say that we inductively conclude that since all of the ants that we've encountered have bitten us, then most ants bite. To show that the conclusion is unlikely (i.e., that the argument is not very strong) we need to find ants that do not bite.

The following is a factual statement: Clouds are made of marshmallow.

We can falsify an opinion by pointing to the way the world is.

Circular arguments offer justification that assumes the truth of that which is being justified.

The following is an argument: Stanley wants a firetruck with a tall ladder and loud siren for Christmas.