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.

Accepted Answer

B) is correct because it uses the logical form of modus tollens, which states that if a conditional statement ("If P, then Q") is accepted as true, and the consequent (Q) is found to be false, then the antecedent (P) must also be false.

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

Accepted Answer

The appeal to reason is not considered a fallacy. Fallacies are errors in reasoning or argumentation, and an appeal to reason is actually the opposite of a fallacy, as it encourages logical and rational argumentation.

Question 3

The conclusion of a cogent inductive argument must be
A) true.
B) false.
C) probable.
D) improbable.

Accepted Answer

The conclusion of a cogent inductive argument is probable, as inductive reasoning involves making generalizations based on specific observations, which does not guarantee the truth of the conclusion but suggests its likelihood.

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.

Accepted Answer

This argument form is an example of affirming the consequent, which is a logical fallacy. It incorrectly assumes that if the consequent (q) is true, then the antecedent (p) must also be true, which is not logically valid.

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

Accepted Answer

Slippery slope is a fallacy of causal reasoning, not one with irrelevant premises.

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

Accepted Answer

The genetic fallacy is not a fallacy of insufficient premises; it is a fallacy that occurs when a claim is accepted or rejected based on its source rather than its merit.

Question 7

Which is not a common conclusion indicator word or phrase?
A) it follows that
B) consequently
C) the reason being
D) thus

Accepted Answer

"The reason being" is typically used to introduce reasons or explanations rather than conclusions, making it distinct from the other options which are commonly used to indicate a conclusion.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT an example of an inductive argument?
A) Enumerative
B) Analogical
C) Hypothetical syllogism
D) Abduction

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is NOT an...

Question 9

An argument is fallacious if it contains
A) insufficient premises.
B) unacceptable premises.
C) irrelevant premises.
D) any of the above.

Accepted Answer

An argument is considered fallacious if it contains insufficient, unacceptable, or irrelevant premises, as these flaws undermine the logical validity or soundness of the argument.

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

Accepted Answer

Equivocation is the logical fallacy that occurs when a word is used in two different senses within an argument, leading to a misleading or flawed conclusion.

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.

Accepted Answer

Misrepresenting a claim to make it easier to reject is known as a Straw Man fallacy. This involves distorting, exaggerating, or otherwise misrepresenting someone's argument to make it easier to attack or refute.

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.

Accepted Answer

The argument is invalid because it commits the logical fallacy of affirming the consequent. Just because shortness of breath is a symptom of SARS doesn't mean that experiencing shortness of breath necessarily means one has SARS; there could be many other causes for shortness of breath.

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.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of modus ponens, which is a form of argument that goes from "If P then Q" and "P" to conclude "Q".

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.

Accepted Answer

This argument is a disjunctive syllogism because it starts with a disjunction (either/or statement), one option is negated, and thus concludes with the affirmation of the other option.

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.

Accepted Answer

The argument compares two similar cases (Vancouver and Seattle) based on their geographical location and climate conditions to conclude that since Vancouver is cold in January and both cities share similar geographical traits, Seattle will also be cold in January. This is an example of analogical induction, where a conclusion is drawn about one case based on its similarity to another case.

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.

Accepted Answer

This argument form is modus tollens, which follows the structure: If P, then Q. Not Q, therefore not P.

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

Accepted Answer

In a conditional statement of the form "If p, then q," the "p" part is known as the antecedent. It represents the condition or premise that leads to the consequence or conclusion, which is "q."

Question 18

A strong inductive argument that contains only true premises.
A) cogent
B) uncogent
C) sound
D) unsound
E) none of these

Accepted Answer

A cogent argument is an inductive argument that is strong and has all true premises.

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of An inductive argument that would establish its...

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

Accepted Answer

A deductive argument is considered valid if the conclusion logically follows from its premises, regardless of the truth of the premises.

Quiz 2: Arguments Good, Bad, and Weird

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

Which of the following is NOT a common fallacy?

The conclusion of a cogent inductive argument must be

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

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

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

Which is not a common conclusion indicator word or phrase?

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

An argument is fallacious if it contains

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

Misrepresenting a claim to make it easier to reject is called

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

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

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

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

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

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

A strong inductive argument that contains only true premises.

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

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