 |
1 | |
An argument in which the conclusion does not follow necessarily from the premises should nonetheless be treated as deductive if |
| | A) | the conclusion in the argument is clearly true. |
| | B) | it is physically impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false. |
| | C) | the language or the context makes clear that the arguer intended to offer a logically conclusive argument. |
| | D) | the premises are true and would make the conclusion likely to be true. |
|
|
2 | |
Which of the following argument patterns is not deductive? |
| | A) | Modus ponens. |
| | B) | Argument by elimination. |
| | C) | Statistical argument. |
| | D) | Argument from definition. |
|
|
3 | |
Which of the following is not true of a valid deductive argument? |
| | A) | If the premises are true, then the conclusion must be true. |
| | B) | The truth of the premises guarantees the truth of the conclusion. |
| | C) | If the premises are false, then the conclusion must be false. |
| | D) | It is logically inconsistent to assert all the premises as true and deny the conclusion. |
|
|
4 | |
Complete the following argument by providing the correct conclusion: "If interest rates keep dropping, then the housing market will be stimulated. If the housing market is stimulated, the value of homes will rise. Thus, ." |
| | A) | the value of homes will rise. |
| | B) | if the housing market is stimulated the interest rates will keep dropping. |
| | C) | interest rates will keep dropping. |
| | D) | if the interest rates keep dropping, then the value of homes will rise. |
|
|
5 | |
Which of the following is not true of an invalid deductive argument? |
| | A) | An invalid argument will always have at least one false premise. |
| | B) | An invalid argument can have any combination of truth or falsity in the premises and conclusion. |
| | C) | An invalid argument is always 100 percent invalid. |
| | D) | In an invalid argument, even if the premises are true, the conclusion may still be false without causing any logical inconsistency. |
|
|
6 | |
Which of the following is not true of a strong inductive argument? |
| | A) | If the premises are true, then the conclusion is probably true. |
| | B) | If the premises are false, then the conclusion is false. |
| | C) | The premises provide probable, but not logically conclusive, grounds for the truth of the conclusion. |
| | D) | The premises, if true, make the conclusion likely. |
|
|
7 | |
Which of the options below best applies to the inference in the following argument: All passengers who ate the fish got food poisoning. Some of the passengers who got food poisoning required hospitalization. So, it stands to reason that some of the passengers who ate the fish required hospitalization. |
| | A) | The inference is valid since it is impossible for the premises to be true while the conclusion is false. |
| | B) | The inference is invalid because even if the premises were true, the conclusion could still prove to be false. |
| | C) | Since the premises (if true) would make the conclusion highly likely, the inference is valid. |
| | D) | None of the above. |
|
|
8 | |
Which inductive pattern does the following argument best represent? "The human brain is like a very complex computer. Both a computer and the brain receive and store data for future reference. Both make calculations and draw conclusions from data they have collected. But when a computer is filled with inaccurate information, it will nearly always yield inaccurate calculations and yield false conclusions. Hence, it seems likely the same is true of the human brain. For these reasons, it is imperative that we avoid filling our brains with inaccurate and misleading information." |
| | A) | Statistical argument. |
| | B) | Argument from authority. |
| | C) | Predictive argument. |
| | D) | Argument from analogy. |
|
|
9 | |
Which deductive pattern does the following argument represent? "If the Warriors are ever going to develop a competitive playoff team, they will have to spend what it takes to get a premier player. But the Warriors will never spend that kind of money on one player. So, the Warriors will never develop a competitive playoff team." |
| | A) | Argument by Elimination. |
| | B) | Modus Tolens. |
| | C) | Categorical Syllogism. |
| | D) | Chain Argument. |
|
|
10 | |
Which of the options below best applies to the inference in the following argument: All of the actors on Broadway are members of the Actors' Union. Some of the members of the Actors Union are socialists. It follows that at least some of the actors on Broadway are socialists. |
| | A) | The inference is valid since it is impossible for the premises to be true while the conclusion is false. |
| | B) | Since the premises (if true) would make the conclusion highly likely, the inference is valid. |
| | C) | The inference is invalid because even if the premises were true, the conclusion could still prove to be false. |
| | D) | Since the premises (if true) would make the conclusion highly suspect, the inference is invalid. |
|