Ashford PHI103 2019 May All Quizzes Latest

PHI103 Informal Logic

Week 1 Quiz

Question 1 The conclusion of an argument is __________.

  a sentence that gives a reason why something is true

  a way to wrap up an argument without hostility

  the point in time at which the argument ends

  the claim that is supported by the argument

 

 

Question 2 Is the following an argument or an explanation?

The reason it is so hot lately is that the wind has been coming from the south.

  Argument

  Explanation

  Both of these

  None of these

 

Question 3 Which of the following is an advantage of using standard form?

  It helps us to evaluate the quality of an argument independent of our own views about the subject.

  It is only really necessary for professional logicians and mathematicians

  It makes arguments logically valid

  It makes it more likely that your audience will believe your premises

 

Question 4 Is the following an argument or an explanation?

 John will probably come to the party. He is not busy tonight, and he told me he was coming.

  Argument

  Explanation

  Both of these

  None of these

 

Question 5 The concept of warrant in logic refers to __________.

  a disagreement between two people

  the truth of the conclusion

  the evidence that supports one’s claims

  a document needed to arrest a criminal

 

Question 6 Identify the conclusion of the following argument.

Too many intravenous drug users continue to risk their lives by sharing dirty needles. We should supply drug addicts with a way to get clean needles. This would lower the rate of AIDS in this high-risk population as well as allow for the opportunity to educate and attempt to aid those who are addicted to heroin and other intravenous drugs.

  We should supply drug addicts with a way to get clean needles.

  Too many intravenous drug users risk their lives by sharing needles.

  Providing clean needles would lower the rate of AIDS in this population.

  Providing clean needles would provide an opportunity for education.

 

 

Question 7 Logical arguments __________.

  always involve an exchange

  are a means for venting emotion

  involve quarreling

  attempt to use good reasoning to discover truth

 

Question 8 Which of the following is a conclusion marker?

  Since

  Because

  Therefore

  Never

 

Question 9 Intellectual modesty is __________.

  the ability to examine one’s own beliefs and be objective about faults in those beliefs

  the tendency to desire to be right in all circumstances

  the ability to attack others’ beliefs in the attempt to prove them wrong

  the ability to bring about the good in one’s life

 

Question 10 This is one way to determine if one is encountering an explanation versus an argument:

  In explanations, the conclusion is less controversial than the premises.

  In arguments, the premises is more controversial than the conclusion.

  In explanations, the conclusion is more controversial than the premises.

  In explanations, the conclusion does not matter.

 

Question 11 Standard form is __________.

  a confusing use of language

  a way to clarify arguments by listing the premises above the conclusion

  a way to make logical arguments look mathematical in structure

  the proper use of grammar in presenting an argument

 

Question 12 An argument in logic is _________.

  a set of claims, some of which serve as support for another claim

  a debate between two people

  the conclusion of one’s reasoning

  a dispute with no resolution

 

Question 13 Which of the following is an explanation rather than an argument:

  “Shock collars are cruel because they cause chronic anxiety in dogs.”

  “I am investing in bit coin because I think it is going to go up.”

  “I am hungry so I am going to buy food.”

  “He is smiling so he must be happy.”

 

Question 14

This form of thinking involves using our imagination.

  Critical thinking

  Analytical thinking

  Strategic thinking

  Creative thinking

 

 

Question 15 Which of the following is a claim?

  Calculate the velocity of the alpha particle.

  Did you calculate the velocity of the alpha particle?

  Awesome!

  Alpha particles are bare protons.

 

Question 16 According to the text, the emotions that we feel __________.

  always guide us to the correct decisions

  can sometimes make us feel good when we are humiliated

  are not reliable sources of information

  should be trusted more than rules of reason

 

Question 17 Informal logic __________.

  primarily studies the mathematical properties of languages

  studies arguments as they exist in everyday language

  studies formal validity without a focus on everyday usages of critical thinking

  seeks to validate whatever one already thinks is true

 

Question 18 Which of the following words from this argument is a conclusion indicator?

All philosophers are seekers of truth; thus, it follows that no evil human is a seeker after truth, since no philosophers are evil humans.

  Since

  Thus

  Philosophers

  Truth

 

Question 19 Which of these is one of the differences (given in Chapter 1) between a logical argument and a rhetorical argument?

  A logical argument does not necessarily involve an exchange

  A logical argument can involve defending a position

  Logic involves the use of language

  Logic addresses more important topics

 

Question 20 What is not given as one of the advantages of using standard form within the video “The Value of Using Standard Form”?

  It enables us to defeat other people’s reasoning in debates

  It makes our arguments more clear

  It makes it easier to detect the flaws within our own and others’ reasoning

  It makes us less likely to be distracted by things like emotion

 

 

 

PHI103 Informal Logic

Week 2 Quiz

Question 1 Inductive arguments aim for this type of connection between their premises and conclusions.

  A true connection

  A probable connection

  A methodological connection

  An absolute connection

 

Question 2  If an argument form is valid, which of the following must be true?

  all of its instances are valid.

  all of its instances are sound.

  some of its instances may be invalid.

  argument forms can’t be valid

  the argument form is propositional

 

Question 3 The counterexample method shows that an argument is invalid by _______

  proving the truth of the conclusion from the premises

  proving that the conclusion is false

  proving that a premise is false

  finding an argument of the same form with true premises and a false conclusion

 

Question 4 Which of the following is true of the distinction between induction and deduction?

  Inductive reasoning means going from the specific to the general; while deductive reasoning is the reverse.

  Inductive reasoning means going from the general to the specific, while deductive reasoning is the reverse.

  Some forms of inductive reasoning go from the specific to the general, while others go from the general to the specific.

  Deductive reasoning never has a general conclusion.

 

Question 5 In logic, which of the following is NOT true of all deductive arguments?

  they reason from general to particular

  they can be valid or invalid

  if they are valid, it is impossible to have true premises and a false conclusion

  if they are invalid, it is possible to have true premises and a false conclusion

  none of these

 

Question 6 Which of the following is a valid argument?

  “All dogs are mammals. All cats are mammals. Therefore, all cats are dogs.”

  “All dogs are mammals. Rover is a dog. Therefore, Rover is a mammal.”

  “All dogs are mammals. Rover is a dog. So Rover has fur.”

  None of these

 

 

Question 7  “She is an adult female human. Therefore, she is a woman.” This argument is __________.

  a mathematical argument

  an inductive argument

  a categorical argument

  an argument by definition

 

Question 8 One way to make an inductive argument weaker is to __________.

  strengthen the conclusion

  eliminate the conclusion

  make the argument valid

  strengthen a premise

 

Question 9 Which of the following is NOT one of the correct descriptions of what it means for an argument to valid?

  if all of the premises are true then the conclusion cannot be false

  the reasoning is correct and all of the premises are in fact true

  that it is logically impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false

  the truth of the premises guarantees the truth of the conclusion

 

Question 10 Inductive arguments should not be characterized as __________.

  weak

  very weak

  valid

  strong

 

Question 11 What type of inductive argument is the following example?

 

“Every cat I’ve tested hates citrus. Therefore, all cats hate citrus.”

You Answered

  Argument from analogy

  Inductive generalization

  Statistical syllogism

  Inference to the best explanation

 

 

Question 12 Which of the following statements is likely to have the strongest inductive evidence?

  Your teacher will eat an egg for breakfast tomorrow.

  The Colts will win the Super Bowl next year.

  There will be nuclear war next month.

  The earth will continue to orbit the sun over the next five days.

 

Question 13  “All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore Socrates is mortal” is what type of argument?

  inductive

  deductive

  argument from definition

  invalid

 

Question 14 Consider the following argument.

 

            I studied for the test.

            Therefore, I will pass the class.

 

Which of the following additional premises would most make this argument stronger?

  I have gotten good grades on all of the tests and papers so far in the class

  I feel really confident

  The teacher is a nice guy

  If I don’t pass I will complain to the administration

 

Question 15 One way to make an inductive argument stronger is to __________.

  ignore the argument

  offer more reasons to support the conclusion

  call the argument something in Latin

  make it valid

 

Question 16 In logic, arguments are best described as __________.

  requiring someone to win and someone to lose

  providing reasons for a conclusion

  a dispute involving anger

  a debate over something no one believes

  none of these

 

Question 17 In the “What is a ‘Strong’ Argument?” video, what is the line at which we call an argument logically strong?

  There is no strict line at which inductive arguments become strong; it is a matter of context.

  It is strong if it confers a 90% likelihood on its conclusion.

  It is only truly strong if the conclusion is absolutely certain.

  It has all true premises and the conclusion is likely.

 

Question 18 Which of the following is not one of the things that can weaken an appeal to authority?

  The person is not truly an authority on the topic.

  The person has a motive to be dishonest in the context.

  One is not interpreting the authority correctly.

  The authority’s view does not agree with what one expected.

 

Question 19 What type of inductive argument is the following example?

 “Both times I’ve bet on the Celtics they’ve lost. So, they are a bad team to bet on.”

  Argument from analogy

  Inductive generalization

  Statistical syllogism

  Inference to the best explanation

 

 

Question 20 What type of inductive argument is the following example?

“Almost all philosophers like logic. Mike is a philosopher, so he probably likes logic.”

  Argument from analogy

  Inductive generalization

  Statistical syllogism

  Inference to the best explanation

 

 

 

PHI103 Informal Logic

Week 3 Quiz

Question 1 Which one of the following contains a euphemism?

  “He is lazy”

  “He studies less than the average student”

  “He is motivationally challenged”

  “His GPA is 1.5”

  None of these

 

Question 2  “Studies show that I am right.” This statement employs which of the following rhetorical devices?

  Euphemism

  Hyperbole

  Proof surrogate

  Weaseler

  No device used

 

Question 3  “You shouldn’t do that because it is wrong.” This argument commits which of the following fallacies?

  Slippery slope

  Hasty generalization

  False dichotomy

  Begging the question

  None of these

 

 

Question 4 What is an interested party?

  A person who finds the topic fascinating

  A person with a stake in the outcome

  A person who earns money from investments over time

  None of these

  All of these

 

Question 5 Chapter 8 lists several ways that the media can deliberately mislead us. Which of the following is not one of the ways mentioned in the chapter?

  Photo manipulation

  Spin

  Product placement

  Rhetorical devices

  It mentions all of these

 

 

Question 6  “This beverage will make you feel as happy as if you won the lottery!” This statement employs which of the following rhetorical devices?

  Weaseler

  Innuendo

  Hyperbole

  Dysphemism

  No device used

 

Question 7  “You should totally ditch school and go on a road trip with me because it would be so awesome!” This reasoning commits which of the following fallacies?

  Appeal to emotion

  Hasty generalization

  Ad hominem

  Shifting the burden of proof

  None of these

 

Question 8  “This hospital has had a few cases of negative patient outcomes.” This statement employs which of the following rhetorical devices?

  Euphemism

  Hyperbole

  Proof surrogate

  Innuendo

  No device used

 

Question 9  “He is a nerd.” This statement employs which of the following rhetorical devices?

  Hyperbole

  Euphemism

  Proof surrogate

  Dysphemism

  No device used

 

Question 10  “Bob is a convicted felon. So what he says cannot be true.” This reasoning commits which of the following fallacies?

  Ad hominem

  Appeal to ignorance

  Fallacy ad verecundiam

  Red herring

  None of these

 

Question 11  “You are either a capitalist or a communist, which is it?” This statement commits which of the following fallacies?

  Non sequitur

  False dilemma

  Appeal to emotion

  Appeal to fear

  None of these

 

Question 12  “It’s ok to tell your kids there’s an Easter bunny. People have lied to their kids for hundreds of years.”

This argument commits which of the following fallacies?

  Relativist

  Subjectivist

  Red herring

  Appeal to tradition

  None of these

 

Question 13  “I didn’t like either pair of jeans I bought from that company. They must not make good products.” This reasoning commits which of the following fallacies?

  Appeal to fear

  Hasty generalization

  Circular reasoning

  Shifting the burden of proof

  None of these

 

Question 14  “He got a little bump on the head” (when he actually got a serious concussion). This statement employs which of the following rhetorical devices?

  Euphemism

  Dysphemism

  Weaseler

  Hyperbole

  No device used

 

Question 15  “Do you believe that aliens have visited the earth? I know that they have because an ‘alien’ is just someone who is here from another country, and there are plenty of those on the earth.” This reasoning commits which of the following fallacies?

  Appeal to fear

  Equivocation

  Appeal to ignorance

  Appeal to inadequate authority

  None of these

 

Question 16 According to Chapter 8, why is it called the “media”?

  Because it comes from the medieval times

  Because it was invented by Charles Goodwin Media in the 1800s

  Because it is the medium through which we learn about the outside world

  Because it should try to take a middle position (the median)

  None of these

 

Question 17 Which one of the following claims most likely does not contain hyperbole?

  “He is the worst driver this side of the Mississippi.”

  “John Adams was a Federalist”

  “He was the worst president ever”

  “This year the Steelers would probably lose to the local high school”

  None of these

 

 

 

Question 18  “Julie started carrying a rabbit’s foot, and then she won the lottery. I am going to get one too.” This reasoning commits which of the following fallacies?

  Ad hominem

  False cause

  Straw man

  Slippery slope

  None of these

 

Question 19 A fallacy is ____________.

  an argument with a false premise

  an argument with a false conclusion

  an inductively weak argument

  a common pattern of reasoning with a high likelihood of leading to a false conclusion

 

Question 20  “It is illegal, because it’s against the law.” This reasoning commits which of the following fallacies?

  Circular reasoning

  Non sequitur

  Slippery slope

  Appeal to pity

  None of these

 

 

PHI103 Informal Logic

Week 4 Quiz

Question 1 The following is one of the ways (listed in our text) to assess the quality of an inference to the best explanation:

  Does it agree well with the rest of human knowledge?

  Does the conclusion follow validly from the premises?

  Does it feel right?

  Is it novel and innovative?

 

Question 2 Which of these describes what we are inclined to believe about the most likely explanations of our observations?

  People tend to believe whatever sounds the most scientific

  People tend to believe what agrees with what they already believed

  People tend not to make inferences about what explains their observations

  People tend to come up with explanations for their experiences only after extensive testing

 

Question 3 Which of the following is not one of the advantages listed in the text of using inductive reasoning over deductive reasoning?

  Inductive reasoning is more robust (less fragile).

  Inductive premises are more available.

  In inductive reasoning, the conclusion follows with more certainty from the premises.

  Inductive arguments are frequently more persuasive.

 

Question 4 Which of these is one of the steps of the hypothetico-deductive method?

  Formulating a hypothesis.

  Deductive proof

  Rejecting the assumptions

  Manipulating the data

 

 

Question 5 Using the rules for assessing inferences to the best explanation (in Chapter 6), which of the following is likely the best inference to the best explanation for the following observation:

“That magician apparently made a card that was in the deck appear in my back pocket.”

  He is a sorcerer who can transport matter

  He is using a clever trick to fool people

  All reality is in our minds, and he can manipulate it

  I have lost my mind

 

 

Question 6 How does one go about testing a hypothesis?

  Make a prediction that would (likely) occur if the hypothesis were true

  See if it agrees with what you preferred to be true

  Reject the hypothesis if it disagrees with other research in the scientific literature

  Look for data that will confirm it no matter what

 

 

Question 7 The following is one of the ways (listed in our text) to assess the quality of an inference to the best explanation:

  Is it indubitably true?

  Does it help us explain other phenomena as well?

  Is there proof of it?

  Does the result seem important?

 

Question 8 What is a hypothesis?

  The outcome of an experiment

  A conjecture about how something works

  A proven truth

  A rejected theory

 

 

Question 9 This is a method by which one can strengthen an inductive argument.

  Adding false supporting premises

  Demonstrating that the argument is valid

  Adding supporting premises

  Inductive arguments cannot be strengthened

 

Question 10 Inductive arguments aim for this type of connection between their premises and conclusions.

  A true connection

  A probable connection

  A methodological connection

  An absolute connection

 

Question 11 Inductive arguments are preferable in some instances because they __________.

  are not as available

  are more limited than deductive arguments

  can be more persuasive

  have more truth

 

Question 12 Which of these is a limitation of inferences to the best explanation?

  Most of reality cannot be explained

  It will never be as convincing as deductive inference

  It depends upon our coming up with the right explanation as one of the candidates

  It generally leads us away from scientific explanations

 

 

Question 13 A claim is falsifiable if __________.

  we know how one could show it to be false

  we know how one could show it to be true

  we cannot determine a way to prove it false

  we can determine a way to see if it is true or false

 

 

Question 14 Which of the following is necessary in order for an explanation to be adequate?

  It does not agree with other human knowledge

  It provides an overly complex solution

  It is noncircular

  It is contradicted by other instances

 

 

Question 15 If the consequence that you predict from your hypothesis comes true, what follows from this?

  It logically follows that the hypothesis is true

  There is no support for the premises

  The conclusion must be false

  It provides some inductive support for the hypothesis

 

Question 16 Inference to the best explanation is often referred to as:

  Deductive reasoning

  Abductive reasoning

  Circular reasoning

  Biductive reasoning

 

Question 17 Claims that are interpreted such that they always come out to be true are called __________.

  valid propositions

  self-refuting propositions

  self-sealing proposition

  weak propositions

 

Question 18 Which one of the following is most likely not an inference to the best explanation?

  “It will rain tomorrow; the meteorologist said so.”

  “My living room is trashed; I must have been robbed.”

  “This plant is dying; I am probably not watering it enough.”

  “The street is all wet; it must have rained last night.”

 

Question 19 Which of the following is true of inductive reasoning but not deductive reasoning?

  If a premise is false then the arguments loses its value

  If the premises are true, then the conclusion must be true as well

  The premises are harder to find

  The argument is more likely to have merit even if one of the premises is not universally true

 

Question 20 A common misconception about inductive arguments is that they __________.

  are all weak

  are more persuasive than deductive arguments

  go from specific to general

  go from general to specific

 

 

PHI103 Informal Logic

Week 5 Quiz

Question 1 In an argumentative essay, the premises of the argument  __________.

  are the reasons that support the thesis

  do not need justification in an essay

  are what the thesis defends

  occur in the conclusion of the paper

 

Question 2 How should one ethically engage in verbal argumentation?

  Try to maintain a focus on demonstrating the other person is wrong.

  Try to maintain focus on the argument when analyzing what people are saying.

  Try to win at all costs.

  Stick to one’s position even if evidence is better for the opposing position.

 

Question 3  “If I drive drunk I’ll crash. I crashed, so I must be drunk.”

  Non sequitur

  Ad Hominem

  Post Hoc

  Affirming the consequent

  No Fallacy

 

Question 4 The legalization of drugs is neither unwise nor immoral.  It is not unwise because by legalizing drugs we would eliminate the illegal drug trade.  Hence, by legalizing drugs, we would rid our nation of all the violence that goes along with the illegal drug trade.  Furthermore, the legalization of drugs is not immoral because it can be combined with a massive program of moral education.

  Deductive

  Inductive

  Neither

 

Question 5 Deciduous trees are trees that shed their leaves. Maple trees are deciduous trees. Thus, maple trees will shed their leaves at some point during the growing season.

True or False: The statement, “Maple trees are deciduous trees,” is a premise.

  True

  False

 

Question 6 The thesis in an argumentative essay __________.

  is composed of premises

  should be general so that one can write enough on the topic

  is the claim that is being defended

  is not as important as the problem

 

Question 7 The statement “Either the maid did it or the butler did” is a __________.

  conjunction

  disjunction

  conditional

  none of these

 

Question 8 If we go to the movies, we will need to drive the minivan.

  Claim

  Non-Claim

  Neither

 

Question 9 The statement “If you come with me, then we can go shopping” is a __________.

  conjunction

  disjunction

  conditional

  none of these

 

Question 10 Confirmation bias is:

  The ability to prove that one’s conclusions are true

  The ad hominem fallacy

  The tendency to accept arguments with conclusions on already believes

  Committing an informal fallacy

 

Question 11 Arguments __________.

  always have the same level of complexity

  are always expressed in standard form

  can include complicated chains of inference that build on themselves

  have to be valid in order to be convincing

 

Question 12 My father always only bought Ford cars. He said they were the best cars ever. So I only buy Fords.

  Begging the Question

  Ad Hominem

  Post Hoc

  Appeal to inadequate authority

  No Fallacy

 

Question 13 A sound argument is __________.

  a valid argument in which it is impossible to have true premises and a false conclusion

  a valid argument with true premises and a false conclusion

  an argument in which it is possible to have true premises and a true conclusion

  a valid argument with true premises

  all of these

 

Question 14 When disagreeing with a premise, __________.

  one should point to the outcomes of the conclusion

  one should have reasons in place that demonstrate the premise is not sufficiently likely to be true.

  one should attack premises that are not important to the argument

  one should point out the failings of its author

 

Question 15 Politician: “We either decide to keep the handgun laws in the city limits and maintain peace, or we revoke the laws and let the city become a modern day Wild West.”

  Straw Man

  Hyperbole

  False Dilemma

  No Fallacy

 

Question 16 Which type of inductive argument is the following:

“He is late; there must have been traffic.”

  Statistical Syllogism

  Inductive Generalization

  Appeal to Authority

  Inference to the Best Explanation

 

Question 17 The objection in an argumentative essay __________.

  should be the simplest argument against your own position

  should be presented in a weak manner in order to attack it easily

  requires objectivity and should be strong

  is the thing that you will refute in the support section of your paper

 

Question 18 Since all philosophers are seekers of truth, it follows that no evil human is a seeker after truth, since no philosophers are evil humans.

True or False: The statement, “no evil human is a seeker after truth,” is the conclusion.

  True

  False

 

Question 19 Drive the minivan.

  Claim

  Non-Claim

  Neither

 

Question 20  “If he were happy, he would be smiling. He is not smiling, so he is not happy.”

  Modus Tollens

  Modus Ponens

  Post Hoc

  Syllogistic Logic

  Affirming the Consequent