Your Results for: "Pre Test"

Location on Chapter 1 > Pre Test Site: Date/Time January 24, 2014 at 3:59 AM Submitted: (UTC/GMT)

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Summary of Results
80% Correct of 25 Scored items:
20 Correct: 5 Incorrect: 20% 80%

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1.

Instructions: Identify the premise(s) and conclusion of the following argument: Each person possesses an inviolability founded on justice that even the welfare of society as a whole cannot override. For this reason, justice denies that the loss of freedom for some is made right by a greater good shared by others.-John Rawls, A Theory of Justice
Your Answer: Premise: Each person possesses an inviolability founded on justice that even the welfare of society as a whole cannot override. Conclusion: Justice denies that the loss of freedom for some is made right by a greater good shared by others.

2.

Instructions: Identify the premise(s) and conclusion of the following argument: "Just hanging out doesn't put food in your mouth. And as you know, until I had the gastric bypass, I liked to put food in my mouth. So I knew I had to work hard."-Al Roker, Today show weather and features reporter.
Your Answer: Premise: Just hanging out doesn't put food in your mouth. Premise: And as you know, until I had the gastric bypass, I liked to put food in my mouth. Conclusion: I knew I had to work hard.

3.

Instructions: Identify the premise(s) and conclusion of the following argument: There are legitimate ethical or religious objections to human tampering with the natural reproductive process. And cloning can have ill effects on animals, causing more mutations and early deaths. But the food purists do their cause a disservice when they argue that cloned meat is somehow unsafe or unhealthy? Cloned meat is safe.LA Times editorial, Jan. 6, 2007

Your Answer: Premise: There are legitimate ethical or religious objections to human tampering with the natural reproductive process. Premise: And cloning can have ill effects on animals, causing more mutations and early deaths. Premise: But the food purists do their cause a disservice when they argue that cloned meat is somehow unsafe or unhealthy. Conclusion: Cloned meat is safe.

4.

Instructions: Identify the premise(s) and conclusion of the following argument: I don't believe it's OK for anyone to use the word because of its undeniable link to one of the country's most brutal and disgusting periods. It was a word used to intimidate and belittle.-LZ Granderson, "From white or black, the N-word is not OK," CNN.com, August 2010.
Your Answer: Premise: [The N-word has an] undeniable link to one of the country's most brutal and disgusting periods. Premise: It was a word used to intimidate and belittle. Conclusion: I don't believe it's OK for anyone to use the word.

5.

Instructions: Identify the premise(s) and conclusion of the following argument: Eleanor is older than Juan but younger than Giselle. Therefore, Juan is the youngest of the three.
Your Answer: Premise: Eleanor is older than Juan but younger than Giselle. Conclusion: Juan is the youngest of the three.

6.

Instructions: Identify the premise(s) and conclusion of the following argument: Women from places like Alabama and North Carolina have fewer abortions than the national average, but the number and rate of abortions in many of these states is closer to the national average than one would expect based on public opinion polling and the behavior of voters. Thus, while some in these states may wish to believe that abortion is really a Northeast or West Coast phenomenon, it is occurring with regularity almost everywhere. -Thirdway.org, "The Demographics of Abortion"
Your Answer: Premise: Women from places like Alabama and North Carolina have fewer abortions than the national average. Premise: While some in these states may wish to believe

that abortion is really a Northeast or West Coast phenomenon, it is occurring with regularity almost everywhere. Conclusion: The number and rate of abortions in many of these states is closer to the national average than one would expect based on public opinion polling and the behavior of voters. Correct Answer: Premise: Women from places like Alabama and North Carolina have fewer abortions than the national average. Premise: The number and rate of abortions in many of these states is closer to the national average than one would expect based on public opinion polling and the behavior of voters. Conclusion: While some in these states may wish to believe that abortion is really a Northeast or West Coast phenomenon, it is occurring with regularity almost everywhere. Look for the inferential flow. The premises have to provide support for the conclusion, or give you reasons to believe the conclusion is true. See Propositions and Arguments

7.

Instructions: Identify the premise(s) and conclusion of the following argument: It's like this: we want peace talks to go ahead between Israel and the Palestinians, but Israel won't talk if there's terrorism. If al-Fara keeps the terrorists quiet in his own nasty fashion, everyone's happy. But if al-Fara decides not to help us, there'll be terror attacks in Israel and everything goes to hell. Ergo, we need him happy.-Matt Beynon Rees, A Grave in Gaza
Your Answer: Premise: We want peace talks to go ahead between Israel and the Palestinians, but Israel won't talk if there's terrorism. Premise: If al-Fara keeps the terrorists quiet in his own nasty fashion, everyone's happy. Premise: If al-Fara decides not to help us, there'll be terror attacks in Israel and everything goes to hell. Conclusion: We need him happy.

8.

Instructions: The following passage may contain an explanation, argument, or may be interpreted as either an argument or an explanation. Choose the most appropriate answer from the choices below. We have no duty to let others keep their opinions. On the contrary, we often have a duty to try to change them. Take an obvious example. You are about to cross the street with a friend. A car is coming yet your friend still takes a stride into the road. Knowing that

she is not suicidal, you infer that she is of the opinion that no car is coming. Are you obliged to let her keep this opinion?"-Jamie Whyte,Crimes Against Logic
Your Answer: (blank)

9.

Instructions: The following passage may contain an explanation, argument, or may be interpreted as either an argument or an explanation. Choose the most appropriate answer from the choices below. Since colds and flu tend to strike during the darker winter months, some researchers believe a lack of vitamin D, the "sunshine" vitamin, might have something to do with making us more susceptible. At least one study found that a group of kids who took vitamin D supplements had fewer colds than another group that didn't. There's still much to learn, but unless you get steady exposure to the sun in the winter it seems prudent to take a multivitamin that contains 100 percent of the daily value for vitamin D.-Rachel Johnson, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D., www.EatingWell.com
Your Answer: Both Correct Answer: Argument Though the passage teeters on the brink of an explanation and a piece of advice, the use of indicator words and the use of studies collectively serve to provide evidence for the claim that one should take a vitamin D supplement. What is your judgment about the chief function of the passage? What would have to be the case for the passage in question to be an argument? What would have to be the case for the passage in question to be an explanation? Where you find an argument, identify its premises and conclusion. Where you find an explanation, indicate what is being explained and what the explanation is. See Arguments and Explanations

10.

Instructions: The following passage may contain an explanation, argument, or may be interpreted as either an argument or an explanation. Choose the most appropriate answer from the choices below. An amendment authored by Sen. Barbara Mikulski stipulates that beginning this fall, newly written insurance plans must cover preventive care and screenings for women free of the various types of cost sharing typically required by insurers. These include copayments, percentage-based coinsurance and deductibles that must be met before coverage kicks in.-Adam Sonfield, "What if contraception were

always covered?" CNN.com, June 7, 2010.

Your Answer: Argument Correct Answer: Explanation Sonfield does not seem to be attempting to prove that one sentence or the other is true. Instead, the second sentence elaborates, by way of explanation, on the first. What is your judgment about the chief function of the passage? What would have to be the case for the passage in question to be an argument? What would have to be the case for the passage in question to be an explanation? Where you find an argument, identify its premises and conclusion. Where you find an explanation, indicate what is being explained and what the explanation is. See Arguments and Explanations

11.

Instructions: The following passage may contain an explanation, argument, or may be interpreted as either an argument or an explanation. Choose the most appropriate answer from the choices below. [N]o names come in contradictory pairs; but all predictables come in contradictory pairs; therefore no name is a predictable.- Peter Geach, Reference and Generality
Your Answer: Both Correct Answer: Argument Notice the conclusion indicator word. What is your judgment about the chief function of the passage? What would have to be the case for the passage in question to be an argument? What would have to be the case for the passage in question to be an explanation? Where you find an argument, identify its premises and conclusion. Where you find an explanation, indicate what is being explained and what the explanation is. See Arguments and Explanations

12.

Instructions: The following passage may contain an explanation, argument, or may be interpreted as either an argument or an explanation. Choose the most appropriate answer from the choices below. Nintendo is known to use their hardware to its best, and is also known to insist on the efficiency of the hardware. That's why their new game system, the 'Wii,' will feature nice graphics.-Admiral Price,

http://blogs.ign.com/rambo_ando/2006/05/24/19152/
Your Answer: Both

13.

Instructions: Choose the argument below that has the following characteristics: A valid argument with two true premises and a true conclusion.
Your Answer: If New York City is in New York, then New York City is in the United States. New York City is in New York. Therefore, New York City is in the United States.

14.

Instructions: Choose the argument below that has the following characteristics: A valid argument with one false premise, one true premise, and a true conclusion.
Your Answer: If Los Angeles, California, is in South America, then Los Angeles, California, is in the United States. Los Angeles, California, is in South America. Therefore, Los Angeles, California, is in the United States.

15.

Instructions: Choose the argument below that has the following characteristics: A valid argument with one false premise, one true premise, and a false conclusion.
Your Answer: If Los Angeles, California, is in the United States, then Los Angeles, California, is in South America. Los Angeles, California, is in the United States. Therefore, Los Angeles, California, is in South America.

16.

Instructions: Choose the argument below that has the following characteristics: An invalid argument with false premises, and a true conclusion.
Your Answer: Either the moon is made of green cheese, or Mars has been painted blue. The moon is made of green cheese.

Therefore, Mars has not been painted blue.

17.

Instructions: Choose the argument below that has the following characteristics: An invalid argument with true premises, and a true conclusion.
Your Answer: Either 2 + 3 = 5, or 2 + 3 = 0. 2 + 3 = 5. Therefore, it's not the case that 2 + 3 = 0.

18.

Instructions: Choose the argument below that has the following characteristics: An invalid argument with two true premises and a false conclusion.
Your Answer: Hawaii or Catalina is in the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii is in the Pacific Ocean. Therefore, Catalina is not in the Pacific Ocean.

19.

Instructions: Choose the argument below that has the following characteristics: A valid argument with one false premise and a true conclusion.
Your Answer: Hawaii is in the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, Hawaii is in the Atlantic Ocean or the Pacific Ocean.

20.

Instructions: Choose the argument below that has the following characteristics: An invalid argument with one false premise and a true conclusion.
Your Answer: Some beagles are cats. Therefore, some beagles are friendly.

21.

Instructions: Choose the argument below that has the following characteristics: A valid argument with two false premises and a true conclusion.

Your Answer: All cats are parrots. No parrots have wings. Therefore, no cats have wings.

22.

Instructions: Choose the argument below that has the following characteristics: A valid argument with a false premise and a true conclusion.
Your Answer: The moon is made of green cheese. Therefore, either the moon is made of green cheese or Mars is not made of green cheese.

23.

Instructions: Choose the argument below that has the following characteristics: An invalid argument with two false premises, and a true conclusion.
Your Answer: If Des Moines is in the United States, then Des Moines is in Pennsylvania. Des Moines is in Pennsylvania. Therefore, Des Moines is in the United States.

24.

Instructions: Choose the argument below that has the following characteristics: An invalid argument with two false premises, and a true conclusion.
Your Answer: Either Des Moines is in Paris or Des Moines is in Pennsylvania. Des Moines is in Paris. Therefore, Des Moines is not in Pennsylvania.

25.

Instructions: Choose the argument below that has the following characteristics: A valid argument with two false premises and a false conclusion.
Your Answer: All dogs are cats. All cats are horses. Therefore, all dogs are horses.

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