Week 9 Knowledge Check Study Guide

Concepts

Mastery

Accurately Identifying the

Principle Issue

27

100%

100%

100%

100%

10

11

12

100%

13

14

15

100%

16

17

18

Identifying Vague or
Ambiguous Writing
Assessing Credibility
Recognizing Rhetorical
Devices
Correctly Identifying
Fallacies
Identifying Arguments

Questions

100%

Correctly Identifying
Examples of Bias

Score: 27 / 28

Analyzing Premises and

Conclusions

19

20

28

100%

21

22

23

100%

24

25

26

67%

Correctly Identifying Valid

Arguments
Recognizing the Use of
Moral Reasoning

Concept: Accurately Identifying the Principle Issue

Mastery

100%

Questions

27

1.
What is the term for a point being debated; or, in other words, a question that is raised
when assessing the truth or falsity of a statement?

A.

Argument

B.

Issue

C.

Opinion

D.

Reason

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: B.
An issue is the question raised. It is the basis for an argument.
2.
Generally speaking, which of these statements best represents the relationship between
issues and topics of conversation?

A.

A topic of conversation often has several issues at stake.

B.

An issue often has several topics of conversation at stake.

C.

A topic never contains issues.

D.

An issue is just a topic.

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: A.
The topic up for discussionfor example the beauty of a sunsetmay involve
several issues, such as, "Is aesthetic appreciation worth developing?" or "Is it good
to spend time observing nature?".
27.
In which of the following are the two speakers addressing the same issue?

A.

Big: Dont worry about coming into the pool. Its only
eight feet. Little: That doesnt make me feel any safer.
You could drown in your bathtub.

B.

First critic: I cant believe Jay opened his reading with

that terrible poem. What a disaster! Second critic: Oh, it
wasnt so bad. He had his Italian suit on.

C.

Owner: How could you slam the door like that? Its not
your car. Rider: I know.

D.

Pro: These new term limits will give us better-elected

officials. Well finally have a choice other than the
candidates the party machine trots out for us. Con: I dont
see how it can be democratic for the people who passed
these term limits to restrict other voters choices.

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: A.
Both sides address the issue, although they have different standards of water safety.
Both give arguments, even though brief, for their positions.

Concept: Correctly Identifying Examples of Bias

Mastery

3.

100%

Questions

What term would describe an inappropriate personal motive that casts doubts on one's
own observations, the firsthand observations reported by someone else, or the claims of
an expert?

A.

Bias

B.

Background information

C.

Initial plausibility

D.

Personal observation

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: A.
Bias is what allows beliefs to color our perception of facts. Bias skews
understanding based on personal experiences.

Concept: Identifying Vague or Ambiguous Writing

Mastery

100%

Questions

4.
How would you assess the vagueness of the following statement? "Please do not make
any more late-night phone calls."

A.

Vague in itself

B.

Vague comparison

C.

No vagueness

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: C.
"Late-night" may not have a precise definition, but it's clear enough to say that there
is no real vagueness in the statement.

5.
How would you assess the vagueness of the following statement? "Whiskey is no worse
for you than beer."

A.

Vague in itself

B.

Vague comparison

C.

No vagueness

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: B.
If the comparison refers to the total alcohol in one shot of whiskey with one whole
bottle of beer, it may be true (but if that is what is meant, such details ought to be
provided). If other claims are implied, such as potential for abuse, or relative rates of
absorption, the claim requires more information.
6.

How would you assess the vagueness of the following statement? "This warranty
becomes void if the owner uses the hammer improperly."

A.

Vague in itself

B.

Vague comparison

C.

No vagueness

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: A.
Given that a hammer is an object made to hit things with, "improperly" needs a more
precise definition. Does it refer to propping up a car with the hammer? Or, is it
improper if you try pounding nails into concrete walls?

Concept: Assessing Credibility

Mastery

100%

Questions

7.
Which of the following statements regarding credibility is FALSE?

A.

It is generally reasonable to accept an unsupported claim

if it does not conflict with your own observations, your
background knowledge, or with other credible claims and
if it comes from a credible source that you do not suspect
of bias.

B.

It is fair to say that some people, because of their

particular training, are better than the average person at
making reliable observations.

C.

In general, the more knowledgeable a person is about a

given subject, the more reason there is to accept what the
person says about it.

D.

In general, it is safe to assume that claims made by the

news media can be accepted as true without being
suspicious.

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: D.
Interested parties influence, and often manipulate, the news media. Advertisers,
owners, and managers may pressure reporters to report in a biased way. Also,
people in the news (like everyone) have personal biases and make mistakes.
Therefore, reserving judgment, at least in controversial cases, is a prudent tactic
when consuming news media.
8.
A claims "initial plausibility" is assessed by which of the following?

A.

By assessing how well the claim fits with your

background information

B.

By assessing your gut reaction to the claim

C.

By assessing the credibility of the person making the

claim

D.

By assessing the first one or two arguments that are

presented for the claim

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: A.
Typically, the first response we have to a claim comes from evaluating it against
beliefs and knowledge we already have (especially since the beliefs we've justified
in the past fit into a whole "web of beliefs"). For a new claim to "fit" reasonably well
with these provides initial plausibility.
9.
Does the following claim have any initial plausibility; and if not, what is the conflict?
"Vomiting is your bodys way of getting rid of something harmful."

A.

Some initial plausibility; conforms to our observations

and/or background information

B.

Low initial plausibility; conforms to our values

C.

No initial plausibility; conflicts with background

information

D.

No initial plausibility; conflicts with both observation

and background information

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: A.
This claim has some initial plausibility from our personal observation and
backgroundbut its not a perfect fit because it may conflict with other background
information about causes of vomiting that work independently of the presence of
harmful substances in the stomach, such as motion sickness.

Concept: Recognizing Rhetorical Devices

Mastery

100%

Questions

10

11

12

10.
Read this statement: We think the Chicago office may be the weakest producer in the
entire company. This statement is an example of which rhetorical device?

A.

Downplayer

B.

Weaseler

C.

Dysphemism

D.

Euphemism

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: B.
The words may be weasels the statement by weakening the claim.
11.
Read this statement: "You cant sleep with the covers over your head. All the medical
journals will tell you that it is harmful." This statement is an example of which rhetorical
device?

A.

Innuendo
Proof surrogate

B.
C.

Weaseler

D.

Euphemism

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: B.
Well, what do the medical journals say? Where are the references? Merely claiming
that medical journals support your point is worthless as a proof.
12.
Read this statement: "Rather than raising taxes, we will fund this new program through
revenue enhancements from the sale of beer and cigarettes." This statement could be
considered a kind of which rhetorical device?

A.

Rhetorical definition

B.

Proof surrogate

C.

Weaseler

D.

Euphemism

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: D.
The term "revenue enhancement" is being used to hide the fact that they are still
talking about raising taxes.

Concept: Correctly Identifying Fallacies

Mastery

100%

Questions

13

14

15

13.
Which of the following terms refers to the fallacy otherwise known as an appeal to vanity?

A.

Appeal to popularity
Common practice

B.
C.

Apple polishing

D.

Two wrongs make a right

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: C.
Praising a person's admirable qualities and accomplishments is often superfluous
and irrelevant to an argument. The reason people do it is often to manipulate that
person's emotions so that the person will be more amenable to accepting their
conclusion.
14.
Which of the following terms is a rhetorical device which attacks the arguer instead of the
argument?

A.

Slippery slope

B.

Begging the question

C.

False dilemma

D.

Ad hominem

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: D.
When analyzing an argument, the internal claims premises are fair game for attack.
The qualities of the person making the argument are not fair game because they
aren't pertinent to the argument itself. Doing so is ad hominem.
15.
Read the following statement: "Either join in political life or resign yourself to a lonely and
meaningless existence." This is an example of which rhetorical device?

A.

False dilemma

B.

Circumstantial ad hominem

C.

Appeal to ignorance

D.

Poisoning the well

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: A.
There are, in fact, other choices for living a meaningful life with company other than
politics. This is a false dilemma.

Concept: Identifying Arguments

Mastery

100%

Questions

16

17

18

16.
Which of the following statements best differentiates a deductive argument from an
inductive argument?

A.

An inductive argument sets out to guarantee the truth of

its conclusion based on the truth of its premises, while a
deductive argument attempts to offer a probability that its
conclusion is true based on the truth of its premises.

B.

A deductive argument sets out to guarantee the truth of

its conclusion based on the truth of its premises, while an
inductive argument attempts to offer a probability that its
conclusion is true based on the truth of its premises.

C.

A deductive argument has true premises, while an

inductive arguments premises only appear to be true.

D.

A deductive argument is simply a very strong inductive

argument.

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: B.
Deductive arguments either succeed or fail to prove their conclusionsthey are
black or white, with no shades of gray. The link between the premises and
conclusion is certain. Inductive arguments merely support their conclusions to some
degree. They are never black or white, but always shades of gray. The link between
the premises and the conclusion in inductive arguments is based on probability.
17.
What would you call a type of argument that is inductive and uses the properties of a
group to establish the property of another thing that resembles the members of that
group?

A.

Anecdotal

B.

Hasty

C.

Generalized

D.

Analogical

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: D.
Analogical arguments include premises that claim one or more items have a given
property and a conclusion that claims a similar item or items have the same
property.
18.
What type of argument has a premise that describes the property of a sample and whose
conclusion extends that premise to a larger class containing that sample, or to an item
outside the sample?

A.

Inductive

B.

Deductive

C.

Rhetorical

D.

Generalized

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: A.
An inductive argument infers that because the sample group has a given property, a
larger group of that same category will have the same properties. The premises will
support the conclusion such that if the premises are true, it is not likely the
conclusion will be false.

Concept: Analyzing Premises and Conclusions

Mastery

67%

Questions

19

20

28

19.
Which of the following words is a good example of a premise indicator?

A.

Since

B.

Therefore

C.

For

D.

Because

Incorrect:
The Correct Answer is: A.
"Since" points to the claim or claims given as reasons for accepting the conclusion.
20.
An argument with true premises that provides absolute proof of the truth of the conclusion
would be called what?

A.

A weak argument

B.

A good argument

C.

An invalid argument

D.

A strong argument

E.

A valid argument

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: E.
Validity has to do with the structure, or "shape," of the argument. Truth has to do with
what the argument is about. Even if every premise in the content of the argument
were true, they wouldn't support the conclusion if they weren't in the right structure.
For example, "All cats are mammals. All cats meow. Therefore, all mammals meow."
is not a valid construction, so even though the premises are true, they do not support
the conclusion. An argument has to be both valid and have all true premises to
provide absolute proof of the conclusion. It must be "sound."
28.
Which of the following words is a good example of a conclusion indicator?

A.

Since

B.

Therefore

C.

For

D.

Because

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: B.
"Therefore" points to the claim the argument was constructed to prove.

Concept: Correctly Identifying Valid Arguments

Mastery

100%

Questions

21

22

23

21.
In most general terms, what word do we use for a deductive argument whose premises,
while true, do not necessarily prove its conclusion?

Weak

A.
B.

Good

C.

Invalid

D.

Strong

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: C.
There are only two places to check an argument: the form and the content. If the
content has all true premises, then the form, or shape, of the argument must not be a
valid one. If the form is valid, then at least one of the premises must be false for it to
be possible to yield a false conclusion.
22.
Which of the following types of arguments are evaluated using the terms valid and invalid
?

A.

Inductive

B.

Deductive

C.

Rhetorical

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: B.
Validity pertains to the structure, or "shape," of the argument.
23.
Which of the following types of arguments are evaluated using the terms sound and

unsound?

A.

Inductive

B.

Deductive

C.

Rhetorical

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: B.
Soundness pertains to the content of the valid argument, what it is about.

Concept: Recognizing the Use of Moral Reasoning

Mastery

100%

Questions

24

25

26

24.
Which of the following do you think a justification for a law requiring motorcyclists to wear
helmets would most likely be based on?

A.

Legal paternalism

B.

The harm principle

C.

Legal moralism
The offense principle

D.

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: A.
The idea of forcing people, with threat of punishment, to do what's in their own best
interest is legal paternalism.
25.
Which moral theory would probably justify the following question:"Should I commit
adultery just this once, if no one will ever find out?"

A.

Utilitarianism

B.

Deontology

C.

Absolutism

D.

Virtue ethics

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: A.
Simple utilitarianism, the correct answer, would probably not condemn this action
(unless the person thought a secret act of adultery would have harmful effects). Duty
theory prohibits it: If you tried to universalize the principle, you'd be saying that there
should be no such thing as marriage, which logically makes adultery impossible.
Religious absolutism may appeal to a doctrine that prohibits adultery. Virtue theory
does not especially lend itself to an answer.
26.
Which moral theory would probably justify the following statement:"Sure, we might benefit
from expanding Highway 99. But seizing a persons property against his or her wishes is
just wrong. Period."

A.

Utilitarianism

B.

Deontology

C.

Religious absolutism

D.

Virtue ethics

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: B.
Deontology promotes doing what is right and does not support treating people as a
means to an end.