Deck 7: Informal Reasoning

Question 1

The terms "antecedent" and "consequent" refer to which kind of reasoning?

A) Generalization
B) Analogy
C) Causal
D) Example

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Marisol has just returned home from a job interview. She slams the door behind her, wads up her resume, and throws it in the trash can. Her husband, Bert, decides she could use some comforting. Bert is probably using what kind of reasoning?

A) Analogy
B) Generalization
C) Deduction
D) Cause-effect
E) Sign

Answer 2

E

Question 3

"The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is to Christianity what the ISIS is to Islam." The type of reasoning employed in this argument is:

A) Analogy
B) Cause-effect
C) Example
D) Sign
E) Generalization

Answer 3

A

Question 4

In the old saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," the most likely causal inference is:

A) Doctors don't like apples
B) Eating an apple each day is sufficient to guarantee good health
C) Eating fruits and vegetables is essential for staying healthy
D) Healthy people like apples

Question 5

A ________________ is capable of producing a given effect in and of itself. However, other causes may also be capable of producing that same effect.

A) Valid cause
B) Necessary cause
C) Coincidental cause
D) Sufficient cause
E) Sole cause

Question 6

One parent claims "Kids need a good smack every now and then, or they turn out to be brats." Another parent disagrees, claiming "I'd never spank my child, because I would be modeling aggression, and it might make her more hostile and aggressive." What type of reasoning are the parents using?

A) Causal reasoning
B) Reasoning by analogy
C) Sign reasoning
D) Deductive reasoning

Question 7

What type of reasoning is involved in the following argument? "My first Toyota was reliable. My second Toyota was also reliable. In my opinion, Toyotas are very reliable cars."

A) Correlation
B) Causation
C) Analogy
D) Sign
E) Generalization

Question 8

Where there is smoke, there is fire.

A) Analogy
B) Sign
C) Necessary cause
D) Sufficient cause
E) Example

Question 9

Naomi is a social-justice warrior, so she probably favors universal health care and a guaranteed living wage.

A) Analogy
B) Sign
C) Generalization
D) Cause-effect
E) Example

Question 10

You don't have to be raised in a two-parent family to succeed in life. Adele, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama were all raised by single mothers, and all became famous and successful.

A) Analogy
B) Sign
C) Reciprocal cause
D) Sufficient cause
E) Example

Question 11

A spokesperson for a stationary bike claims, "I've been riding the Spinmaster 3000 for 30 minutes a day, for the last two months, and I've lost 5 lbs. per week. You can shed pounds with the Spinmaster 3000, too."

A) Analogy
B) Sign
C) Reciprocal cause
D) Necessary cause
E) Example

Question 12

Lulu: "The wings of a bird cannot be compared to the wings of an airplane, because a bird's wings perform two functions; they provide lift and propel the bird forward. In contrast, an airplane wing only provides lift. The propeller is what moves a plane forward.

A) Analogy
B) Sign
C) Generalization
D) Cause-effect
E) Example

Question 13

Which of the following best represents a generalization?

A) My dog likes to bark at squirrels.
B) My neighbor owns a Collie.
C) Most dogs bark at mail carriers.
D) Different barks signify different warnings.

Question 14

Including which qualifier below reduces the odds that a generalization will be contested?

A) All
B) None
C) Many
D) Every
E) Always

Question 15

Cultural stereotypes such as "blondes are dumb," and "white men can't jump," are based on which form of reasoning?

A) Analogy
B) Sign
C) Generalization
D) Cause-effect
E) Example

Question 16

If you had the measles as a child, you remain immune to measles for the rest of your life. Such immunity represents which type of cause?

A) Necessary
B) Sufficient
C) Sole
D) Reciprocal

Question 17

The statement, "No one ever won a race without taking the first step," represents which type of cause?

A) Sole cause: Only by taking the first step can one win the race, and taking the first step will ensure one wins the race
B) Alternative cause: There are other ways to win a race without taking a first step.
C) Necessary cause: It is necessary to take the first step in order to win a race.
D) Sufficient cause: If one just takes the first step, one will win.

Question 18

A cause may be said to be ________________ if, without its presence, the effect will not occur.

A) Valid
B) Necessary
C) Coincidental
D) Sufficient
E) Reciprocal

Question 19

Analogies can be:

A) Valid or invalid
B) Fallible or infallible
C) Literal or figurative
D) Logical or illogical

Question 20

A cause that is capable of producing an effect all by itself is:

A) Valid
B) Necessary
C) Coincidental
D) Sufficient
E) Reciprocal

Question 21

"Since I started jogging every morning, I seem to sleep better at night. I think the exercise is giving me a better night's rest." What is the most likely form of reasoning being used here?

A) Sign reasoning
B) Analogy
C) Cause-effect
D) Generalization
E) Example

Question 22

Which of the following statements about causal reasoning is false?

A) A single cause may produce multiple effects.
B) A single effect may have multiple causes.
C) An effect may precede its cause.
D) Two events may be correlated without necessarily being causally connected.
E) Causal relationships can be inferred, but not directly observed.

Question 23

A detective infers that someone recently rearranged the furniture in a room, because there are depressions in the carpet where the furniture used to be. The detective is relying on which type of reasoning?

A) Analogy
B) Generalization
C) Sign
D) Example
E) Parallel case

Question 24

The saying, "don't judge a book by its cover," refers to which type of reasoning?

A) Analogy
B) Generalization
C) Sign
D) Cause-effect
E) Example

Question 25

The statements, "The Pound Sterling is to London what the Brazilian Real is to Rio de Janeiro," "Fahrenheit is to the USA what centigrade is to Europe," and "A fox is to a chicken what a cat is to a mouse," all rely on which type of reasoning?

A) Causal chain
B) Contingent generalization
C) Parallel case
D) Contributory cause

Question 26

Explain the primary difference(s) between correlation and causation, then provide an example of each that highlights the difference(s).

Question 27

What is the difference between structural features of an analogy and superficial features of an analogy? Provide your own example of an analogy (not from the text or class lecture) that illustrates the distinction.

Question 28

Explain the differences between a necessary cause, a sufficient cause, and a sole cause. Prove an example that illustrates each form of causal reasoning.

Question 29

Choose one of the following types of inductive reasoning-sign, analogy, or cause-effect-then identify specific tests that should be used to evaluate that form of inductive reasoning.

Question 30

Identify what you consider to be a true causal chain of reasoning, or a false chain of causal reasoning. Explain what makes you believe the causal sequence is true or untrue.

Question 31

Some scholars maintain that argument by analogy is one of the weakest forms of inductive reasoning, but at the same time, they acknowledge that analogies are one of the most powerful, persuasive forms of inductive reasoning. Explain why this is the case.

Question 32

Explain the difference between an inductive and a deductive generalization. Provide an example of each that clarifies the distinction.