Question 1

Commands are statements.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Commands are statements....

Question 2

The following sentence is an argument: "Flight 336 to Rome will be delayed because of a technical problem with the aircraft."

Accepted Answer

The sentence is a statement providing information about a flight delay and its cause, not presenting a claim supported by reasons aimed at persuading someone of a particular point of view.

Question 3

"That is why," "which shows that," and "accordingly" are common conclusion indicators.

Accepted Answer

These phrases are often used to signal the conclusion of an argument or to indicate that what follows is a result or inference drawn from the information presented earlier.

Question 4

The following passage is an illustration rather than an argument: "It's false that there are no mountain peaks higher than 6,000 feet east of the Rocky Mountains. Mount Mitchell, for example, in North Carolina, has an elevation of 6,684 feet."

Accepted Answer

The answer of The following passage is an illustration rather...

Question 5

The following passage is an argument: "It is not true that no presidents were born west of the Rocky Mountains. Richard Nixon, for example, was born in California."

Accepted Answer

The passage presents a claim ("It is not true that no presidents were born west of the Rocky Mountains") and supports it with evidence (Richard Nixon's birthplace), which constitutes an argument.

Question 6

The following sentence is a statement: "How unfair!"

Accepted Answer

The sentence is a statement because it expresses an opinion or feeling.

Question 7

The following passage contains an ought imperative: "Put away your books and notes. This is a closed-book exam." (said by a teacher)

Accepted Answer

An "ought imperative" involves a moral or ethical obligation, whereas the passage is a direct command or instruction without moral implications.

Question 8

The tropics on both sides of the equator get more heat because the sun's rays strike them directly from the middle of the sky. (Al Gore, Earth in the Balance) This statement exemplifies a(n) _____. A) illustration B) argument C) explanation D) conditional statement E) report

Accepted Answer

The statement provides a reason for why the tropics receive more heat, making it an explanation of a natural phenomenon.

Question 9

"Bees need a great amount of energy because their wings beat at a great speed, about 11,400 times per minute!" In this statement, the part "their wings beat at a great speed, about 11,400 times per minute" is the _____.
A) explanandum
B) explanans
C) chain argument
D) antecedent
E) consequent

Accepted Answer

The part "their wings beat at a great speed, about 11,400 times per minute" serves as the explanans because it provides the explanation or reason for the statement that bees need a great amount of energy.

Question 10

If science is by definition the search for an intelligible network of natural cause-and-effect relationships, then it cannot admit to the possibility of a supernatural cause influencing the network in any way. (James E. Huchingson, "Introduction: The Two-Storied Universe," in James E. Huchingson, ed., Religion and the Natural Sciences: The Range of Engagement) This passage exemplifies a(n) _____. A) conditional statement B) argument C) explanation D) unsupported assertion E) illustration

Accepted Answer

The passage presents a conditional statement ("If science is by definition...then it cannot admit..."), indicating a specific condition and its consequence.

Question 11

If you accept the literal truth of every word of the Bible, then the Earth must be flat. (Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World) This statement exemplifies a(n) _____. A) unsupported assertion B) explanation C) argument D) conditional statement E) illustration

Accepted Answer

This statement is a conditional statement because it presents a condition ("If you accept the literal truth of every word of the Bible") and a consequence ("then the Earth must be flat").

Question 12

If we want our children to have a good grasp of science, we need to help teachers, parents, school administrators, and policy-makers understand both evolution and the nature of science. (National Academy of Sciences, Teaching about Evolution and the Nature of Science) This statement exemplifies a(n) _____. A) conditional statement B) unsupported assertion C) report D) argument E) explanation

Accepted Answer

The answer of If we want our children to have...

Question 13

"Don't drink soda, Renee! You'll ruin your health!" This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.
A) verbal dispute
B) ought imperative
C) chain argument
D) explanandum
E) explanans

Accepted Answer

The statement is an example of an "ought imperative," which is a directive suggesting what someone ought to do or not do, often with an implication of moral duty or necessity for a particular outcome, in this case, to protect one's health.

Question 14

If the statement that a passage seeks to prove or explain is a matter of common knowledge, then the passage is probably an explanation rather than an argument.

Accepted Answer

An explanation provides details or reasons for something that is already accepted as true or known, whereas an argument seeks to persuade the reader about the truth of a proposition that might not be accepted or is in dispute.

Question 15

Without really knowing it, many students inwardly believe that it is possible to acquire knowledge without thought, that it is possible to read without exerting any intellectual energy, and that good writing is not a product of practice and hard work but of a talent one is born with. As a result, they are not inclined to take any responsibility for their own learning or to put any effort into learning new modes of thinking. (Foundation for Critical Thinking, Critical Thinking: Basic Theory and Instructional Structures) This passage is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____. A) argument; conclusion: They are not inclined to take any responsibility for their own learning or to put any effort into learning new modes of thinking B) nonargument; report C) nonargument; explanation D) nonargument; unsupported assertion

Accepted Answer

The passage provides an explanation for why students might not take responsibility for their own learning or put effort into learning new modes of thinking, rather than making an argument with a conclusion or simply reporting or asserting information without support.

Question 16

If moms would stay home and be moms the way they're supposed to be instead of trying to act like men, we wouldn't have the trouble we're having with our children today. (From a newspaper call-in column)
This statement is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.
A) argument; conclusion: Moms should stay home and be moms the way they're supposed to be instead of trying to act like men
B) nonargument; conditional statement
C) argument; conclusion: We wouldn't have the trouble we're having with our children today
D) nonargument; unsupported assertion

Accepted Answer

The statement is an argument with the conclusion that moms should stay home and be moms the way they're supposed to be instead of trying to act like men. The premise is that if moms would stay home and be moms the way they're supposed to be, we wouldn't have the trouble we're having with our children today.

Question 17

The following sentence is an argument: "Since the world of tomorrow will be run by the children of today, it is vital that we encourage young people to be concerned about the future and instill in them the idea that they can help shape that future according to their own goals and aspirations." (Howard Ozmon and Samuel Craver, Philosophical Foundations of Education)

Accepted Answer

The sentence presents a claim (that it is vital to encourage young people to be concerned about the future) supported by a reason (because the world of tomorrow will be run by the children of today), which constitutes an argument.

Question 18

The conclusion of an argument always occurs at the end of the argument.

Accepted Answer

The conclusion of an argument can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of the argument, depending on how the argument is structured. It is identified by its role as the main point the argument seeks to prove, not its position.

Question 19

"If you grew up in Los Angeles, you must be friends with all the celebrities." In this conditional statement, the part "If you grew up in Los Angeles" is the _____.
A) explanandum
B) explanans
C) consequent
D) antecedent
E) chain argument

Accepted Answer

In a conditional statement, the "if" part is known as the antecedent. It sets the condition for the "then" part, which is called the consequent.

Question 20

This is for the lady who says she wants to vote for the opposite person who is not supported by pharmaceutical companies. Republicans support big business. Pharmaceutical companies are very, very big business. You want to vote against them? Vote Democratic. (From a newspaper call-in column)
This passage is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.
A) argument; conclusion: If you want to vote against candidates who are not supported by the pharmaceutical companies, vote Democratic
B) nonargument; unsupported assertion
C) argument; conclusion: Republicans support big business
D) argument; conclusion: Pharmaceutical companies are very, very big business

Accepted Answer

The passage presents an argument leading to a conclusion that if one wants to vote against candidates supported by pharmaceutical companies, they should vote Democratic, based on the premise that Republicans support big business, including pharmaceutical companies.

Quiz 2: Recognizing Arguments

Commands are statements.

The following sentence is an argument: "Flight 336 to Rome will be delayed because of a technical problem with the aircraft."

"That is why," "which shows that," and "accordingly" are common conclusion indicators.

The following passage is an illustration rather than an argument: "It's false that there are no mountain peaks higher than 6,000 feet east of the Rocky Mountains. Mount Mitchell, for example, in North Carolina, has an elevation of 6,684 feet."

The following passage is an argument: "It is not true that no presidents were born west of the Rocky Mountains. Richard Nixon, for example, was born in California."

The following sentence is a statement: "How unfair!"

The following passage contains an ought imperative: "Put away your books and notes. This is a closed-book exam." (said by a teacher)

The tropics on both sides of the equator get more heat because the sun's rays strike them directly from the middle of the sky. (Al Gore, Earth in the Balance) This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

"Bees need a great amount of energy because their wings beat at a great speed, about 11,400 times per minute!" In this statement, the part "their wings beat at a great speed, about 11,400 times per minute" is the _____.

If you accept the literal truth of every word of the Bible, then the Earth must be flat. (Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World) This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

"Don't drink soda, Renee! You'll ruin your health!" This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

If the statement that a passage seeks to prove or explain is a matter of common knowledge, then the passage is probably an explanation rather than an argument.

If moms would stay home and be moms the way they're supposed to be instead of trying to act like men, we wouldn't have the trouble we're having with our children today. (From a newspaper call-in column) This statement is made up of a(n) _ and a(n) _.

The conclusion of an argument always occurs at the end of the argument.

"If you grew up in Los Angeles, you must be friends with all the celebrities." In this conditional statement, the part "If you grew up in Los Angeles" is the _____.

Quiz 2: Recognizing Arguments

Commands are statements.

The following sentence is an argument: "Flight 336 to Rome will be delayed because of a technical problem with the aircraft."

"That is why," "which shows that," and "accordingly" are common conclusion indicators.

The following passage is an illustration rather than an argument: "It's false that there are no mountain peaks higher than 6,000 feet east of the Rocky Mountains. Mount Mitchell, for example, in North Carolina, has an elevation of 6,684 feet."

The following passage is an argument: "It is not true that no presidents were born west of the Rocky Mountains. Richard Nixon, for example, was born in California."

The following sentence is a statement: "How unfair!"

The following passage contains an ought imperative: "Put away your books and notes. This is a closed-book exam." (said by a teacher)

The tropics on both sides of the equator get more heat because the sun's rays strike them directly from the middle of the sky. (Al Gore, Earth in the Balance) This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

"Bees need a great amount of energy because their wings beat at a great speed, about 11,400 times per minute!" In this statement, the part "their wings beat at a great speed, about 11,400 times per minute" is the _____.

If you accept the literal truth of every word of the Bible, then the Earth must be flat. (Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World) This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

"Don't drink soda, Renee! You'll ruin your health!" This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

If the statement that a passage seeks to prove or explain is a matter of common knowledge, then the passage is probably an explanation rather than an argument.

If moms would stay home and be moms the way they're supposed to be instead of trying to act like men, we wouldn't have the trouble we're having with our children today. (From a newspaper call-in column) This statement is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

The conclusion of an argument always occurs at the end of the argument.

"If you grew up in Los Angeles, you must be friends with all the celebrities." In this conditional statement, the part "If you grew up in Los Angeles" is the _____.

If moms would stay home and be moms the way they're supposed to be instead of trying to act like men, we wouldn't have the trouble we're having with our children today. (From a newspaper call-in column) This statement is made up of a(n) _ and a(n) _.