Question 1

Rhetorical questions are statements.

Accepted Answer

Rhetorical questions are used to make a point rather than to elicit an answer, functioning more like statements in discourse.

Question 2

Premises are statements that are claimed to provide evidence for another statement, the conclusion.

Accepted Answer

Premises are indeed statements or propositions that are argued to support or lead logically to a conclusion, forming the basis of an argument.

Question 3

Since, because, and thus are common premise indicators.

Accepted Answer

Since, because, and thus are all words that indicate a cause-and-effect relationship between two statements.

Question 4

"That is why," "which shows that," and "for this reason" 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 consequence of what has been previously stated.

Question 5

Many arguments do not contain any indicator words.

Accepted Answer

Arguments can be structured and presented without using explicit indicator words (such as "because," "therefore," "since," etc.) to signal premises and conclusions, relying instead on the context and logical structure to convey the argument.

Question 6

The following sentence is an argument: "Flight 336 to Rome will be delayed due to late arrival of the aircraft."

Accepted Answer

The sentence states a fact, not an argument.

Question 7

If you have a well-established theory which says that change does not occur in the heavenly regions (regions of the sky more distant from the Earth than the moon), you will rightly discount reports of observers on a particular occasion who claim to have observed a new star to appear where there was no star before, or to have observed a comet pass through those regions (as opposed to being a mere sublunary phenomenon). (Richard Swinburne, Revelation: From Metaphor to Analogy) A) nonargument; conditional statement B) nonargument; illustration C)argument; conclusion: You will rightly discount reports of observers on a particular occasionwho claim to have observed a new star to appear where there was no star before, or to have observed a comet pass through those regions (as opposed to being a mere sublunary phenomenon) D) nonargument; unsupported assertion.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If you have a well-established theory which...

Question 8

Official world table tennis championships were first held in 1926 under the auspices of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF; founded in 1926). Women's doubles competition was added in 1929 and women's team competition in 1934. In 1980 the ITTF first sponsored a men's World Cup competition for the top 16 ranking players; it has been held annually since then. ("Sporting Record: Table Tennis," The New Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15^th ed.) A) nonargument; explanation B) nonargument; report C) nonargument; unsupported assertion D) argument; conclusion: It has been held annually since then.

Accepted Answer

The passage provides factual information about the history and development of official world table tennis championships, including dates and events, without attempting to persuade or argue for a particular conclusion.

Question 9

I believe in the United States of America as a Government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect Union one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. (William Tyler Page, "The American's Creed," quoted in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 12^th ed.) A) nonargument; illustration B) nonargument; conditional statement C) nonargument; report D) nonargument; unsupported assertion

Accepted Answer

This passage is a nonargument because it does not present premises supporting a conclusion but rather states beliefs or principles. It is classified as a report because it describes or reports on a set of beliefs or principles without attempting to argue for them.

Question 10

Although it is high time to deal with agriculture's contribution to water pollution, the damage is very uneven in scope and severity; it tends to occur where farming is extensive and fresh water resources are vulnerable. Thus, blanket regulations would be unwise. (David
A) argument; conclusion: Blanket regulations would be unwise.
B) argument; conclusion: It tends to occur where farming is extensive and fresh water resources are vulnerable.
C) nonargument; illustration
D) nonargument; explanation
E) Ervin, "Shaping a Smarter Environmental Policy for Farming")

Accepted Answer

The statement presents an argument against blanket regulations based on the uneven scope and severity of agriculture's contribution to water pollution, concluding that such regulations would be unwise.

Question 11

Since 1950, almost every top publishing house in the United States has been issuing books that its editors know to be occult garbage. Why? The answer is obvious. Like worthless diet books, they make lots of money. (Martin Gardner, The New Age: Notes of a Fringe Watcher) A) argument; conclusion: Since 1950, almost every top publishing house in the United States has been issuing books that its editors know to be occult garbage. B) nonargument; explanation C) nonargument; report D) argument; conclusion: Like worthless diet books, they make lots of money.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Since 1950, almost every top publishing house...

Question 12

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)
A) nonargument; unsupported assertion
B) argument; conclusion: Republicans support big business.
C) argument; conclusion: If you want to vote against candidates who are not supported by the . pharmaceutical companies, vote Democratic.
D) argument; conclusion: Pharmaceutical companies are very, very big business.

Accepted Answer

The statement is an argument because it provides a reason for a specific action (voting Democratic) based on the premise that the caller wants to vote against candidates supported by pharmaceutical companies. The conclusion drawn is that to achieve this, one should vote Democratic, implying Democrats are less supported by pharmaceutical companies compared to Republicans.

Question 13

About a century and a half ago Matthew Arnold found in the withdrawing ocean tide a metaphor for the retreat of religious faith, and heard in the water's sound "the note of sadness." It would be wonderful to find in the laws of nature a plan prepared by a concerned creator in which human beings played some special role. I find sadness in doubting that we will. (Steven Weinberg, Dreams of a Final Theory) A) nonargument; unsupported assertion B) argument; conclusion: I find sadness in doubting that we will. C)argument; conclusion: It would be wonderful to find in the laws of nature a plan prepared by a concerned creator in which human beings played some special role. D) nonargument; explanation

Accepted Answer

The passage is an unsupported assertion expressing the author's personal sentiment without providing evidence or reasoning to support a conclusion.

Question 14

Life can throw us some curves at times that are not always easy to handle. We can often feel lost, uncertain and upset. With so much to do and think about, we may become confused; not sure how to feel or what to do with our feelings. A natural reaction to stress, disappointment and losses in our lives is to feel down. But it's important to know that when these feelings are severe or continue for a long time, you may be experiencing depression--a disorder that requires professional help. (First Priority Health Brochure) A) argument; conclusion: Life can throw us some curves at times that are not always easy to handle. B) nonargument; report or unsupported assertion C) argument; conclusion: But it's important to know that when these feelings are severe or continue for a long time, you may be experiencing depression--a disorder that requires professional help. D) nonargument; illustration

Accepted Answer

The passage provides information about how people may feel in response to life's challenges and mentions depression without making an argument to support a specific conclusion. It reads more like a report or an assertion meant to inform rather than persuade.

Question 15

In a thoroughly naturalistic universe, it would be hard to see how any of our gestures toward meaning could be efficacious in any way at all. For this reason, the debate about the existence of God is never just an intellectual controversy. (Tom Morris, Philosophy for Dummies)
A) argument; conclusion: In a thoroughly naturalistic universe, it would be hard to see how any of our gestures toward meaning could be efficacious in any way at all.
B) nonargument; explanation
C) argument; conclusion: The debate about the existence of God is never just an intellectual controversy.
D) nonargument; conditional statement

Accepted Answer

The passage presents an argument with the conclusion that the debate about the existence of God is never just an intellectual controversy, supported by the premise about the implications of a naturalistic universe on meaning.

Question 16

There can be no defense of eating flesh in terms of satisfying nutritional needs, since it has been established beyond doubt that we could satisfy our need for protein and other essential nutrients far more efficiently with a diet that replaced animal flesh by soy beans, or products derived from soy beans, and other high-protein vegetable products. (Peter Singer, Animal Liberation)
A) nonargument; explanation
B) argument; conclusion: It has been established beyond doubt that we could satisfy our need for protein and other essential nutrients far more efficiently with a diet that replaced animal flesh by soy beans, or products derived from soy beans, and other high-protein vegetable products.
C) argument; conclusion: There can be no defense of eating flesh in terms of satisfying nutritional needs.
D) nonargument; unsupported assertion

Accepted Answer

The passage presents an argument with the conclusion that eating flesh cannot be defended on nutritional grounds, supported by the premise that our nutritional needs can be more efficiently met with high-protein vegetable products.

Question 17

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)
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) nonargument; unsupported assertion
D) argument; conclusion: We wouldn't have the trouble we're having with our children today.

Accepted Answer

The statement presents a claim that if moms adhered to traditional roles, there would be fewer issues with children today, making it an argument with a clear conclusion that moms should stay home.

Question 18

Simple distinctions come all too easily. Frequently we open the way for later puzzlement by restricting the options we take to be available. So, for example, in contrasting science and religion, we often operate with a simple pair of categories. On one side there is science, proof, and certainty; on the other, religion, conjecture, and faith. (Philip Kitcher, Abusing Science: The Case Against Creationism)
A) nonargument; conditional statement
B) argument; conclusion: For example, in contrasting science and religion, we often operate with a simple pair of categories.
C) argument; conclusion: Simple distinctions come all too easily.
D) nonargument; illustration

Accepted Answer

The passage provides an illustration of how people commonly contrast science and religion, rather than presenting an argument with a conclusion.

Question 19

He that makes use of the light and faculties God has given him and seeks sincerely to discover truths by those helps and abilities he has, may have this satisfaction in doing his duty as a rational creature, that, though he should miss truth, he will not miss the reward of it. For he governs his assent right, and places it as he should, who, in any case or matter whatsoever, believes or disbelieves, according as his reason directs him. (John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding)
A) nonargument; conditional statement
B) nonargument; unsupported assertion
C) nonargument; explanation
D)argument; conclusion: He that makes use of the light and faculties God has given him and seeks sincerely to discover truths by those helps and abilities he has, may have this satisfaction in doing his duty as a rational creature, that, though he should miss truth, he will not miss the reward of it.

Accepted Answer

The answer of He that makes use of the light...

Question 20

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)
A) nonargument; explanation
B) 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.
C) nonargument; report
D) nonargument; unsupported assertion

Accepted Answer

The passage provides an explanation of why students might not take responsibility for their own learning or put effort into learning new modes of thinking, rather than arguing for a conclusion based on premises.

Quiz 2: Recognizing Arguments

Rhetorical questions are statements.

Premises are statements that are claimed to provide evidence for another statement, the conclusion.

Since, because, and thus are common premise indicators.

"That is why," "which shows that," and "for this reason" are common conclusion indicators.

Many arguments do not contain any indicator words.

The following sentence is an argument: "Flight 336 to Rome will be delayed due to late arrival of the aircraft."

Although it is high time to deal with agriculture's contribution to water pollution, the damage is very uneven in scope and severity; it tends to occur where farming is extensive and fresh water resources are vulnerable. Thus, blanket regulations would be unwise. (David

Since 1950, almost every top publishing house in the United States has been issuing books that its editors know to be occult garbage. Why? The answer is obvious. Like worthless diet books, they make lots of money. (Martin Gardner, The New Age: Notes of a Fringe Watcher)

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)

In a thoroughly naturalistic universe, it would be hard to see how any of our gestures toward meaning could be efficacious in any way at all. For this reason, the debate about the existence of God is never just an intellectual controversy. (Tom Morris, Philosophy for Dummies)

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)