Question 1

Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be. (Thomas á Kempis, The Imitation of Christ) This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

A

Question 2

Astrology is having a resurgence not only because of mystical trends that ebb and flow over the years, but also because of the superabundance of astrological material easily accessible everywhere. (J.V. Stewart, Astrology: What's Really in the Stars?) This statement is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

The statement provides a reason for astrology's resurgence, explaining it without arguing for a particular stance or conclusion.

Question 3

Be not afraid because some time thou must cease to live, but fear to have begun truly to live. (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations) This quote is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

The quote presents a philosophical perspective or advice without offering a structured argument or deriving a conclusion from premises. It's a statement expressing a viewpoint rather than arguing for a conclusion based on evidence or reasoning.

Question 4

People often express the opinion that specific traits of members of certain groups are responsible for their disadvantaged situation. Thus in South Africa it is common for whites to assert that blacks are not ready for full citizenship because they remain childlike and simple. (William Kornblum, Sociology in a Changing World) This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

This statement serves as an illustration of how people attribute specific traits to members of certain groups to justify their disadvantaged status, rather than providing a logical argument, factual report, unsupported assertion, or explanation of a phenomenon.

Question 5

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) This passage is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

"If Aretha had a garden, she would be very proud of it. If Aretha was proud of her garden, she'd throw wonderful parties to show it off. So, if Aretha wanted a garden, she'd throw wonderful parties." These statements exemplify a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

The statements form a chain argument, where the conclusion of one premise serves as the basis for the next, leading to a final conclusion.

Question 7

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) This passage is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

The passage is an argument because it presents a claim (that one who seeks truth will not miss the reward of it) and provides reasons to support that claim.

Question 8

Banning sweets from your household doesn't necessarily mean your child will grow up shunning sugary treats. Just the opposite is true, in fact: In a recent study, children who had just eaten a full meal were put in a room with a table piled with sweets. Even though they weren't hungry, children who were not usually allowed to have such treats gorged on the cakes and cookies, says researcher Leann Birch, Ph.D., professor of human development at Pennsylvania State University of Health and Human Development. Meanwhile, those kids whose parents regularly permitted such sweets in moderation hardly touched them. (Laura Flynn McCarthy, "Six Nutrition Rules Even Smart Moms Don't Know")
This passage is an example of a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

The passage presents an argument by providing evidence from a study to support the claim that banning sweets can lead to children overeating them when given the opportunity.

Question 9

The standard medical research institutions and journals require placebo-controlled trials because they know that sugar pills yield better results than no pills at all. (Melvin Konner, "Faith Healers")
This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

The statement provides an explanation for why medical research institutions and journals require placebo-controlled trials, specifically mentioning the effectiveness of sugar pills as a reason.

Question 10

When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle. (Edmund Burke, "Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents")
This statement is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

The statement presents an argument ("When bad men combine, the good must associate") and concludes with the outcome if the action is not taken ("else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle").

Question 11

Rather than really looking at things, people often skimp, fudge, or fake it-think of the detective who doesn't really want to know who committed the crime, just to collect enough evidence to get a conviction, or the academic who is less concerned to find the cause of racial disharmony than to get a large grant for investigating the matter. (Susan Haack, "A Fallibilist among the Skeptics")
This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

The statement provides a concrete example to demonstrate a broader observation about human behavior, making it an illustration.

Question 12

In an explanation, the statement that does the explaining is called the explanans.

Accepted Answer

The explanans is the statement or group of statements that provide the explanation, while the statement that is explained is called the explanandum.

Question 13

The following passage contains an ought imperative: "Do not drive while taking this medication. Extreme drowsiness may result."

Accepted Answer

An ought imperative suggests a recommendation or advice, whereas the passage contains a direct prohibition, which is a command, not an ought imperative.

Question 14

The heavily cratered lunar highlands speak to us of an early epoch in the history of the solar system when cratering was much more common than it is today; the present population of interplanetary debris fails by a large factor to account for the abundance of the highland craters. (Carl Sagan, Broca's Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science) This statement is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The heavily cratered lunar highlands speak to...

Question 15

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 passage is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

The passage provides an explanation for why publishing houses issue books considered to be "occult garbage," stating it's because they are profitable, similar to diet books. It does not present an argument followed by a conclusion but rather explains a situation or behavior.

Question 16

The following sentence is an argument: "The dog is barking because the ice cream truck is coming."

Accepted Answer

This sentence is an explanation or a causal statement, not an argument. An argument typically consists of premises and a conclusion.

Question 17

Do not look directly at the sun. Its ultraviolet (UV) and infrared radiation can be catastrophic-it can literally burn a hole in your retina, leading to blindness. (David H. Levy, "Look for the Solar Eclipse")
This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Do not look directly at the sun....

Question 18

We can acquire a more profound understanding of events by recognizing their significance in Christ; thus the crossing of the Red Sea is a sign or type of Christ's victory and also of Christian baptism. ( The Catechism of the Catholic Church) This statement is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

The statement is a nonargument because it does not provide any evidence or reasoning to support its claim. It is simply a statement of belief. The statement is an illustration because it uses the crossing of the Red Sea as an example of how we can acquire a more profound understanding of events by recognizing their significance in Christ.

Question 19

The following sentence is a conditional statement: "If it's past 8:00, then the store will be closed."

Accepted Answer

This sentence is a conditional statement because it presents a condition ("If it's past 8:00") and a consequence or result of that condition ("then the store will be closed").

Question 20

Mahatma Gandhi walked barefoot everywhere, to the point that his feet became quite thick and hard. He also was quite a spiritual person. Even when not on a hunger strike, he did not eat much and became quite thin and frail. Furthermore, due to his diet, he ended up with very bad breath. Therefore, he came to be known as a "super callused fragile mystic plagued with halitosis." (Internet joke)
This passage exemplifies a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Mahatma Gandhi walked barefoot everywhere, to the...

Quiz 2: Recognizing Arguments

Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be. (Thomas á Kempis, The Imitation of Christ) This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

Astrology is having a resurgence not only because of mystical trends that ebb and flow over the years, but also because of the superabundance of astrological material easily accessible everywhere. (J.V. Stewart, Astrology: What's Really in the Stars?) This statement is made up of a(n) _ and a(n) _.

Be not afraid because some time thou must cease to live, but fear to have begun truly to live. (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations) This quote is made up of a(n) _ and a(n) _.

"If Aretha had a garden, she would be very proud of it. If Aretha was proud of her garden, she'd throw wonderful parties to show it off. So, if Aretha wanted a garden, she'd throw wonderful parties." These statements exemplify a(n) _____.

The standard medical research institutions and journals require placebo-controlled trials because they know that sugar pills yield better results than no pills at all. (Melvin Konner, "Faith Healers") This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle. (Edmund Burke, "Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents") This statement is made up of a(n) _ and a(n) _.

In an explanation, the statement that does the explaining is called the explanans.

The following passage contains an ought imperative: "Do not drive while taking this medication. Extreme drowsiness may result."

The following sentence is an argument: "The dog is barking because the ice cream truck is coming."

Do not look directly at the sun. Its ultraviolet (UV) and infrared radiation can be catastrophic-it can literally burn a hole in your retina, leading to blindness. (David H. Levy, "Look for the Solar Eclipse") This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

We can acquire a more profound understanding of events by recognizing their significance in Christ; thus the crossing of the Red Sea is a sign or type of Christ's victory and also of Christian baptism. ( The Catechism of the Catholic Church) This statement is made up of a(n) _ and a(n) _.

The following sentence is a conditional statement: "If it's past 8:00, then the store will be closed."

Quiz 2: Recognizing Arguments

Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be. (Thomas á Kempis, The Imitation of Christ) This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

Be not afraid because some time thou must cease to live, but fear to have begun truly to live. (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations) This quote is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

"If Aretha had a garden, she would be very proud of it. If Aretha was proud of her garden, she'd throw wonderful parties to show it off. So, if Aretha wanted a garden, she'd throw wonderful parties." These statements exemplify a(n) _____.

The standard medical research institutions and journals require placebo-controlled trials because they know that sugar pills yield better results than no pills at all. (Melvin Konner, "Faith Healers") This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle. (Edmund Burke, "Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents") This statement is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

In an explanation, the statement that does the explaining is called the explanans.

The following passage contains an ought imperative: "Do not drive while taking this medication. Extreme drowsiness may result."

The following sentence is an argument: "The dog is barking because the ice cream truck is coming."

Do not look directly at the sun. Its ultraviolet (UV) and infrared radiation can be catastrophic-it can literally burn a hole in your retina, leading to blindness. (David H. Levy, "Look for the Solar Eclipse") This statement exemplifies a(n) _____.

We can acquire a more profound understanding of events by recognizing their significance in Christ; thus the crossing of the Red Sea is a sign or type of Christ's victory and also of Christian baptism. ( The Catechism of the Catholic Church) This statement is made up of a(n) _____ and a(n) _____.

The following sentence is a conditional statement: "If it's past 8:00, then the store will be closed."

Be not afraid because some time thou must cease to live, but fear to have begun truly to live. (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations) This quote is made up of a(n) _ and a(n) _.

When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle. (Edmund Burke, "Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents") This statement is made up of a(n) _ and a(n) _.

We can acquire a more profound understanding of events by recognizing their significance in Christ; thus the crossing of the Red Sea is a sign or type of Christ's victory and also of Christian baptism. ( The Catechism of the Catholic Church) This statement is made up of a(n) _ and a(n) _.