PHIL 105 Unit 1 UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
The goal of an argument is to abuse the audience - CORRECT ANSWER - False
"33 + 66 = 99" is an argument. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
Every conclusion contradicts what the audience believes. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
An argument that is spoken is no good if it is not spoken loudly enough. - CORRECT
ANSWER - False
When an argument is used for explanation, its purpose is to give a reason to believe that its
conclusion is true. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
Explanatory arguments assume that their conclusions truly describe what happened. In this way,
explanatory reasons why things happen contrast with justificatory reasons to believe that
something did happen.
You can give the meaning of a word by describing how it is used. - CORRECT
ANSWER - True
An assuring term is reflexive when it refers to the mental state of the speaker. - CORRECT
ANSWER - True
The word "since" is always a premise marker. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
Evaluative utterances are used only to express emotions or prescribe actions. - CORRECT
ANSWER - False
,A(n) ___ term is used to indicate a response to a possible objection. - CORRECT
ANSWER - D = discounting term
A(n) ___term is used to indicate that the speaker has reasons for what he says without actually
giving those reasons. - CORRECT ANSWER - A = assuring term
An argument is valid (in the technical sense used in this course) when and only when -
CORRECT ANSWER - it is not possible that its premises are true and its conclusion is not
true
Mount Everest is taller than Mount Kilimanjaro. No anthill is as tall as Mount Kilimanjaro.
Therefore, Mount Everest is taller than any anthill. - CORRECT ANSWER - B = an
argument that is both valid and sound
He can lift 100 kilograms, so he is strong. This is - CORRECT ANSWER - an argument
that is neither valid nor sound
Since Mrs. White did not commit the murder, Colonel Mustard did it.
Which of the following sentences could be added as a suppressed premise to make this argument
valid? - CORRECT ANSWER - Either Mrs. White or Colonel Mustard committed the
murder
Joe does not like steak. Therefore, some farmers don't like steak.
Which of the following sentences could be added as a suppressed premise to make this argument
valid? - CORRECT ANSWER - Joe is a farmer
The message is paradoxical *but* profound. - CORRECT ANSWER - D = discounting
term
, Orchids manufacture their intricate devices from the common components of ordinary flowers,
parts *usually* fitted for very different functions. - CORRECT ANSWER - G = guarding
term
If God had designed a *beautiful* machine to reflect his wisdom and power, surely he would not
have used a collection of parts generally fashioned for other purposes. - CORRECT
ANSWER - E+ = a positive evaluative term
If God had designed a beautiful machine to reflect his wisdom and power, *surely* he would not
have used a collection of parts generally fashioned for other purposes. - CORRECT
ANSWER - A = assuring term
Orchids were not made by an *ideal* engineer; they are jury-rigged from a limited set of
available components. - CORRECT ANSWER - E+ = positive evaluative term
*Thus* they must have evolved from ordinary flowers. - CORRECT ANSWER -C=
conclusion marker
Thus, the paradox and the common theme of this trilogy of essays: Our textbooks like to
illustrate evolution with examples of optimal design—nearly perfect mimicry of a dead leaf by a
butterfly *or* of a poisonous species by a palatable relative. - CORRECT ANSWER -N=
none of the above
Thus, the paradox and the common theme of this trilogy of essays: Our textbooks like to
illustrate evolution with examples of optimal design—*nearly* perfect mimicry of a dead leaf by
a butterfly or of a poisonous species by a palatable relative. - CORRECT ANSWER -G=
guarding term
*However*, ideal design is a lousy argument for evolution, for it mimics the postulated action of
an omnipotent creator. - CORRECT ANSWER - D = discounting term
The term "However" here discounts the objection that optimal or ideal design is evidence for
evolution, as textbooks often suggest
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
The goal of an argument is to abuse the audience - CORRECT ANSWER - False
"33 + 66 = 99" is an argument. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
Every conclusion contradicts what the audience believes. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
An argument that is spoken is no good if it is not spoken loudly enough. - CORRECT
ANSWER - False
When an argument is used for explanation, its purpose is to give a reason to believe that its
conclusion is true. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
Explanatory arguments assume that their conclusions truly describe what happened. In this way,
explanatory reasons why things happen contrast with justificatory reasons to believe that
something did happen.
You can give the meaning of a word by describing how it is used. - CORRECT
ANSWER - True
An assuring term is reflexive when it refers to the mental state of the speaker. - CORRECT
ANSWER - True
The word "since" is always a premise marker. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
Evaluative utterances are used only to express emotions or prescribe actions. - CORRECT
ANSWER - False
,A(n) ___ term is used to indicate a response to a possible objection. - CORRECT
ANSWER - D = discounting term
A(n) ___term is used to indicate that the speaker has reasons for what he says without actually
giving those reasons. - CORRECT ANSWER - A = assuring term
An argument is valid (in the technical sense used in this course) when and only when -
CORRECT ANSWER - it is not possible that its premises are true and its conclusion is not
true
Mount Everest is taller than Mount Kilimanjaro. No anthill is as tall as Mount Kilimanjaro.
Therefore, Mount Everest is taller than any anthill. - CORRECT ANSWER - B = an
argument that is both valid and sound
He can lift 100 kilograms, so he is strong. This is - CORRECT ANSWER - an argument
that is neither valid nor sound
Since Mrs. White did not commit the murder, Colonel Mustard did it.
Which of the following sentences could be added as a suppressed premise to make this argument
valid? - CORRECT ANSWER - Either Mrs. White or Colonel Mustard committed the
murder
Joe does not like steak. Therefore, some farmers don't like steak.
Which of the following sentences could be added as a suppressed premise to make this argument
valid? - CORRECT ANSWER - Joe is a farmer
The message is paradoxical *but* profound. - CORRECT ANSWER - D = discounting
term
, Orchids manufacture their intricate devices from the common components of ordinary flowers,
parts *usually* fitted for very different functions. - CORRECT ANSWER - G = guarding
term
If God had designed a *beautiful* machine to reflect his wisdom and power, surely he would not
have used a collection of parts generally fashioned for other purposes. - CORRECT
ANSWER - E+ = a positive evaluative term
If God had designed a beautiful machine to reflect his wisdom and power, *surely* he would not
have used a collection of parts generally fashioned for other purposes. - CORRECT
ANSWER - A = assuring term
Orchids were not made by an *ideal* engineer; they are jury-rigged from a limited set of
available components. - CORRECT ANSWER - E+ = positive evaluative term
*Thus* they must have evolved from ordinary flowers. - CORRECT ANSWER -C=
conclusion marker
Thus, the paradox and the common theme of this trilogy of essays: Our textbooks like to
illustrate evolution with examples of optimal design—nearly perfect mimicry of a dead leaf by a
butterfly *or* of a poisonous species by a palatable relative. - CORRECT ANSWER -N=
none of the above
Thus, the paradox and the common theme of this trilogy of essays: Our textbooks like to
illustrate evolution with examples of optimal design—*nearly* perfect mimicry of a dead leaf by
a butterfly or of a poisonous species by a palatable relative. - CORRECT ANSWER -G=
guarding term
*However*, ideal design is a lousy argument for evolution, for it mimics the postulated action of
an omnipotent creator. - CORRECT ANSWER - D = discounting term
The term "However" here discounts the objection that optimal or ideal design is evidence for
evolution, as textbooks often suggest
