Critical Reasoning
1. On Wednesdays by 5:00pm.: When will assignments and exams be made avail-
able on Blackboard?
2. Thinking about thinking: What is critical thinking?
3. Agreeing with someone because their beliefs align closely with your own.-
: Which of the following is not a good example of critical thinking?
4. If its truth or falsity is independent of what someone thinks.: When is an
opinion not subjective?
5. An objective issue, whether the probability of humans receiving contact
from extraterrestrial life is high or low.: The Drake Equation is an argument which
is used to estimate the probability of communication occurring between intelligent
extraterrestrial life and human civilizations. It includes a number of factors, including
the number of habitable planets and the likelihood of intelligent life developing on
other planets. Carl Sagan argues that the high number of habitable planets makes
the probability of communication high. Ernst Mayr argues that the likelihood of
intelligent life developing on those planets makes the probability of communication
low.
Does this describe a subjective or an objective issue? What is the issue?
6. All of the above: Moral subjectivists, or those who hold the view that moral
rightness and wrongness is a matter of opinion, would have to be committed to
saying that which of the following could be morally permissible?
7. A finite set of statements which use reason to persuade someone to accept
a claim.: What is an argument?
8. My friend Angela likes to watch foreign films and we both like to travel.: -
Which of the following is not an argument?
9. If it isn't possible for the premises to be true and the conclusion to be
false.: When is an argument valid?
10. A valid argument with true premises.: What is a sound argument?
11. The baby is hungry because he won't stop crying.: Below are four sentences
using the word "because." In which sentence is this word not followed by a cause?
12. Ethos, pathos, and logos: What are the three modes of persuasion that Aris-
totle suggested?
13. Read through the announcements to see if your question has already
been answered, consult the syllabus, and use critical thinking to see if you
can figure out the answer. If you still have a question, contact Rebecca for
help.: What should I do if I have a question about the course?
14. Isaac Asimov was a scientist
There are only 4 planets
1/8
, Critical Reasoning
Some mammals live on land and water: Which of the following are objective
claims?
15. All of the above: The textbook states that our own observations are our most
reliable sources of information about the world. However, this can be misleading
because our observations and short-term memory are extremely fallible, so we
should very careful about relying on our observations. What are some reasons that
our observations can fail to adequately inform us about the world?
16. Credibility cannot be determined solely by physical appearance or occu-
pation.: 5 pictures
17. It attempts to persuade the consumer that this product will put them in a
desirable situation: volkswagon ad
18. It appeals to emotions to sell the product: dog ad
19. Zoologists have observed that crows in Japan have started to use street
lights to safely cross roads: Which of the following is the most credible claim?
20. A researcher funded by a government grant: One way to pick out unreliable
media is to investigate their sources - for example, if a scientific study or research
program is cited, it is important to investigate whether the funding comes from an
interested or disinterested party. Which of the following would a good critical thinker
accept as a legitimate (i.e. disinterested) source for scientific claims?
21. A economist claiming that access to education can influence economic
stability: Of the four possibilities below, which contains a source who may be
considered a reliable expert on the provided issue?
22. Never, because ads are not designed to be adequately informative about a
product, service: When can an advertisement justify purchasing something?
23. A fallacy that arises because of the structure, or form, of the argument.: -
What is a formal fallacy?
24. Affirming the Consequent: If Chuck is a dog, then Chuck is a mammal.
Chuck is a mammal.
Therefore, Chuck is a dog.
25. Affirming the Consequent: If you live in Wichita, you are a Kansan.
Amy is a Kansan.
Therefore, Amy lives in Wichita.
26. Denying the Antecedent: If it's nighttime, the porch light is on.
It's not nighttime.
Therefore, the porch light is not on.
27. Undistributed Middle: All vegetables grow in the ground.
Dandelions grow in the ground.
Therefore, dandelions are vegetables.
2/8
1. On Wednesdays by 5:00pm.: When will assignments and exams be made avail-
able on Blackboard?
2. Thinking about thinking: What is critical thinking?
3. Agreeing with someone because their beliefs align closely with your own.-
: Which of the following is not a good example of critical thinking?
4. If its truth or falsity is independent of what someone thinks.: When is an
opinion not subjective?
5. An objective issue, whether the probability of humans receiving contact
from extraterrestrial life is high or low.: The Drake Equation is an argument which
is used to estimate the probability of communication occurring between intelligent
extraterrestrial life and human civilizations. It includes a number of factors, including
the number of habitable planets and the likelihood of intelligent life developing on
other planets. Carl Sagan argues that the high number of habitable planets makes
the probability of communication high. Ernst Mayr argues that the likelihood of
intelligent life developing on those planets makes the probability of communication
low.
Does this describe a subjective or an objective issue? What is the issue?
6. All of the above: Moral subjectivists, or those who hold the view that moral
rightness and wrongness is a matter of opinion, would have to be committed to
saying that which of the following could be morally permissible?
7. A finite set of statements which use reason to persuade someone to accept
a claim.: What is an argument?
8. My friend Angela likes to watch foreign films and we both like to travel.: -
Which of the following is not an argument?
9. If it isn't possible for the premises to be true and the conclusion to be
false.: When is an argument valid?
10. A valid argument with true premises.: What is a sound argument?
11. The baby is hungry because he won't stop crying.: Below are four sentences
using the word "because." In which sentence is this word not followed by a cause?
12. Ethos, pathos, and logos: What are the three modes of persuasion that Aris-
totle suggested?
13. Read through the announcements to see if your question has already
been answered, consult the syllabus, and use critical thinking to see if you
can figure out the answer. If you still have a question, contact Rebecca for
help.: What should I do if I have a question about the course?
14. Isaac Asimov was a scientist
There are only 4 planets
1/8
, Critical Reasoning
Some mammals live on land and water: Which of the following are objective
claims?
15. All of the above: The textbook states that our own observations are our most
reliable sources of information about the world. However, this can be misleading
because our observations and short-term memory are extremely fallible, so we
should very careful about relying on our observations. What are some reasons that
our observations can fail to adequately inform us about the world?
16. Credibility cannot be determined solely by physical appearance or occu-
pation.: 5 pictures
17. It attempts to persuade the consumer that this product will put them in a
desirable situation: volkswagon ad
18. It appeals to emotions to sell the product: dog ad
19. Zoologists have observed that crows in Japan have started to use street
lights to safely cross roads: Which of the following is the most credible claim?
20. A researcher funded by a government grant: One way to pick out unreliable
media is to investigate their sources - for example, if a scientific study or research
program is cited, it is important to investigate whether the funding comes from an
interested or disinterested party. Which of the following would a good critical thinker
accept as a legitimate (i.e. disinterested) source for scientific claims?
21. A economist claiming that access to education can influence economic
stability: Of the four possibilities below, which contains a source who may be
considered a reliable expert on the provided issue?
22. Never, because ads are not designed to be adequately informative about a
product, service: When can an advertisement justify purchasing something?
23. A fallacy that arises because of the structure, or form, of the argument.: -
What is a formal fallacy?
24. Affirming the Consequent: If Chuck is a dog, then Chuck is a mammal.
Chuck is a mammal.
Therefore, Chuck is a dog.
25. Affirming the Consequent: If you live in Wichita, you are a Kansan.
Amy is a Kansan.
Therefore, Amy lives in Wichita.
26. Denying the Antecedent: If it's nighttime, the porch light is on.
It's not nighttime.
Therefore, the porch light is not on.
27. Undistributed Middle: All vegetables grow in the ground.
Dandelions grow in the ground.
Therefore, dandelions are vegetables.
2/8
