Logic Test Arguments and Conclusions
Chapter 1 Test A
MULTIPLE CHOICE
INSTRUCTIONS: The following selections relate to distinguishing arguments from
nonarguments and identifying conclusions. Select the best answer for each.
1. There appears to be a growing happiness gap between men and women. Women today are
working more and relaxing less, while men are working less and relaxing more. Forty
years ago a typical woman spent 40 minutes more per week than the typical man
performing an activity considered unpleasant. Today, with men working less, the gap is 90
minutes and growing.
a. Argument; conclusion: Today ... the gap is 90 minutes and growing.
b. Nonargument.
c. Argument; conclusion: Forty years ago ... an activity considered
unpleasant.
d. Argument; conclusion: There appears to be ... between men and
women.
e. Argument; conclusion: Women today are working more and relaxing
less.
ANS: D PTS: 2
2. Lead is toxic, but do you know why? Lead is toxic mainly because it preferentially replaces
other metals in biochemical reactions. In so doing it interferes with the proteins that regulate
blood pressure (which can cause development delays in children and high blood pressure in
adults), heme production (which can lead to anemia), and sperm production. Lead also
displaces calcium in the reactions that transmit electrical impulses in the brain, which
diminishes the ability to think and recall information.
Anne Marie Helmstine, "Your Guide to
Chemistry"
a. Argument; conclusion: It interferes with the proteins ... and sperm production.
b. Argument; conclusion: Lead is toxic.
c. Nonargument.
d. Argument; conclusion: It preferentially replaces other metals in biochemical
reactions.
e. Argument; conclusion: Lead also displaces calcium ... recall information.
ANS: C PTS: 2
3. Aristotle focused on clarifying the concept of virtue itself. He argued that it was virtuous to
choose the proper amount of emotion and/or action called for in a particular situation and that
extremes of emotion and action were vices. In all communities there are some men of
practical wisdom who have the capacity to judge wisely. Aristotle argued that they have the
capacity to follow the "right rule" whatever the situation.
David Cooper, Value Pluralism and Ethical
Choice
1
, a. Argument; conclusion: In all communities ... capacity to judge wisely.
b. Argument; conclusion: Aristotle focused on clarifying the concept of virtue
itself.
c. Argument; conclusion: They have the capacity to follow ... the situation.
d. Argument; conclusion: He argued that it was virtuous ... were vices
e. Nonargument.
ANS: E PTS: 2
4. Illegal immigrants pay local sales taxes, and many of them also pay state, local, and federal
income tax and Social Security tax. They also purchase items from local merchants,
increasing the amount these merchants pay in taxes. In addition, they work for low salaries,
which increases the earnings of their employers and the amount of taxes these employers pay.
Thus, it is not correct to say that illegal immigrants contribute nothing to the communities in
which they live.
a. Argument; conclusion: It is not correct to say ... communities in which
they live.
b. Argument; conclusion: They work for low salaries ... these
employers pay.
c. Argument; conclusion: Illegal immigrants pay ... Social Security tax.
d. Argument; conclusion: They also purchase items ... pay in taxes.
e. Nonargument.
ANS: A PTS: 2
5. Numerous studies have indicated that women of color, black women in particular, are over-
arrested, over-indicted, and over-sentenced. African-American women are seven times more
likely to be arrested for prostitution than women of other ethnic groups. Black women have
received significantly longer sentences for crimes against property and served longer periods
in prison. For both murder and drug offenses, Euroamerican women ended up serving one-
third less time for the same offenses than black women.
Nancy Kurshan, "Women and Imprisonment in the
U.S."
a. Argument; conclusion: African-American women ... other ethnic groups.
b. Nonargument.
c. Argument; conclusion: For both murder and drug offenses ... black
women.
d. Argument; conclusion: Numerous studies have indicated ... over-
sentenced.
e. Argument; conclusion: Black women have received ... longer periods in
prison.
ANS: B PTS: 2
6. It's even more important these days that your computer be protected by a firewall. There are
criminal elements lurking in the shadows of cyberspace who send out probes to detect
unprotected PCs. Once a vulnerable computer is found, these criminals install software that
assists them in committing identity theft and fencing stolen IDs. They also defraud online
advertisers by using these zombie computers to visit pay-per-click ads.
a. Argument; conclusion: There are criminal elements ... to detect
unprotected PCs.
b. Argument; conclusion: Once a vulnerable computer ... fencing stolen IDs.
c. Nonargument.
d. Argument; conclusion: They also defraud ... to visit pay-per-click ads.
2
, e. Argument; conclusion: It's even more important ... protected by a firewall.
ANS: E PTS: 2
7. The earth is of interest to astronomy for many reasons. Nearly all observations must be made
through the atmosphere, and the phenomena of the upper atmosphere and the magnetosphere
reflect the state of interplanetary space. The earth is also the most important object of
comparison for planetologists.
Hannu Karttunen, et al., Fundamental
Astronomy
a. Argument; conclusion: The phenomena ... state of interplanetary
space.
b. Argument; conclusion: The earth is also ... for planetologists.
c. Argument; conclusion: The earth is of interest to astronomy.
d. Nonargument.
e. Argument; conclusion: Nearly all observations ... through the
atmosphere.
ANS: C PTS: 2
8. If the trade in tiger products is banned, tiger reserves are guarded by well equipped staff,
communities abutting tiger habitat are given a stake in protecting tigers, and the makers of
traditional medicines can be persuaded that tiger parts are not needed, then tiger poaching
will be halted, habitat and life sustaining prey will be restored, and the immanent extinction
of tigers in the wild will be averted.
a. Nonargument.
b. Argument; conclusion: The trade in tiger products is banned.
c. Argument; conclusion: Tiger poaching will be halted.
d. Argument; conclusion: The makers of traditional medicines ... not
needed.
e. Argument; conclusion: Tiger poaching will be halted ... will be
averted.
ANS: A PTS: 2
9. Humans are biological organisms. To understand our behavior and mental processes, we
need to understand their biological underpinnings, starting with the cellular level, the neuron.
How we feel, learn, remember, and think all stem from neuronal activity. So, how a neuron
works and how neurons communicate are crucial pieces of information in solving the puzzle
of human behavior and mental processing.
Richard Griggs, Psychology: A Concise
Introduction
a. Argument; conclusion: To understand our behavior ... the
neuron.
b. Argument; conclusion: Humans are biological organisms.
c. Argument; conclusion: How we feel ... neuronal activity.
d. Argument; conclusion: How a neuron works ... mental
processing.
e. Nonargument.
ANS: D PTS: 2
10. Viruses are acellular entities too small to be seen with a light microscope. They are composed
of a nucleic acid and a few proteins. Viruses replicate themselves and display other properties
3
, of living organisms only when they have invaded living cells. Indeed, some viruses can be
crystallized and stored in a container on a shelf for years, but they retain the capacity to
invade cells and cause disease.
Jacquelyn C. Black, Microbiology: Principles and
Explorations
a. Argument; conclusion: They are composed of a nucleic acid and a few
proteins.
b. Nonargument.
c. Argument; conclusion: Viruses are acellular entities ... microscope.
d. Argument; conclusion: Indeed, some viruses can be crystallized ... cause
disease.
e. Argument; conclusion: Viruses replicate themselves ... invaded living
cells.
ANS: B PTS: 2
11. Harnessing the clean, abundant energy of the sun and wind is critical to solving the global
warming problem. Technological advances have brought the cost of electricity generated by
the wind down by 82 percent since 1981. Solar energy technology has made remarkable
progress as new photovoltaic cells have been developed to convert even greater amounts of
sunlight directly into electricity. Today the costs of wind and solar power are becoming
competitive with dirty coal-fired plants.
Sierra Club, "Global Warming Solutions"
a. Argument; conclusion: Today the costs of wind ... dirty coal-fired
plants.
b. Argument; conclusion: Technological advances ... by 82 percent since
1981.
c. Argument; conclusion: Harnessing the clean ... the global warming
problem.
d. Nonargument.
e. Argument; conclusion: Solar energy technology ... directly into
electricity.
ANS: D PTS: 2
12. It is likely that innocent prisoners in this country have been executed for crimes they did not
commit. From 1973 until 2007, 124 death row inmates have been exonerated. In many of
these cases DNA evidence played a crucial role. Yet, in that same time frame, more than 1000
prisoners were executed. For many of these prisoners no DNA evidence was available. If such
evidence had been available, how may more would have been exonerated?
a. Argument; conclusion: In many of these cases ... played a crucial role.
b. Nonargument.
c. Argument; conclusion: From 1973 ... have been exonerated.
d. Argument; conclusion: For many of these prisoners ... was available.
e. Argument; conclusion: It is likely that innocent prisoners ... they did not
commit.
4
Chapter 1 Test A
MULTIPLE CHOICE
INSTRUCTIONS: The following selections relate to distinguishing arguments from
nonarguments and identifying conclusions. Select the best answer for each.
1. There appears to be a growing happiness gap between men and women. Women today are
working more and relaxing less, while men are working less and relaxing more. Forty
years ago a typical woman spent 40 minutes more per week than the typical man
performing an activity considered unpleasant. Today, with men working less, the gap is 90
minutes and growing.
a. Argument; conclusion: Today ... the gap is 90 minutes and growing.
b. Nonargument.
c. Argument; conclusion: Forty years ago ... an activity considered
unpleasant.
d. Argument; conclusion: There appears to be ... between men and
women.
e. Argument; conclusion: Women today are working more and relaxing
less.
ANS: D PTS: 2
2. Lead is toxic, but do you know why? Lead is toxic mainly because it preferentially replaces
other metals in biochemical reactions. In so doing it interferes with the proteins that regulate
blood pressure (which can cause development delays in children and high blood pressure in
adults), heme production (which can lead to anemia), and sperm production. Lead also
displaces calcium in the reactions that transmit electrical impulses in the brain, which
diminishes the ability to think and recall information.
Anne Marie Helmstine, "Your Guide to
Chemistry"
a. Argument; conclusion: It interferes with the proteins ... and sperm production.
b. Argument; conclusion: Lead is toxic.
c. Nonargument.
d. Argument; conclusion: It preferentially replaces other metals in biochemical
reactions.
e. Argument; conclusion: Lead also displaces calcium ... recall information.
ANS: C PTS: 2
3. Aristotle focused on clarifying the concept of virtue itself. He argued that it was virtuous to
choose the proper amount of emotion and/or action called for in a particular situation and that
extremes of emotion and action were vices. In all communities there are some men of
practical wisdom who have the capacity to judge wisely. Aristotle argued that they have the
capacity to follow the "right rule" whatever the situation.
David Cooper, Value Pluralism and Ethical
Choice
1
, a. Argument; conclusion: In all communities ... capacity to judge wisely.
b. Argument; conclusion: Aristotle focused on clarifying the concept of virtue
itself.
c. Argument; conclusion: They have the capacity to follow ... the situation.
d. Argument; conclusion: He argued that it was virtuous ... were vices
e. Nonargument.
ANS: E PTS: 2
4. Illegal immigrants pay local sales taxes, and many of them also pay state, local, and federal
income tax and Social Security tax. They also purchase items from local merchants,
increasing the amount these merchants pay in taxes. In addition, they work for low salaries,
which increases the earnings of their employers and the amount of taxes these employers pay.
Thus, it is not correct to say that illegal immigrants contribute nothing to the communities in
which they live.
a. Argument; conclusion: It is not correct to say ... communities in which
they live.
b. Argument; conclusion: They work for low salaries ... these
employers pay.
c. Argument; conclusion: Illegal immigrants pay ... Social Security tax.
d. Argument; conclusion: They also purchase items ... pay in taxes.
e. Nonargument.
ANS: A PTS: 2
5. Numerous studies have indicated that women of color, black women in particular, are over-
arrested, over-indicted, and over-sentenced. African-American women are seven times more
likely to be arrested for prostitution than women of other ethnic groups. Black women have
received significantly longer sentences for crimes against property and served longer periods
in prison. For both murder and drug offenses, Euroamerican women ended up serving one-
third less time for the same offenses than black women.
Nancy Kurshan, "Women and Imprisonment in the
U.S."
a. Argument; conclusion: African-American women ... other ethnic groups.
b. Nonargument.
c. Argument; conclusion: For both murder and drug offenses ... black
women.
d. Argument; conclusion: Numerous studies have indicated ... over-
sentenced.
e. Argument; conclusion: Black women have received ... longer periods in
prison.
ANS: B PTS: 2
6. It's even more important these days that your computer be protected by a firewall. There are
criminal elements lurking in the shadows of cyberspace who send out probes to detect
unprotected PCs. Once a vulnerable computer is found, these criminals install software that
assists them in committing identity theft and fencing stolen IDs. They also defraud online
advertisers by using these zombie computers to visit pay-per-click ads.
a. Argument; conclusion: There are criminal elements ... to detect
unprotected PCs.
b. Argument; conclusion: Once a vulnerable computer ... fencing stolen IDs.
c. Nonargument.
d. Argument; conclusion: They also defraud ... to visit pay-per-click ads.
2
, e. Argument; conclusion: It's even more important ... protected by a firewall.
ANS: E PTS: 2
7. The earth is of interest to astronomy for many reasons. Nearly all observations must be made
through the atmosphere, and the phenomena of the upper atmosphere and the magnetosphere
reflect the state of interplanetary space. The earth is also the most important object of
comparison for planetologists.
Hannu Karttunen, et al., Fundamental
Astronomy
a. Argument; conclusion: The phenomena ... state of interplanetary
space.
b. Argument; conclusion: The earth is also ... for planetologists.
c. Argument; conclusion: The earth is of interest to astronomy.
d. Nonargument.
e. Argument; conclusion: Nearly all observations ... through the
atmosphere.
ANS: C PTS: 2
8. If the trade in tiger products is banned, tiger reserves are guarded by well equipped staff,
communities abutting tiger habitat are given a stake in protecting tigers, and the makers of
traditional medicines can be persuaded that tiger parts are not needed, then tiger poaching
will be halted, habitat and life sustaining prey will be restored, and the immanent extinction
of tigers in the wild will be averted.
a. Nonargument.
b. Argument; conclusion: The trade in tiger products is banned.
c. Argument; conclusion: Tiger poaching will be halted.
d. Argument; conclusion: The makers of traditional medicines ... not
needed.
e. Argument; conclusion: Tiger poaching will be halted ... will be
averted.
ANS: A PTS: 2
9. Humans are biological organisms. To understand our behavior and mental processes, we
need to understand their biological underpinnings, starting with the cellular level, the neuron.
How we feel, learn, remember, and think all stem from neuronal activity. So, how a neuron
works and how neurons communicate are crucial pieces of information in solving the puzzle
of human behavior and mental processing.
Richard Griggs, Psychology: A Concise
Introduction
a. Argument; conclusion: To understand our behavior ... the
neuron.
b. Argument; conclusion: Humans are biological organisms.
c. Argument; conclusion: How we feel ... neuronal activity.
d. Argument; conclusion: How a neuron works ... mental
processing.
e. Nonargument.
ANS: D PTS: 2
10. Viruses are acellular entities too small to be seen with a light microscope. They are composed
of a nucleic acid and a few proteins. Viruses replicate themselves and display other properties
3
, of living organisms only when they have invaded living cells. Indeed, some viruses can be
crystallized and stored in a container on a shelf for years, but they retain the capacity to
invade cells and cause disease.
Jacquelyn C. Black, Microbiology: Principles and
Explorations
a. Argument; conclusion: They are composed of a nucleic acid and a few
proteins.
b. Nonargument.
c. Argument; conclusion: Viruses are acellular entities ... microscope.
d. Argument; conclusion: Indeed, some viruses can be crystallized ... cause
disease.
e. Argument; conclusion: Viruses replicate themselves ... invaded living
cells.
ANS: B PTS: 2
11. Harnessing the clean, abundant energy of the sun and wind is critical to solving the global
warming problem. Technological advances have brought the cost of electricity generated by
the wind down by 82 percent since 1981. Solar energy technology has made remarkable
progress as new photovoltaic cells have been developed to convert even greater amounts of
sunlight directly into electricity. Today the costs of wind and solar power are becoming
competitive with dirty coal-fired plants.
Sierra Club, "Global Warming Solutions"
a. Argument; conclusion: Today the costs of wind ... dirty coal-fired
plants.
b. Argument; conclusion: Technological advances ... by 82 percent since
1981.
c. Argument; conclusion: Harnessing the clean ... the global warming
problem.
d. Nonargument.
e. Argument; conclusion: Solar energy technology ... directly into
electricity.
ANS: D PTS: 2
12. It is likely that innocent prisoners in this country have been executed for crimes they did not
commit. From 1973 until 2007, 124 death row inmates have been exonerated. In many of
these cases DNA evidence played a crucial role. Yet, in that same time frame, more than 1000
prisoners were executed. For many of these prisoners no DNA evidence was available. If such
evidence had been available, how may more would have been exonerated?
a. Argument; conclusion: In many of these cases ... played a crucial role.
b. Nonargument.
c. Argument; conclusion: From 1973 ... have been exonerated.
d. Argument; conclusion: For many of these prisoners ... was available.
e. Argument; conclusion: It is likely that innocent prisoners ... they did not
commit.
4
