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Argument Quiz -- Jon Young


For each of the following, indicate the premise that will make the argument valid.  Do not worry too much at this point about the plausibility of the premise or the conclusion, just identify the premise that, when combined with the given premise, will make the argument valid.  Remember an argument is valid if it is impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false at the same time.  (Or, if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true.)


Sample:
A hurricane hit the coast.
The resort owners on the coast have lost much money.
Which of the following makes this a valid argument?
  1. The resort owners are hurt financially by hurricanes.
  2. The hurricane destroyed many buildings.
  3. Anytime the resort owners lose a great deal of money, it's because there was a hurricane.
  4. Every time a hurricane hits the coast, the resort owners lose much money.
  5. None of the above.
Answer 4 is correct, because if taken with the premise, "A hurricane hit the coast," and if both premises are true, then it is impossible for it to false that the resort owners on the coast have lost much money.
Check only one answer.










1. Barbara earned a 3.5 GPA in her first semester.  Barbara is a good student.Which of the following makes this argument valid?  (Click in the box.)
  1. No good student earns less than a 3.0 GPA.
  2. Good students earn high GPAs.
  3. All students who earn GPAs of 3.5 in the first semester are good students.
  4. Usually good students earn earn 3.5 GPA or better.
  5. None of the above.
2. Young's daughters went shopping on Saturday.  Therefore, Young has no money now.
  1. If Young has no money, then his daughters have been shopping.
  2. If Young's daughters have been shopping, then he has no money now.
  3. Whenever Young's daughters go shopping, they spend a lot of money.
  4. Often when Young has no money, it's because his daughters have been shopping.
  5. None of the above.
3. Andrew made the U.S. Olympic team.  He must be a good athlete.
  1. All good athletes in the U.S. are on the U.S. Olympic Team
  2. Anyone who makes the U.S. Olympic team must be a good athlete.
  3. Nearly all good athletes make the U.S. Olympic team.
  4. Very few people who make the U.S. Olympic Team are poor athletes.
  5. None of the above.
4. Premise:  Max barks.  Conclusion:  Therefore, Max is a dog.
  1. All dogs bark.
  2. Anything that barks is a dog.
  3. If something is a dog, then it will bark.
  4. Most dogs bark
  5. None of the above.
5.  Matthew Sampson is an ultra -liberal in his political views.   He doen't have a chance of being elected governor of this state.
  1. No governor elected in this state has ever been so liberal.
  2. The people in this state are very liberal.
  3. Most people elected governor are not ultra liberals.
  4. No person with ultra-liberal views has a chance of being elected governor of this state.
  5. None of the above.
6.  Fido is barking.  Someone must be in the front yard.
  1. Fido always barks when someone is in the front yard.
  2. Fido is a very good watch dog.
  3. The only time Fido barks is when someone is in the front yard.
  4. Fido often barks when someone is in the front yard.
  5. None of the above.
7.   Premises:  Gregory is not in class.  Conclusion:   Therefore it is Thursday.
  1. Gregory always misses class on Thursday.
  2. If it's Thursday, Gregory is not in class.
  3. If Gregory is not in class, then it is Thursday.
  4. Gregory has to work at his job all day on Thursday.
  5. None of the above.
8. Melinda graduated from Julliard School of Music.  She must be a great pianist.
  1. All great pianists studied at Julliard School of Music.
  2. Julliard School of Music is one of the best in the country.
  3. Few graduates of Jullliard School of Music are poor pianists.
  4. Any graduate of Julliard School of Music is a great pianist.
  5. None of the above.
9. Saundra is divorced.  Therefore Saundra has been married at least one time.
  1. No divorced person has ever been married.
  2. Anyone who is divorced must have been married at least once.
  3. The divorce rate has increased over the past several years.
  4. Some married people get divorces.
  5. None of the above.
10. Eddie and Annette had no food left over from their party.  Their party must have been great.
  1. All great parties have no leftovers.
  2. If the food at a party is good, then the party will be great.
  3. If a party has no leftovers, then it must have been great.
  4. Every great party has great food.
  5. None of the above.
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