Critical Thinking Exam

The genetic fallacy is arguing that a claim is true or false solely because of its

origin

The fallacy of arguing that what is true of the parts must be true of the whole is called

composition

Rejecting a claim by criticizing the person who makes it, rather than the claim itself, is

known as the _______ fallacy

ad hominem

In a debate or disagreement, the burden of proof usually rests on the side that

makes a positive claim

The fallacy of deliberately raising an irrelevant issue during an argument is called a(

red herring

The use of a word in two different senses in an argument is known as

equivocation

Distorting, weakening, or oversimplifying someone’s position so it can be more easily

attacked or refuted is called the _______ fallacy

straw man

Apple polishing and scare tactics are two kinds of

emotional appeals

The attempt to establish the conclusion of an argument by using that conclusion as a

premise is known as

begging the question

The use of derision, sarcasm, laughter, or mockery to disparage a person or idea is known

as

ridicule

Words used to convey negative attitudes or emotions in place of neutral or positive ones

are called

dysphemisms

Using a term like neutralize in place of kill illustrates the use of innuendo

False

Good writers never combine arguments with appeals to emotion

False

Slippery-slope arguments are fallacious because they offer no good reasons for believing

that the sequence of steps referred to will happen as predicted

True

The fact that someone has dubious reasons for making a claim does not show that the

claim is false

True

A deductive argument that succeeds in providing logically conclusive support is said to be

Valid

An argument intended to provide probably support for its conclusion is

Inductive

A sound argument is _____ with ________ premises

Valid; true

An inductively strong argument with true premises is said to be

Cogent

The argument pattern known as modus ponens is

Valid

The argument form denying the antecedent is

Invalid

An independent premise offers support to a conclusion

Without the help of any other premises

The argument form “If p, then q. q. Therefore, p” is

Invalid

An argument with this form— “If p, then q. If q, then r. Therefore, if p, then r” is known as

Hypothetical Syllogism

This argument— “If you’re eighteen, you’re elgible to vote. But you’re only seventeen. You’re not elgible to vote” is

Invalid

The first statement in a conditional premise is known as the consequent

False

If an argument is strong, then it is truth-preserving

True

An assertion that something is or is not the case is known as

Statement

Words that frequently accompany arguments and signal that a premise or conclusion is present are known as

Indicator words

Probably the best advice for anyone trying to uncover or dissect arguments is

Find the conclusion first

Critical thinking is _____ because it involves distinct procedures and methods

Systematic

Rather than giving us reasons for believing that something is the case, a _____ tells us why or how something is the case

Explanation

Words like because, since, and given that are known as

Premise indicator words

The sentence “Stop telling lies” is a

Command or request

Which of the following sentences is not a statement

Please mind your manners

When evaluating statements, the strength of your belief should depend on the quality of reasons in favor of statements

True

Critical thinking is mainly about proving people wrong

False

A declaration of beliefs can sometimes constitute an argument

False

An argument is a group of statements in which some of them are intended to support another of them

True

The statement “People have a respect for life because they adhere to certain ethical standards” is an explanation

True