Exam 3: Cost Volume Profit Analysis and Pricing Decisions

Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: Laughter was heard at Grace Cathedral last week when it was announced that next week would be the blessing of the animals followed by a barbeque.

Determine whether the following claim is too vague in the context that is stated or implied: During his first news conference of the year, the president said today that his administration was going to crack down even harder on international terrorism.

Define "display (verb)" by synonyms, using one synonym that carries a complimentary meaning and one that carries a derogatory emotive meaning.

Criticize the following claim based on the material from Chapter 3 of the text. SLOW CHILDREN AT PLAY -An old joke

For the term, "Republican," invent a persuasive definition (either positive or negative). Remember, persuasive definitions can be analytical definitions, definitions by example, or definitions by synonym.

Evaluate the following claim, paying particular attention to problems of clarity. Note that claims may also present problems of knowability, though we don't address knowability per se in this chapter. The universe and everything in it doubled in size last night.

Rank the claims in the following set from general to least vague. a. Smoking is hazardous to your health. b. Smoking is linked with lung disease. c. Smoking has been demonstrated to cause lung cancer and emphysema. d. Smoking is not good for you. e. Smoking is linked with lung cancer and emphysema.

For the term, "attorney," invent a persuasive definition (either positive or negative). Remember, persuasive definitions can be analytical definitions, definitions by example, or definitions by synonym.

Using a name or description of an item that you can't point to, provide a definition by example for"expensive gift." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source of the trouble.

Exercise: Are you familiar with the word, "mettle?" Provide a definition. If the term is unfamiliar, make a guess about its meaning based on its appearance or sound, and create your own definition. Then look the word up, and find out how close you got. (We provide a thumbnail meaning as answer.)

Define "dog (noun)" by synonyms, using one synonym that carries a complimentary meaning and one that carries a derogatory emotive meaning.

Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: After finishing his term paper, he went out for a beer and left it in his instructor's mailbox.

A grouping ambiguity is

Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: From an accident report: The pedestrian had no idea which direction to go, so I ran over him.

Identify any unnecessary and potentially offensive references to gender, race, or other features in the following passage and, as necessary, rewrite the passage in neutral language. Congressmen George Thurlow and Shirley Chisholm first ran for public office during the same year.

Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: Residents of the continental United States have more pets than those of Alaska.

Criticize the following claim based on the material from Chapter 3 of the text. "Life its own self, as Dan Jenkins said. Life its own self. Figure that one out, Norm. But what it means is, I have a lot more to learn from President Reagan."-George Bush, when asked, upon first becoming president, whether his predecessor, Ronald Reagan, was advising him (quoted in Ross and Petras, The 776 Stupidest Things Ever Said)

Classify the following: "I may not be able to explain what pornography is, but the magazines on that rack are cases in point."

Which item in the following set of claims has the most negative emotive meaning? a. He had done some unfortunate deeds in his day. b. He had on occasion gone astray. c. He had become morally bankrupt. d. He had the moral sensibility of a reptile.

Classify the following definition according to its use: to reduce vagueness, to introduce or explain a new or unusual word, to evoke an attitude about something, or to accomplish some other purpose. Beard: a bettor who places bets for a friend with a bookie who has cut off the friend for not paying, for snitching to the police, or for having won too much.-The Los Angeles Police Department