Exam 3: Cost Volume Profit Analysis and Pricing Decisions

Indicate whether this informal definition is by example, by synonym, or analytical: A slice occurs when the ball flies in a curve because of lateral spin; the slice curves to the right if the golfer is right-handed and to the left if the golfer is left-handed.

If you want to define a word for a person who knows nothing of your language, you're stuck with definitions by example.

Determine whether the following claim is too vague in the context that is stated or implied: Property owner, showing his property to a potential buyer: "The lot extends back to about where that large oak tree stands."

For the following, indicate whether the definition given is by example, by synonym, or analytical: "Poltroonery" means the same thing as "cowardice."

Criticize the following claim based on the material from Chapter 3 of the text. "All of you are not thinking."

Rank the claims in the following set from general to least vague. When Louis returned from his trip, he told me a. that the airline had lost his bags twice. b. that it had been a nightmare. c. that all the clothes except those on his back spent the weekend in Miami and Cleveland while he was in New Orleans and Detroit. d. that he had to wear the same clothes for three straight days because of airline foul-ups with his luggage.

Which item in the following set of claims has the most negative emotive meaning? a. He was a cautious sort. b. He was deliberate and heedful of his own safety. c. He was afraid to take the slightest risk. d. He was spineless.

Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: San Francisco (AP)-"A group of citizens angry about the lack of public restrooms downtown is planning a sit-in at City Hall, leaving employees no place to go."

Classify the following: "What Lani just did from the high board is called a full gainer."

Exercise: Read a commentary or editorial in a newspaper; and identify and list as many emotively charged words and phrases as you can. Then come up with neutral equivalents for the words on your list.

Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the following claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither? FROZEN EMBRYOS RULED CHILDREN -Daily News-Record (Harrisonburg, Va.)

For "liberal (noun)," provide an analytical definition that is unflattering.

For "educators," provide an analytical definition that is unflattering.

Determine whether the following claim is too vague in the context that is stated or implied: Overheard at a wine-tasting: "This Chablis is just a bit too ambitious for my taste."

Determine whether the following claim is too vague in the context that is stated or implied: Advertisement: "If your house is properly insulated, the Agwar console humidifier should enhance your comfort when the weather turns cold."

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. The job of lineman is the hardest job in the telephone company. Those guys get called out in all kinds of weather.

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. From a letter to the editor: "It appears that the administration's foreign policy is increasingly far out."

Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the following claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither? "Now, how would you like your hair cut, Madam?" "Oh, just make it a little shorter."

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

Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities), syntactically ambiguous, or free from ambiguity: Headline: Pesticide Concerns Blossom