Question 1

Field-invariant evidence is found:

Accepted Answer

A)  Only in ordinary, everyday conversations 
B)  Only in specialized fields, such as law or science 
C)  Only in academic fields, such as history or philosophy 
D)  In everyday conversations and in all specialized fields 
A)  Only in ordinary, everyday conversations 
B)  Only in specialized fields, such as law or science 
C)  Only in academic fields, such as history or philosophy 
D)  In everyday conversations and in all specialized fields

Question 2

Years ago, a popular slogan for sugarless gum claimed, "Four out of five dentists recommend Trident (a sugarless gum) to their patients who chew gum." As a critical thinker, what are your thoughts about the statistics presented in this slogan? What questions might you want answered before you agreed with the claim? Be sure to talk about how statistics might be used to misrepresent the truth.

Accepted Answer

As a critical thinker, my thoughts about

Question 3

The stock market axiom, "past performance is no guarantee of future results," best cautions against which problem with statistics?

Accepted Answer

A)  Faulty statistics 
B)  Suppressed evidence 
C)  Questionable extrapolation 
D)  Wild-ass guesses 
A)  Faulty statistics 
B)  Suppressed evidence 
C)  Questionable extrapolation 
D)  Wild-ass guesses

Question 4

When a consumer buys a product simply because Oprah mentions it, the consumer is relying primarily on a/an

Accepted Answer

A)  Substantive warrant 
B)  Logical warrant 
C)  Emotional warrant 
D)  Authoritative warrant 
A)  Substantive warrant 
B)  Logical warrant 
C)  Emotional warrant 
D)  Authoritative warrant

Question 5

Robert Cialdini warns that deference to authority figures often leads to a "tyranny of authorities." How can people appreciate the need for qualified experts without giving in to blind obedience?

Accepted Answer

One way to appreciate the need for quali

Question 6

The kinds of arguments and evidence one would find in an Op-Ed essay in a newspaper are usually

Accepted Answer

A)  Field-invariant 
B)  Field-dependent 
C)  Scientific 
D)  Legalistic 
E)  Logical and valid 
A)  Field-invariant 
B)  Field-dependent 
C)  Scientific 
D)  Legalistic 
E)  Logical and valid

Question 7

All of the following are useful tests for evaluating the credibility of websites except:

Accepted Answer

A)  Is the website hosted by an institution, such as a university or government agency? 
B)  Are the qualifications and credentials of the sources provided? 
C)  Are references to peer-reviewed (scholarly or professional) publications provided? 
D)  Are there numerous images, graphics, or video clips? 
E)  Is the content current and updated regularly? 
A)  Is the website hosted by an institution, such as a university or government agency? 
B)  Are the qualifications and credentials of the sources provided? 
C)  Are references to peer-reviewed (scholarly or professional) publications provided? 
D)  Are there numerous images, graphics, or video clips? 
E)  Is the content current and updated regularly?

Question 8

"Babe Ruth would have hit 1,051 home runs if he had the same number of at-bats as Hank Aaron. Aaron hit 41 more homers than Ruth, but Ruth only had 8,399 at-bats, whereas Aaron had 12,364 at bats." The most serious flaw with this statistic is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Ruth was also an excellent pitcher 
B)  They used differently-sized bats 
C)  The margin of error isn't stated 
D)  It is based on an erroneous extrapolation 
E)  Hank Aaron had to deal with racial prejudice, too 
A)  Ruth was also an excellent pitcher 
B)  They used differently-sized bats 
C)  The margin of error isn't stated 
D)  It is based on an erroneous extrapolation 
E)  Hank Aaron had to deal with racial prejudice, too

Question 9

Which of the following would be an unknowable statistic at your college or university?

Accepted Answer

A)  The number of students who have outstanding library fines 
B)  The number of students who cheat on exams 
C)  The number of students who carpool to campus 
D)  The number of students who email their professors 
E)  The average number of units in which students are enrolled 
A)  The number of students who have outstanding library fines 
B)  The number of students who cheat on exams 
C)  The number of students who carpool to campus 
D)  The number of students who email their professors 
E)  The average number of units in which students are enrolled

Field-invariant evidence is found:

The stock market axiom, "past performance is no guarantee of future results," best cautions against which problem with statistics?

When a consumer buys a product simply because Oprah mentions it, the consumer is relying primarily on a/an

Robert Cialdini warns that deference to authority figures often leads to a "tyranny of authorities." How can people appreciate the need for qualified experts without giving in to blind obedience?

The kinds of arguments and evidence one would find in an Op-Ed essay in a newspaper are usually

All of the following are useful tests for evaluating the credibility of websites except:

"Babe Ruth would have hit 1,051 home runs if he had the same number of at-bats as Hank Aaron. Aaron hit 41 more homers than Ruth, but Ruth only had 8,399 at-bats, whereas Aaron had 12,364 at bats." The most serious flaw with this statistic is:

Which of the following would be an unknowable statistic at your college or university?

Why Study Argument?

Arguing Ethically

Argument Theories, Models, and Definitions

The Nature of Critical Thinking

Building Blocks of Argument

Informal Reasoning

Fallacies in Reasoning, Part I

Fallacies in Reasoning, Part II

Judgment, Decision Making and Problem Solving

Deductive Reasoning

Effective Advocacy

Filters

Exam 6: Evidence and Proof

Field-invariant evidence is found:

The stock market axiom, "past performance is no guarantee of future results," best cautions against which problem with statistics?

When a consumer buys a product simply because Oprah mentions it, the consumer is relying primarily on a/an

Robert Cialdini warns that deference to authority figures often leads to a "tyranny of authorities." How can people appreciate the need for qualified experts without giving in to blind obedience?

The kinds of arguments and evidence one would find in an Op-Ed essay in a newspaper are usually

All of the following are useful tests for evaluating the credibility of websites except:

"Babe Ruth would have hit 1,051 home runs if he had the same number of at-bats as Hank Aaron. Aaron hit 41 more homers than Ruth, but Ruth only had 8,399 at-bats, whereas Aaron had 12,364 at bats." The most serious flaw with this statistic is:

Which of the following would be an unknowable statistic at your college or university?

Why Study Argument?

Arguing Ethically

Argument Theories, Models, and Definitions

The Nature of Critical Thinking

Building Blocks of Argument

Informal Reasoning

Fallacies in Reasoning, Part I

Fallacies in Reasoning, Part II

Judgment, Decision Making and Problem Solving

Deductive Reasoning

Effective Advocacy

Filters