Exam 3: Clear Thinking,critical Thinking,and Clear Writing

Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities),syntactically ambiguous,or free from ambiguity:He passed out and was later found by a group of stray sheep.

Rank the claims in the following set from general to least vague. a.His were the most awful,despicable,outrageous crimes that have been committed in this county in the entire century. b.He murdered seven innocent people. c.He shocked the sensibilities of the whole region with his horrible crimes. d.He was guilty of seven felonies and about nine misdemeanors,including murder and abuse of the mails. e.He chopped up seven people and sent their parts to the governor's office.

Criticize the following claim based on the material from Chapter 3 of the text. "We can't and we won't lower the quality of faculty in the California state universities,but it may be time to redefine what we mean by 'quality.'"-Former California State University System Chancellor Barry Munitz

Indicate whether this informal definition is by example,by synonym,or analytical:Meat that contains larval worms is said to be measly.

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. Crime report on television (or in the newspaper):"Police are looking for a white man about thirty years old,with brown hair and brown eyes,about five feet ten inches tall.He has tattoos on both forearms-a picture of a snake on the right and the word 'mother' on the left."

Classify the following:"Consumption is an old word for tuberculosis."

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

Classify the following:"'Adult beverage' is anything that will get you drunk and make you act like an adolescent."

Using a name or description of an item that you can't point to,provide a definition by example for "dictator." 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:Eighteen people have slept in the new hotel's most expensive suite.

Exercise:Are you familiar with the word,"noisome"? 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. )

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

Define "thrifty" by synonyms,using one synonym that carries a complimentary meaning and one that carries a derogatory emotive meaning.

"emotive meaning" refers to a term's

Classify the following:"To philosophers,a realist is a person who believes in the existence of a world outside the mind."

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."

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

Indicate whether this informal definition is by example,by synonym,or analytical:A diode is a solid-state electronic device that allows the passage of an electric current in only one direction.

Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous (and whether this contains grouping ambiguities),syntactically ambiguous,or free from ambiguity:People who go shopping often go broke.

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. "The cliché is prefabricated language;it is packaged and ready for immediate delivery."-William F.Irmscher and Harryette Stover,The Holt Guide to English Persuasive definition of a negative sort;of course a cliché is by definition trite and hackneyed.