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

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. Mike O'Neill and his wife,Karen,arrived at the party at eight o'clock.

For the following,indicate whether the definition given is by example,by synonym,or analytical:"Widow" refers to a woman whose husband has died.

Arrange the lettered items below in order of increasingly favorable emotive meaning.Instructor and/or students may want to fuss about some of our rankings in these problems.We've said (a)= (b)when (a)and (b)seem equally favorable to us. The paper you turned in last week was a.mediocre. b.fine. c.competent. d.adequate. e.quite good.

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. Obscene movies available at movie rental outlets are harmful to children who watch them.

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.

Discuss whether the vagueness of the following passage is appropriate to the context that is stated or implied.Pay particular attention to the underlined expressions. "Comprehensive Coverage.The insurer will pay for direct and accidental damage to the insured's automobile and its equipment not caused by collision or upset." -From an automobile insurance policy

Classify the following:"Skiing-outdoor fun combined with knocking down trees with your face."-Dave Barry

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

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.

Rank the claims in the following set from general to least vague. a.I hear a funny noise in my engine. b.I have an engine problem. c.When I give it gas,I hear this funny sound in my engine. d.My engine makes a strange noise sometimes but not at other times. e.There is an unusual ticking sound in my engine when I accelerate from zero to around thirty.

Definitions by example,definitions by synonym,and analytical definitions can all be used to evoke an attitude about the thing defined.

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

Determine whether the claim in the following is too vague in the context that is stated or implied:It seems clear that within the next ten years they'll have produced a machine that can really think.

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

Classify the following:"Tenor applies to vocal ranges like Pavarotti's."

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.

Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered,would you say the following claim is ambiguous,too vague,or neither? 'PRIESTESS' WAS HOOKER TO JURY -AP headline

Determine whether the claim in the following is too vague in the context that is stated or implied:Your chances of winning the grand prize in the lottery by purchasing a single ticket are approximately 1 in 16,000,000.

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. A barrister is a lawyer in Britain who actually argues the case in court.

Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered,would you say the following claim is ambiguous,too vague,or neither? "Men burn off 438 calories per hour gardening." -Breakthroughs