Exam 1: What Is Critical Thinking,anyway

Even though the issue that people are fussing over may not be important,there must still be an issue present wherever an argument is present.

Determine whether the following passage contains an argument;if it does,identify the main issue. "A witty experiment by Philip Goldberg proves what everyone knows,having internalized the disesteem in which they are held,women despise both themselves and each other.This simple test consisted of asking women undergraduates to respond to the scholarship in an essay signed alternately by one John McKay and one Joan McKay.In making their assessments,the students generally agreed that John was a remarkable thinker,Joan an unimpressive mind.Yet the articles were identical;the reaction was dependent on the sex of the supposed author." -Kate Millett,Sexual Politics

Sometimes arguments contain only unstated reasons.

Determine whether the following passage contains an argument and,if it does,identify that argument's final conclusion. "You've got every reason to add another telephone line,despite the cost.The way it is now,you tie up your phone for hours while you're on your computer.If people need to reach you in an emergency,they can't do it."

Determine whether the following passage is (or contains)an argument. "Gene splicing is the most awesome and powerful skill acquired by man since the splitting of the atom.If pursued humanistically,its potential to serve humanity is enormous.We will use it to synthesize expensive natural products-interferon,substances such as insulin,and human endorphins that serve as natural painkillers.We will be able to create a second 'green revolution' in agriculture to produce new high-yield,disease-resistant,self-fertilizing crops.Gene splicing has the potential to synthesize new substances we can substitute for oil,coal,and other raw materials-keys to a self-sustaining society." -John Naisbitt,Megatrends

The quality of a discussion often depends on how closely the parties attend to the same issue.For the passage below,determine whether the speakers are clearly disputing the same issue,or whether somebody is missing the point. a:The legislature should pass a bill banning agricultural burning-when they burn those fields the whole area is covered with a layer of smoke. b:Forget about agricultural burning-automobile emissions cause the greatest percentage of air pollution in this area.

Determine whether the following passage contains an argument and,if it does,identify that argument's final conclusion. "Can you believe it? Tight-fitting polyester clothes are making a comeback.They've even brought back bell-bottoms.Next thing you know,the professors around here will be dragging out their leisure suits."

Identify the main point or issue in the following passage,and decide whether the rest of the passage offers reasons for the main point (such as,whether the passage contains an argument),whether it illustrates (provides examples for)the main point,whether it explains the point,is irrelevant to the point,and so on. "Gun control laws don't work.What is worse,they act perversely.While legitimate users of firearms encounter intense regulation,scrutiny,and bureaucratic control,illicit markets easily adapt to whatever difficulties a free society throws in their way.Also,efforts to curtail the supply of firearms inflict collateral damage on freedom and privacy interests that have long been considered central to American public life." -Daniel Polsby,"The False Promise of Gun Control," in The Atlantic Monthly

Determine whether the following passage is (or contains)an argument. "The argument advanced at a recent government hearing-that because we will not be dependent on plutonium for more than a few hundred years it 'will not be an important problem indefinitely'-entirely misses the point.Though we may rely on plutonium for only a relatively brief period,the plutonium produced during that period may be with us indefinitely,and it may jeopardize the lives of many times the number of generations that profit from its use." -Ronald M.Green,"International Justice and Environmental Responsibility"

Identify for which claims,if any,support has been given in the following passage;and state in your own words the reasons that have been offered for these claims. "The breaking of secret codes (cryptoanalysis)provides an example of inductive reasoning closely resembling the inductive reasoning scientists carry out.However,cryptoanalysis can be carried out using pen and paper,needing no laboratories.In addition,even simple forms of cryptoanalysis can be quite intriguing.Simple forms of cryptoanalysis can therefore be very useful as classroom examples of inductive reasoning." -CT News

Identify each speaker that gives an argument for his or her position in the following passage. republican:If taxes absolutely must be raised,raise the sales tax.Raising taxes on corporations or income taxes just drives businesses out of state,and that's bad for the economy.The net result is less tax revenue for government. democrat:If you raise the sales tax,people buy less,and that's even worse for the economy.Besides,the sales tax hits poor people the hardest,and they are the ones who least can afford a tax hike.

The quality of a discussion often depends on how closely the parties attend to the same issue.For the passage below,determine whether the speakers are clearly disputing the same issue,or whether somebody is missing the point. a:I can't believe the student government paid John Kerry over a thousand dollars to come here and give a speech.He's been out of the news for ages,and he's clearly biased.They should have saved our money. b:Listen:George Bush,Sr.has been out of office for a while now too,and he's clearly as biased as anybody.Nevertheless,people pay tons of money for him to come and speak.So lay off about Kerry.

Determine whether the following passage is (or contains)an argument. "If American business is to regain an advantageous position in the international marketplace,it must recreate a climate of flexibility and entrepreneurship.Unfortunately,the trend is to seek personal success not through entrepreneurship but through professionalism,as a continued climb in the number of advanced degrees in business and law confirms.If this tendency to seek personal security and prestige by joining the ranks of the professionally comfortable continues,the real winners will be America's overseas competitors." -Irving Greenberg

Identify the main issue in the following passage.If two or more issues are present,indicate how they are related-that is,does the settlement of one depend upon the settlement of the other? The results of a survey conducted by the Public Opinion Laboratory at Northern Illinois University show that on very basic ideas,vast numbers of Americans are scientifically illiterate,laboratory director Jon Miller said.Only about 5 percent of American adults have a minimal knowledge of scientific vocabulary and methodology and an understanding of the impact of science on the world (55 percent did not know that the Earth goes around the Sun once a year;28 percent didn't know that the Earth goes around the Sun at all).In an election year when candidates are talking about the Strategic Defense Initiative,acid rain,and the greenhouse effect,this survey shows that many Americans have little idea of what the candidates are talking about.

Determine whether the following passage is (or contains)an argument. "[Lionel L.] Lewis discovered that,in recommendations of merit written by administrators and faculty themselves,although they put much emphasis (two-thirds)upon student related activities-teaching,advising,course planning,and popularity-no one argues from any supporting evidence other than,'Everyone knows.'" -David A.Downes,"The Merit Muddle in the University" No argument.

The quality of a discussion often depends on how closely the parties attend to the same issue.For the passage below,determine whether the speakers are clearly disputing the same issue,or whether somebody is missing the point. a:About 90 percent of all those colorful kids' books abut dinosaurs contain misinformation and misleading interpretations. b:But without those books,cartoons would be children's only source of information about dinosaurs-and they're even more inaccurate.

Identify for which claims,if any,support has been given in the following passage;and state in your own words the reasons that have been offered for these claims. "I served in Vietnam,and that gives me the right to speak about people who did not do their duty during that time.And,among others,that includes our current president,who used family connections to avoid ever going on active duty." -Adapted from remarks one hears from time to time

Determine whether the following passage contains an argument and,if it does,identify that argument's final conclusion. "Pretzels are pretty good for a snack food.But it's wise to keep in mind that they are high in sodium,at least if you eat the salted kind."

The quality of a discussion often depends on how closely the parties attend to the same issue.For the passage below,determine whether the speakers are clearly disputing the same issue,or whether somebody is missing the point. a:Harriman is a fraud.He didn't even graduate from medical school. b:Harriman is still the best surgeon at this clinic.

Determine whether the following passage is (or contains)an argument. You'd better not pet that dog.She looks friendly,but she's been known to bite.