Phil 12 Winter 2008 Directions and Sample Questions for First Exam I Argumentation A Basic concepts Select the best answer to the following multiple choice questions about basic concepts of logic and scientific reasoning as used in this course 10 points Which of the following could be a counterexample to a definition of dog a an example that shows that dogs have surprising new properties b a turkey that satisfies the conditions in the definition c an cat that satisfies the necessary conditions for being a dog d a dog that does not satisfy one set of sufficient conditions for being a dog Which of the following statements is a tautology a Dogs have four legs b Dogs do not like cats c If something barks then it is a dog d Only animals are dogs An argument is a a conflict between two or more individuals b a discourse designed to convince someone to accept a conclusion c a set of statements some of which are offered to justify others d none of the above Which of the following is an example of a valid statement a A bachelor is an unmarried male b The longest day of the year is in June c Can you help me with this d None of the above In the statement The dog won t bite unless you threaten the dog bites is a a necessary condition for you threatening b neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for you threatening c a sufficient condition for you threatening d both a necessary and a sufficient condition for you threatening Which of the following is not a conclusion indicator a therefore b since c thus d proves that In a valid argument with a false conclusion a all the premises must be true b at least one premise must be false c the premises may be either true or false d you cannot tell anything about the truth of the premises Phil 12 Winter 2007 Sample First Exam p 2 B Conditionals Select the best answer to the following multiple choice questions about conditional statements 15 points The statement If there is a storm we will get wet is false when a There is not a storm and we get wet b There is a storm and we get wet c There is not a storm and we do not get wet d There is a storm and we do not get wet Only if you follow the directions will you pass the exam is logically equivalent to which of the following statements a If you follow the directions you will pass the exam b You will pass the exam if you follow the directions c If you pass the exam you followed the directions d Unless you passed the exam you followed the directions The statement Only if you follow the directions will you pass the exam is false when a You followed the directions and passed the exam b You followed the directions and did not pass the exam c You did not follow the directions and passed the exam d You did not follow the directions and did not pass the exam The statement Unless New York wins San Diego is out of the race is logically equivalent to which of the following a If New York wins San Diego is out of the race b New York wins only if San Diego is out of the race c If San Diego is out of the race New York wins d If New York does not win San Diego is out of the race The statement They will die unless a cure is found is logically equivalent to which of the following a If they do not die then a cure was found b If a cure is found they will not die c If they die a cure was not found d Only if a cure was not found will they die C Conditional arguments Identify the form of each of the following conditional arguments AND whether it is valid or not Both parts must be correct to get credit for the question 15 points If you passed the exam then you followed the directions Moreover you followed the directions Therefore you passed the exam a Modus ponens c Affirming the consequent b Modus tollens d Denying the antecedent e Valid f Invalid Phil 12 Winter 2007 Sample First Exam p 3 If there is still fruit on the plate it is poisoned But there is no fruit on the plate Therefore it is not poisoned a Modus ponens c Affirming the consequent b Modus tollens d Denying the antecedent e Valid f Invalid The defendant is not guilty because she is smiling and if she were guilty she would not be smiling a Modus ponens c Affirming the consequent b Modus tollens d Denying the antecedent e Valid f Invalid There will be more traffic accidents in the future We know this because the number of drivers is increasing and if the number of drivers increases there will be more traffic accidents a Modus ponens c Affirming the consequent b Modus tollens d Denying the antecedent e Valid f Invalid D Logic and Evidential Relations Answer the following questions about the logical relations involved in evaluating hypotheses including showing the form of argument involved and illustrate with an example in a short paragraph 15 points Explain in your own terms what makes the following argument good or bad Do not just use terms like valid or sound but explain what they mean There is going to be a major recession in the next year We can conclude this because whenever there is a major recession it is preceded by turmoil in the equity markets And there is certainly turmoil in the equity markets right now What is a prediction in science Provide an example What is its relation to a hypothesis Show how your example prediction relates to a hypothesis What is the logical form of a falsification Illustrate with an example Give two reasons other than laziness or conservatism why researchers might reasonably not reject a hypothesis even if the predictions made from it are false II Observation A Observation Categorization and Taxonomy Answer the following questions about observation categorization and taxonomy in a short paragraph 15 points What aspect of perception is illustrated by the drawing on the left What challenge does this pose to scientists Explain in some detail Phil 12 Winter 2007 Sample First Exam p 4 Why is it important to plan carefully the coding system that will be used in an observational study What can go wrong if one has a poorly designed coding system B Basic concepts Select the best answer to the following multiple choice questions about terms used to describe features of observational research including variables and their measurement 10 points For classifying furniture the categories dining table desk chair sofa lamp are a exhaustive and exclusive b exhaustive but not exclusive c exclusive but not exhaustive d neither exclusive nor exhaustive Jane Goodall s decision to use binoculars in her research on chimpanzees in Gombe National Park