Week 1 Knowledge Check Study Guide

Concepts

Mastery

Arguments

100%

Issues

100%

10

Claims

100%

Topics

100%

Score: 10 / 10

Questions

Concept: Arguments
Mastery

100%

Questions

1.
What would you call a set of claims intended to support or prove a conclusion?

A.

Argument

B.

Issue

C.

Opinion

D.

Reason

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: A.
An argument consists of two partsone part (the premise or premises) is intended
to provide a reason for accepting the other part (the conclusion).
7.
An argument is made up of parts. Which of the following is most complete and accurate?

A.

An argument has a premise.

B.

An argument has a conclusion.

C.

An argument always has two premises and a conclusion.

D.

An argument has at least one premise and one

conclusion.

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: D.
By definition, an argument is a two-part structure of claims. One part (the premise,
or premises) is given as a reason (or reasons) for thinking that the other part (the
conclusion) is true
8.
Read each of the following statements. In which statement does the speaker offer an
argument in support of the issue?

A.

"This years Super Bowl begins around 6:00 p.m. today,

but the Fox pregame programming will start at 1:00.
Why? Because we can sell it, said Ed Goren,
co-executive producer of Fox Sports. The Super Bowl is
about more. It is about excess." (Reported in The New

York Times, January 26, 1997.)

B.

"They should never have referred to the savings and loan

deregulation as getting the government out of business
decisions. All those deposits were insured by the
government, which made public policy the biggest issue
in the S&Ls decisions."

C.

"Plenty of opportunities still exist for making money.

You cant throw a rock without hitting an opportunity.
All you have to do is keep an open mind."

D.

"Cars are not as safe as they used to be. Theyre more

fuel-efficient, more environmentally sound, and better at
surviving a 5 MPH collision. But none of that adds up to
safety."

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: B.
By definition, an argument is a two-part structure of claims, one part of which (the
premise, or premises) is given as a reason (or reasons) for thinking the other part
(the conclusion) is true.

Concept: Issues
Mastery

100%

Questions

10

2.
What is the term for a point being debated; or, in other words, a question that is raised
when assessing the truth or falsity of a statement?

A.

Argument

B.

Issue

C.

Opinion

D.

Reason

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: B.
An issue is the question raised. It is the basis for an argument.

5.
Generally speaking, which of these statements best represents the relationship between
issues and topics of conversation?

A.

A topic of conversation often has several issues at stake.

B.

An issue often has several topics of conversation at stake.

C.

A topic never contains issues.

D.

An issue is just a topic.

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: A.
The topic up for discussionfor example the beauty of a sunsetmay involve
several issues, such as, "Is aesthetic appreciation worth developing?" or "Is it good
to spend time observing nature?".
10.
In which of the following are the two speakers addressing the same issue?

A.

Big: Dont worry about coming into the pool. Its only
eight feet. Little: That doesnt make me feel any safer.
You could drown in your bathtub.

B.

First critic: I cant believe Jay opened his reading with

that terrible poem. What a disaster! Second critic: Oh, it
wasnt so bad. He had his Italian suit on.

C.

Owner: How could you slam the door like that? Its not
your car. Rider: I know.

D.

Pro: These new term limits will give us better-elected

officials. Well finally have a choice other than the
candidates the party machine trots out for us. Con: I dont
see how it can be democratic for the people who passed
these term limits to restrict other voters choices.

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: A.
Both sides address the issue, although they have different standards of water safety.
Both give arguments, even though brief, for their positions.

Concept: Claims
Mastery

100%

Questions

3.
Which of the following most accurately completes this sentence? "A claim is a statement
that is. . ."

A.

true

B.

false

C.

either true or false, but not both

D.

true and false, depending on the context

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: C.
A claim is merely a statement expressing a belief. If that statement is true, it can be
used as a reason to support a conclusion within an argument; if false, it cannot (the
conclusion is a claim, as well).
4.
Which of the following sentences is NOT a claim?

A.

Life exists on planets other than Earth.

B.

Dare to stay off drugs!

C.

Somethings force equals its mass multiplied by its

acceleration.

D.

Joe owns a pet dog.

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: B.
This sentence is not truth evaluable because it is a suggestion or recommendation,
not a declarative statement.
9.
Read each of the following statements. Which of the statements would be considered a

claim?

A.

"What a day!"

B.

"I could eat a horse."

C.

"Watch out for the loose wire."

D.

"Who told you I left town?"

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: B.
For any human speaker and any single meal, it is of course a false claim. It has the
purpose of expressing, in colorful language, the quite possibly true claim, "I have an
exceedingly great appetite"; it also has the purpose of amusing.

Concept: Topics
Mastery

100%

Questions

6.
Which of the following terms is the best identification for "abortion"?

A.

It is a topic of conversation.

B.

It is a claim.

C.

It is an issue.

D.

It is an argument.

Correct:
The Correct Answer is: A.
To make this topic into a claim requires making some assertion about abortion. To
make it into an issue requires asking whether or not some claim about it is true or
false.