Phil. 103: Introduction to Logic Post Test
General Education Assessment Project
Humanities Division
Lander University
Greenwood, SC
Version 0.1 ©2002 OPL October 29, 2002
The following questions reflect some of the aims of our Introduction to Logic Course. Choose the best response in each of the following questions, and circle the letter corresponding to the best answer.
- Which of the following sentences is a statement?
- a.
- Congratulations on your recent successes!
- b.
- Good evening.
- c.
- Please leave the door open after you leave.
- d.
- The planet Pluto is essentially an iceball..
- e.
- How many minutes are in a year?
- What is the conclusion of the following passage?
You probably have a low blood iron level because you have pale lips, your have white fingernails, and you don't have much energy.
- a.
- You probably have a low blood iron level.
- b.
- You have pale lips.
- c.
- You have white fingernails.
- d.
- You don't have much energy.
- e.
- No conclusion can reasonably be drawn.
- Evaluate the following disagreement.
- John: Susan is an incessant chatterbox.
- Mary: Not at all. Susan is refreshingly outspoken.
- a.
- John and Mary agree on the facts and agree in their attitude toward the facts.
- b.
- John and Mary agree on the facts but disagree in their attitude toward the facts..
- c.
- John and Mary disagree both on the facts and in their attitude toward the facts.
- d.
- John and Mary disagree on the facts but agree in their attitude toward the facts.
- e.
- Either John is right or Mary is right, but both persons can't be right.
- Evaluate the following argument:
Mr. H. L. A. Aikens has argued persuasively that the minimum wage is not enough for a person to live on without some financial assistance. Nevertheless, little weight should be given to his testimony since he has tried to live on a minimum wage salary for twenty years.
- a.
- Mr. Aikens' arguments can be discounted because Mr. Aiken is biased.
- b.
- Mr. Aikens might have some good points, but the issue is too complex for an conclusion to be drawn at this time.
- c.
- Mr. Aikens' character and experience are not logically relevant to the soundness of his arguments.
- d.
- Mr. Aikens' arguments must be right because of his experience. He knows what he is talking about.
- e.
- Everyone has a right to his opinion. If Mr. Aikens thinks his arguments are sound, then they are at least sound to him.
- Evaluate the following argument:
Mr. Landrum: As I said a month ago, if Mr. Richardson does not come before the American people, as I have, and show his financial records, as I have, then this lack of action is proof that he has something to hide. Mr. Richardson has not revealed his financial records, so he's not being honest.
- a.
- If Mr. Richardson does not show his financial records, then he has something to hide.
- b.
- Mr. Richardson could still be honest and have nothing to hide but still not show his financial records.
- c.
- Neither Mr. Landrum nor Mr. Stevenson can be trusted.
- d.
- There is no doubt that Mr. Richardson has something to hide.
- e.
- Politicians always disagree, and this example is no exception.
- What statement logically follows from the following statement?
Some students at Tech are persons who obey the honor code.
- a.
- All students at Tech are persons who obey the honor code.
- b.
- No students at Tech are persons who obey the honor code.
- c.
- Some students at Tech are not persons who obey the honor code.
- d.
- Some students at Tech are not persons who disobey the honor code.
- e.
- Some persons who obey the honor code are not students at Tech.
- What statement logically follows from the following statement?
Not all graduating students are educated students.
- a.
- If you are an educated student, then you will graduate.
- b.
- If you graduate, then you are educated.
- c.
- Some educated students graduate, and some don't.
- d.
- If you are uneducated, then you won't graduate.
- e.
- Make sure you get a good education.
- Evaluate the following argument.
No college graduates are persons who cannot write clearly, but all persons who cannot write clearly are poor writers, so no college graduates are poor writers.
- a.
- The argument proves its conclusion, if the premisses are known to be true.
- b.
- The argument does not prove its conclusion even if the premisses are true.
- c.
- The argument is good simply because all the statements are true.
- d.
- The argument is not valid, and the reasoning is flawed because all the statements are false.
- e.
- The argument might be good in some specific cases.
- What can most probably be concluded from the following statement?
The belongings in little Mary's room were strewn about in gay profusion.
- a.
- Little Mary's room was brightly and carefully decorated.
- b.
- Little Mary has many belongings and so is probably wealthy.
- c.
- Little Mary likes to throw things-including all her belongings.
- d.
- Little Mary has too many clothes.
- e.
- Little Mary doesn't put things away.
- What can most probably be concluded about the following argument?
If she invites you to her party, then she wants you to come. Since she didn't invite you to her party, she obviously doesn't want you to come.
- a.
- You can logically conclude she doesn't want you to come to the party.
- b.
- The invitation quite possibly was lost, so you can't conclude anything.
- c.
- You can't logically conclude that she doesn't want you to come.
- d.
- You can safely conclude if she wanted you to come, she would have given you an invitation.
- e.
- Nothing can be concluded with certainty.
This assessment questionnaire does not form a part of your grade in this course, and individual scores are not recorded. Your answers will help establish whether the objectives of the course are being met. Thank you for your participation.
NAME ____________________________________________________
Phil. 103: Introduction to Logic Post Test
General Education Assessment Project
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