Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking
Chapters 3/5/12 Quiz
L. Osinski
1
"A claim whose ambiguity is due to the ambiguity of a particular word or phrase." Identify the
ambiguity.
A) grouping ambiguity
B) semantic ambiguity
C) syntactic ambiguity
D) no ambiguity
2
"A claim whose ambiguity is due to a problem with its structure." Identify the ambiguity.
A) semantic ambiguity
B) syntactic ambiguity
C) grouping ambiguity
D) no ambiguity
3
"A claim whose ambiguity rests on a confusion between a collection of entities or individual
entities." Identify the ambiguity.
A) grouping ambiguity
B) semantic ambiguity
C) syntactic ambiguity
D) no ambiguity
4
"This morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas." Identify the ambiguity.
A) semantic ambiguity
B) syntactic ambiguity
C) grouping ambiguity
D) no ambiguity
5
Newspaper headline: "Unskilled Workers Get Shot at Jobs." Identify the ambiguity.
A) semantic ambiguity
B) syntactic ambiguity
C) grouping ambiguity
D) no ambiguity
6
Sign in front of a vacant lot: "Fine for Littering." Identify the ambiguity.
A) semantic ambiguity
B) syntactic ambiguity
C) grouping ambiguity
D) no ambiguity
7
Which of the following descriptions best captures the difference between a euphemism and a
dysphemism?
A) A dysphemism is employed to create a negative effect on a reader's attitude, and a
euphemism is employed to create a positive effect on a reader's attitude.
B) A dysphemism is a form of rhetoric but a euphemism is not.
C) A euphemism is employed to create a negative effect on a reader's attitude, and a
dysphemism is employed to create a positive effect on a reader's attitude.
D) A euphemism is a form of rhetoric but a dysphemism is not.
8
"I don't know what my opponents will base their speeches on; I'm basing mine on love for my
country." Identify the rhetorical device involved here.
A) euphemism
B) innuendo
C) weaseler
D) downplayer
E) stereotype
9
Economists say this layoff is Cleveland's final readjustment to a service economy. Identify the
rhetorical device involved here.
A) innuendo
B) euphemism
C) downplayer
D) stereotype
E) rhetorical definition
10
"At the end of the day, the reasons for our view tend to preponderate over the reasons for the
contrary view." Identify the rhetorical device involved here.
A) euphemism
B) innuendo
C) rhetorical explanation
D) weaseler
E) rhetorical definition
11
"Of course she told you it'll run smoothly. Car salespeople will tell you whatever they think you
want to hear." Identify the rhetorical device involved here.
A) rhetorical explanation.
B) weaseler.
C) loaded question.
D) downplayer.
E) proof surrogate.
12
"For all practical purposes, there has basically been only one worthwhile idea in the history of
philosophy." Identify the rhetorical device involved here.
A) innuendo
B) loaded question
C) weaseler
D) stereotype
E) rhetorical definition
13
"Are you here to beg for another favor?" Identify the rhetorical device involved here.
A) euphemism.
B) loaded question.
C) rhetorical explanation.
D) weaseler.
E) rhetorical definition.
14
"Open this envelope and you'll get a check for three million dollars, if your name appears on our
list of winners." Identify the rhetorical device involved here.
A) rhetorical definition
B) innuendo
C) downplayer
D) weaseler
E) stereotype
15
"Is this going to be another bright suggestion like your proposal that we take scuba lessons?"
Identify the rhetorical device involved here.
A) stereotype
B) loaded question
C) proof surrogate
D) rhetorical definition
E) innuendo
16
"You can't sleep with the covers over your head. All the medical journals will tell you that's
harmful." Identify the rhetorical device involved here.
A) stereotype
B) euphemism
C) weaseler
D) proof surrogate
E) downplayer
17
"We will fund this new program through revenue enhancements from the sale of beer and
cigarettes." Identify the rhetorical device involved here.
A) downplayer
B) euphemism
C) proof surrogate
D) weaseler
E) innuendo
18
Overheard: "You know why the subway is so dirty, don't you? They're getting people on welfare
to clean the cars." Identify the rhetorical device involved here.
A) rhetorical explanation
B) loaded question
C) downplayer
D) stereotype
E) rhetorical definition
Circle and name any rhetorical devices you find in the following passages. Note: some items
may contain no rhetorical devices. If so, state “none” beneath the passage.
1. “Let’s put it this way: People who make contributions to my campaign fund get access.
But there’s nothing wrong with constituents having access to their representatives, is
there?”
--Loosely paraphrased from an interview with a California state Senator
Weaseler
2. In the 2000 presidential debates, Al Gore consistently referred to his own tax proposal as
a “tax plan” and to George W. Bush’s tax proposal as a “tax scheme.”
Rhetorical Definitions / dysphemism
3. “A few years ago, the deficit got so horrendous that even Congress was embarrassed.
Faced with this problem, the lawmakers did what they do best. They passed another law.”
Innuendo
--Abe Mellinkoff, in the San
Francisco Chronicle
4. It may well be that many faculty members deserve some sort of pay increase.
Nevertheless, it is clearly true that others are already amply compensated.
Downplayer
5. Maybe Professor Anderson’s research hasn’t appeared in the first-class journals as
recently as that of some of the other professors in his department; that doesn’t necessarily
mean his work is going downhill. He’s still a terrific teacher, if the students I’ve talked to
are to be believed. Downplayer
6. According to UNICEF reports, several thousand Iraqi children died each month because
of the UN sanctions. None
7. These so-called forfeiture laws are a serious abridgment of a person’s constitutional
rights. In some states, district attorneys’ offices have only to claim that a person has
committed a drug-related crime to seize the person’s assets. So fat-cat DAs can get rich
without ever getting around to proving that anybody is guilty of a crime. None
8. “Obama was elected. Then the stock market went into the tank. I’m just sayin’…”
Innuendo
9. “[Umpires] are baseball’s designated grown-ups and, like air-traffic controllers, are paid
to handle pressure.” None
--George Will
Determine which of the numbered, italicized words and phrases are used as rhetorical
devices in the following passage. If the item fits one of the text’s categories of rhetorical
devices, identify it as such.
The U.S. Congress has cut off funds for the superconducting super-collider that the scientific
establishment (1) wanted to build in Texas. The alleged (2) virtues of the supercollider proved no
match for the huge (3) cost overruns (4) that had piled up like a mountain alongside a sea of red
ink (5). Despite original estimates of five to six billion dollars, the latest figure was over eleven
billion and growing faster than weeds (6).
(1)
(2) Innuendo
(3) Hyperbole
(4)
(5) Rhetorical Analogy
(6) Rhetorical Analogy
Write two brief paragraphs describing a person, event or situation—that is, both
paragraphs should have the same informative content. The first paragraph should be
written in a purely informative way, using language that is as neutral as possible; the
second paragraph should be slanted as much as possible either positively or negatively
(your choice). Circle and name all rhetorical devices. (6pts.)
President George Booth is running for office in 2024. He is from a small town in
Kentucky where he grew up on his parents’ farm. At the age of sixteen he began to take in
interest in his town’s condition which started his career in politics. Now at the age of 47 he
is running for president in the 2024 election cycle.
President George Booth says (Innuendo) he is from a small town and that his
interest lie with the people, the working class of farmers and factory workers. I can
definitely say his interest lie alright. He is a two-faced(dysphemism) corrupt politician just
as any other, taking bribes from corporate lobbyist and pretending to care about you.
What kind of person could want someone like that as their president? (Loaded question)
In each of the following passages, a general moral principle must be added as an extra
premise to make the argument valid. Supply such a principle.
1. It is always corrupt to take bribes. Since it was revealed yesterday on the 11:00 news that
Mayor Ahearn has been taking bribes, he should step down any day now.
2. Political candidates should keep their promises to the people. As a political candidate,
Havenhurst promised to put an end to crime in the inner city. Now that she’s in office,
we’d like to see results.
3. Repeat and serious offenders deserve harsher punishments. Since he has committed his
third felony, he should automatically go to prison for twenty-five years.
4. Hard-working employees deserve just compensation. Ali has been working overtime a lot
lately, so he should receive a bonus.
5. Those in the minority should be allowed to have their voices heard. It is true there are
more voters in the northern part of the state. But that shouldn’t allow the north to dictate
to the south.
Determine which ethical perspective is primarily reflected in each of the following
statements. Choose from
A=consequentialism
B=duty ethics/deontology
C=virtue ethics
D=moral relativism
E=religious absolutism
1.) Sure, we might benefit from expanding Highway 99. But seizing a person’s property
against his or her wishes is just wrong, period. C
2.) Sure, we might benefit from expanding Highway 99. But it’s wrong to seize someone’s
property, at least in this country. In our society, property rights are fundamental. D
3.) If a company doesn’t want to hire a woman, nobody should force it to. A company has a
right to hire whomever it wants. D
4.) You have to balance a person’s rights against the common good. Pornography isn’t good
for society and we should get rid of it. A