PHIL 1
Exam 2 Student Copy
1. (10 Points)
For the following, indicate whether the definition given is by example, by synonym,
or analytical:
A loquacious person is a talkative one.
a. By example.
b. By synonym.
c. Analytical.
d. None of the above.
2. (10 Points)
For the following, indicate whether the definition given is by example, by synonym,
or analytical:
A deciduous tree is a hardwood tree that loses its leaves during the winter.
a. By example.
b. By synonym.
c. Analytical.
d. None of the above.
3. (10 Points)
For the following, indicate whether the definition given is by example, by synonym,
or analytical:
"An oxymoron? Try ‘military intelligence.’"
a. By example.
b. By synonym.
c. Analytical.
d. None of the above.
4. (10 Points)
For the following, indicate whether the definition given is by example, by synonym,
or analytical:
"Epistemologist" means a philosopher or other intellectual who studies the nature
of knowledge.
a. By example.
b. By synonym.
c. Analytical.
d. None of the above.
5. (10 Points)
For the following, indicate whether the definition given is by example, by synonym,
or analytical:
What I mean by setting a good example is not putting your feet on the table.
a. By example.
b. By synonym.
c. Analytical.
d. None of the above.
6. (10 Points)
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous ,
syntactically ambiguous, pronoun ambiguous, or free from ambiguity:
All snakes are not poisonous.
a. Semantically ambiguous.
b. Syntactically ambiguous.
c. Pronoun ambiguity.
d. Free from ambiguity.
7. (10 Points)
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous,
syntactically ambiguous, pronoun ambiguous, or free from ambiguity:
The wizard made a pig of himself.
a. Semantically ambiguous.
b. Syntactically ambiguous.
c. Pronoun ambiguity.
d. Free from ambiguity.
8. (10 Points)
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous,
syntactically ambiguous, pronoun ambiguous, or free from ambiguity:
He went to the store but was held up in the process.
a. Semantically ambiguous.
b. Syntactically ambiguous.
c. Pronoun ambiguity.
d. Free from ambiguity.
9. (10 Points)
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous,
syntactically ambiguous, pronoun ambiguous, or free from ambiguity:
She watched him dance with intensity.
a. Semantically ambiguous.
b. Syntactically ambiguous.
c. Pronoun ambiguity.
d. Free from ambiguity.
10. (10 Points)
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous,
syntactically ambiguous, pronoun ambiguous, or free from ambiguity:
When the head waiter asked whether she had reservations, she said, "Yes, but I’m
going to eat here anyway."
a. Semantically ambiguous.
b. Syntactically ambiguous.
c. Pronoun ambiguity.
d. Free from ambiguity.
11. (10 Points)
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous ,
syntactically ambiguous, pronoun ambiguous, or free from ambiguity:
If properly frosted, a person shouldn’t notice lumps in a cake.
a. Semantically ambiguous.
b. Syntactically ambiguous.
c. Pronoun ambiguity.
d. Free from ambiguity.
12. (10 Points)
Determine whether the following claim is best classified as semantically ambiguous,
syntactically ambiguous, pronoun ambiguous, or free from ambiguity:
She looks more like her mother than her father.
a. Semantically ambiguous.
b. Syntactically ambiguous.
c. Pronoun ambiguity.
d. Free from ambiguity.
13. (10 Points)
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the
following claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
"Now, how would you like your hair cut, Madam?""Oh, just make it a little shorter."
a. Ambiguous.
b. Too vague.
c. Neither.
14. (10 Points)
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the
following claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
"In Los Angeles, a ‘humor wagon’ makes weekly visits to hospitals to entertain
children with cancer."—UPI article
a. Ambiguous.
b. Too vague.
c. Neither.
15. (10 Points)
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the
following claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
According to the USDA guidelines, you should eat "two to three servings of
vegetables each day."
a. Ambiguous.
b. Too vague.
c. Neither.
16. (10 Points)
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the
following claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
Doctor: The arrhythmia you are experiencing indicates that you should lay off
jogging for a while.
a. Ambiguous.
b. Too vague.
c. Neither.
17. (10 Points)
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the
following claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
‘PRIESTESS’ WAS HOOKER TO JURY—AP headline
a. Ambiguous.
b. Too vague.
c. Neither.
18. (10 Points)
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the
following claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
The snacks are delicious. But remember to wash the spoons before you eat them.
a. Ambiguous.
b. Too vague.
c. Neither.
19. (10 Points)
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the
following claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
Why You Want Sex Changes as You Age—American Health/Psychology Today
a. Ambiguous.
b. Too vague.
c. Neither.
20. (10 Points)
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the
following claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
There will be over one hundred consolation prizes worth over $10,000.
a. Ambiguous.
b. Too vague.
c. Neither.
21. (10 Points)
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the
following claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
The comet is visible in our area one hour before dawn.
a. Ambiguous.
b. Too vague.
c. Neither.
22. (10 Points)
Rank the claims in the following set from general to least vague .When Louis
returned from his trip, he told me a. that the airline had lost his bags twice. b. that it
had been a nightmare. c. that all the clothes except those on his back spent the
weekend in Miami and Cleveland while he was in New Orleans and Detroit. d. that
he had to wear the same clothes for three straight days because of airline foul-ups
with his luggage.
a. (b), (a), (d), (c).
b. (a), (b), (c), (d).
c. (d), (a), (b), (c).
d. (b), (a), (c), (d).
23. (10 Points)
Rank the claims in the following set from general to least vague. a. I hear a funny
noise in my engine. b. I have an engine problem. c. When I give it gas, I hear this
funny sound in my engine. d. My engine makes a strange noise sometimes but not at
other times. e. There is an unusual ticking sound in my engine when I accelerate
from zero to around thirty.
a. (a), (b), (c), (d), (e).
b. (b), (a), (d), (c), (e).
c. (e), (b), (a), (d), (c).
d. (d), (a), (b), (e), (c).
24. (10 Points)
Rank the claims in the following set from general to least vague. a. Smoking is
hazardous to your health. b. Smoking is linked with lung disease. c. Smoking has
been demonstrated to cause lung cancer and emphysema. d. Smoking is not good
for you. e. Smoking is linked with lung cancer and emphysema.
a. (c), (e), (b), (d), (a).
b. (e), (b), (a), (c), (d).
c. (d), (a), (b), (e), (c).
d. (d), (e), (a), (b), (c).
25. (10 Points)
Which item in the following set of claims has the most negative emotive meaning?
Mr. Gardner
a. is a social drinker.
b. is alcohol-dependent.
c. is a heavy imbiber.
d. enjoys tippling.
e. is a drunk.
26. (10 Points)
Which item in the following set of claims has the most negative emotive meaning?
a. He had done some unfortunate deeds in his day.
b. He had on occasion gone astray.
c. He had become morally bankrupt.
d. He had the moral sensibility of a reptile.
27. (10 Points)
Which item in the following set of claims has the most negative emotive meaning?
Shirley always had trouble finding clothes that fit because she was
a. so petite.
b. quite small.
c. a runt.
d. diminutive.
e. tiny.
28. (10 Points)
"Emotive meaning" refers to a term’s
a. denotation.
b. connotation.
c. literal meaning.
d. pejorative impact.
29. (10 Points)
Connotation is usually
a. subjective.
b. objective.
c. neutral.
d. non-subjective.
30. (10 Points)
A grouping ambiguity is
a. a peculiar kind of semantic ambiguity.
b. a peculiar kind of syntactic ambiguity.
c. neither a kind of semantic ambiguity, nor a kind of syntactic ambiguity.
d. a structural vagueness.
31. (10 Points)
Identify the fallacy in the following passage: "People in Hegins, Pennsylvania, hold
an annual pigeon shoot in order to control the pigeon population and to raise money
for the town. This year, the pigeon shoot was disrupted by animal rights activists
who tried to release the pigeons from their cages. I can’t help but think these animal
rights activists are the same people who believe in controlling the human
population through the use of abortion. Yet, they recoil at a similar means of
controlling pigeons. What rank hypocrisy."—Rush Limbaugh
a. False Dilemma
b. Two Wrongs Make Right
c. Ad hominem.
d. Misplacing the Burden of Proof
e. No fallacy.
32. (10 Points)
Identify the fallacy in the following passage: "Listen, Higgins. I need your vote in the
next department election or I may not get elected chair. Remember, if I do get
elected, it will be me who decides what hours your classes meet next year."
a. False Dilemma
b. Appeal to Ignorance
c. Ad hominem.
d. Argument by force.
e. No fallacy.
33. (10 Points)
Identify the fallacy in the following passage: "It really gripes me to see Bill Clinton
talking about how cigarette smoking is a big contributor to public health costs. You
want to know how much you can trust him on that subject? Well, even he himself
admits to smoking cigars!"
a. Straw man.
b. Appeal to Ignorance
c. Ad hominem.
d. Argument by force.
e. No fallacy.
34. (10 Points)
Identify the fallacy in the following passage: "The administration’s proposal to
declare hundreds of thousands of acres of federal land as ‘roadless areas’ is a huge
mistake, and I’m against it. The whole point of the proposal—and it will succeed if
the President gets his way—is to lock the American people out of those areas."
a. Straw man.
b. Appeal to Ignorance
c. Genetic fallacy.
d. Argument by force.
e. No fallacy.
35. (10 Points)
Identify the fallacy in the following passage: "I don’t believe we ought to believe the
so-called ‘admissions’ of the Liggett and Myers Company. I think the only reason
they’re now agreeing with tobacco critics about the addictive powers of nicotine and
the nicotine-level manipulation by the company is to get themselves off the hook
and avoid bigger trouble, even if it means getting the other tobacco companies into
bigger trouble."
a. False Dilemma
b. Appeal to Ignorance
c. Ad hominem.
d. Argument by force.
e. No fallacy.
36. (10 Points)
Identify the fallacy in the following passage: When several people in Harvey’s
department get new computers, he is annoyed because he is not among them. "I’ll
tell you what," Harvey says to his wife, "if they want to rip me off by not getting a
new computer for me, I’ll just rip them off for extra office supplies. They’ve got a lot
of stuff at work we could use around here, and they’ll have no way of knowing that
it’s gone. Turnabout’s fair play."
a. Scape goating
b. Wishful thinking.
c. Ad hominem.
d. Two wrongs make a right.
e. No fallacy.
37. (10 Points)
Identify the fallacy in the following passage: Disgruntled faculty member to a
colleague: "It is clear to me what I’m up against with that class. Their idea of a
successful course is one in which they get a passing grade by putting in the
absolutely minimal amount of time and effort. If they can get the grade without
learning anything, so much the better."
a. Straw man.
b. Appeal to Ignorance
c. Genetic fallacy.
d. Argument by force.
e. No fallacy.
38. (10 Points)
Identify the fallacy in the following passage: No, I do NOT believe that a murderer
ought to be allowed to live. No way! Murderers have forfeited the right to live
because anyone who murders another person has lost that right.
a. Groupthink.
b. Perfectionist fallacy.
c. Apple polishing.
d. Begging the question.
e. No fallacy.
39. (10 Points)
Identify the fallacy in the following passage: No, I don’t believe we ought to reinstate
the death penalty in this state. Doing it isn’t going to prevent all crime, and you
know it.
a. Groupthink.
b. Perfectionist fallacy.
c. Apple polishing.
d. Begging the question.
e. No fallacy.
40. (10 Points)
Identify the fallacy in the following passage: You show me when an embryo
becomes a human person, just show me! Tell me exactly when it is. When it’s just an
egg, the size of a pin head? When it divides once? Twice? Three times? When?
Where you gonna draw the line? An embryo is not a person, and that’s that.
a. Groupthink.
b. Perfectionist fallacy.
c. Apple polishing.
d. Line drawing fallacy.
e. No fallacy
41. (10 Points)
Identify the fallacy in the following passage: Gays in the military? Either let ’em in, or
keep out all minorities; take your choice. I’m for letting them in. The alternative is
ridiculous.
a. False Dilemma
b. Two Wrongs Make Right
c. Ad hominem.
d. Misplacing the Burden of Proof
e. No fallacy.
42. (10 Points)
Identify the fallacy in the following passage: Of course that can’t be a legitimate
proposal. They’re just trying to get the city council to pass a regulation that will stir
up some business for them.
a. False Dilemma
b. Two Wrongs Make Right
c. Ad hominem.
d. Misplacing the Burden of Proof
e. No fallacy.
43. (10 Points)
Identify any fallacies in the following passage: Preferential treatment in hiring is
something we must support; after all, can you think of a reason why we shouldn’t?
a. False Dilemma
b. Two Wrongs Make Right
c. Ad hominem.
d. Misplacing the Burden of Proof
e. No fallacy.
44. (10 Points)
Identify any fallacies in the following passage: No, I don’t believe that Uncle Bob is
really gone forever. He was like a father to me, and I believe that someday, somehow
or other, we’ll see one another again; I don’t think I could go on if I didn’t believe
that.
a. False Dilemma
b. Genetic fallacy.
c. Wishful thinking.
d. Misplacing the Burden of Proof
e. No fallacy.
45. (10 Points)
Identify any fallacies in the following passage: I’ll tell you why a hundred dollars is
enough child support. You go into court and ask for more, and I’ll have my lawyer
file a countersuit that will set you back a bundle in legal fees!
a. Straw man.
b. Appeal to Ignorance
c. Genetic fallacy.
d. Argument by force.
e. No fallacy.
46. (10 Points)
Identify any fallacies in the following passage: I know it was not very nice to
overcharge them like that for the room, but all’s fair in love, war, and business, my
dear. Besides, if the situation were reversed and we were desperate for lodging, they
would have bled us for all we’re worth.
a. False Dilemma
b. Two Wrongs Make Right
c. Ad hominem.
d. Misplacing the Burden of Proof
e. No fallacy.
47. (10 Points)
Identify any fallacies in the following passage: Overheard: "When it comes to the
issue of growth in this town, you’re either part of the solution, or you’re part of the
problem."
a. False Dilemma
b. Two Wrongs Make Right
c. Ad hominem.
d. Misplacing the Burden of Proof
e. No fallacy.
48. (10 Points)
Identify any fallacies in the following passage: In spite of its hypocritical
announcement that North Korea has ceased nuclear testing, it is safe to assume that
the North Koreans have done no such thing, for at present we have no means of
verifying their so-called moratorium.
a. False Dilemma
b. Two Wrongs Make Right
c. Ad hominem.
d. Misplacing the Burden of Proof
e. No fallacy.
49. (10 Points)
Identify any fallacies in the following passage: Well! Finally, after all these years, the
telephone company makes an error on my bill in my favor! And I’m surely not going
to point it out to them. They’ve been gouging me since telephones first came into
existence.
a. False Dilemma
b. Two Wrongs Make Right
c. Ad hominem.
d. Misplacing the Burden of Proof
e. No fallacy.
50. (10 Points)
Identify any fallacies in the following: Why do I spend so much on clothes? Well, it’s
either that or look like a bum, and I know which of those I prefer.
a. False Dilemma
b. Two Wrongs Make Right
c. Ad hominem.
d. Misplacing the Burden of Proof
e. No fallacy.
51. (10 Points)
As Harold is driving down the road from Glenn County to Montclair, he crosses into
Salem County and notices that the pavement deteriorates. "I guess they don’t keep
up their roads very well in this county," he says. Which best fits?
a. biased generalization
b. hasty generalization
c. neither biased nor hasty
52. (10 Points)
As Harold is driving down the road from Glenn County to Montclair, he crosses into
Salem County and notices that the pavement deteriorates. "I guess they don’t keep
up their roads very well in this county," he says. The sample in this passage is
a. roads in Glenn County.
b. roads in Salem County.
c. the road he’s driving on now.
53. (10 Points)
"They say Japanese carmakers put out the best cars in the world, all things
considered. But that can’t be right—the Toyota I bought last year had to be returned
to the shop five times!" This is
a. a biased generalization.
b. a hasty generalization.
c. neither biased nor hasty.
54. (10 Points)
"They say Japanese carmakers put out the best cars in the world, all things
considered. But that can’t be right—the Toyota I bought last year had to be returned
to the shop five times!" The sample is
a. my Toyota.
b. Japanese cars.
c. the best cars in the world.
55. (10 Points)
"They say Japanese carmakers put out the best cars in the world, all things
considered. But that can’t be right—the Toyota I bought last year had to be returned
to the shop five times!" The population is
a. my Toyota.
b. Japanese cars.
c. the best cars in the world.