PrepTest 150 Section 2

Choose a question

Explanations for every question, find them by number or text.

1. Q1:
   Philosopher: I have been told that most university students…Flawed Reasoning

   It's false that university students have no interest in philosophy.

2. Q2:
   Ancient humans in eastern North America hunted mammoths until…Necessary Assumption

   The human settlement in eastern North America existed at the time that mammoths lived in the same area.

3. Q3:
   Durham: The mayor will agree to a tax increase because…Point at Issue
4. Q4:
   When politicians describe their opponents' positions, they typically…Flawed Reasoning

   Politicians could persuade more voters if they were charitable in describing their opponents arguments.

5. Q5:
   Lawyer: In a risky surgical procedure that is performed only…Principle – Justify

   If the patient dies, the doctors will have committed manslaughter.

6. Q6:
   John's literature professor believes that the ability to judge…Must be True

   Judge greatness of literary works ➞ years of specialized training
   2.

7. Q7:
   Geothermal power plants produce power using heat from underground…Strengthen

   Geothermal advocates say that affordable geothermal energy will soon be available in most places.

8. Q8:
   One should not confuse a desire for money with a desire…Role in Argument

   You shouldn't mix up the desire for money and for material possessions.

9. Q9:
   Yu: The menu at Jason's Restaurant states that no food…Weaken

   Jason's Restaurant must have at least some food grown with chemical pesticides.

10. Q10:
    Various studies have concluded that song overlapping, the phenomenon…Complete the Argument

    It's hard to tell what the experiments mean.

11. Q11:
    Psychologists have found that candidates for top political offices…Weaken

    If blinking judging affects elections, the effect must be bad.

12. Q12:
    Scientist: Some pundits claim that the public is afraid…Necessary Assumption

    It's not true that the public is afraid of scientists.

13. Q13:
    Scientist: It seems likely that the earliest dinosaurs to fly…Strengthen

    Early dinosaurs probably learned to fly by gliding from trees, rather than taking off from the ground.

14. Q14:
    The arousal of anger is sometimes a legitimate artistic aim…Sufficient Assumption

    It is false to think that all legitimate art has a concern for beauty.

15. Q15:
    Children clearly have a reasonably sophisticated understanding…Identify the Conclusion

    Children are fairly sophisticated at understanding what's real and what's make-believe.

16. Q16:
    Environment minister: Many countries have signed an international…Principle – Justify

    Our country shouldn't sign the agreement to reduce ocean pollution.

17. Q17:
    Advocate: A study of people who had recently recovered from colds…Flawed Reasoning

    Cold medicine makes your cold last longer.

18. Q18:
    Some people prefer to avoid facing unpleasant truths…Complete the Argument

    Then group 2 will be annoyed that group 1 isn't telling them the truth.

19. Q19:
    If you study history, then you will appreciate the vast…Flawed Parallel Reasoning

    Study history ➞ reflect on your civilization

20. Q20:
    A philosophical paradox is a particularly baffling sort…Must be True

    With a paradox, your intuitions tell you:

    1.

21. Q21:
    A chimp who displays feelings of affection toward the…Necessary Assumption

    Affect is similar in humans as in chimps.

22. Q22:
    The writers of the television show Ambitions could make…Parallel Reasoning

    The characters will not be developed in a more realistic manner.

23. Q23:
    It has been argued that the immense size of Tyrannosaurus rex…Role in Argument

    The inference that the *T. rex* must have been a scavenger is too hasty.

24. Q24:
    Legal theorist: Only two types of theories of criminal sentencing…Must be True

    There are 2 acceptable types of theories of criminal sentencing: retributivist (sentence only for punishment) and rehabilitationist (sentences can reform).

25. Q25:
    Sociologists study folktales because they provide a means…Paradox

    Folktales apparently give insight into a culture, but they're all adaptations of the same ancient narratives.