Test on Understanding Arguments in Critical Thinking

Question 1: Students are expected to be able to distinguish between a sentence, a statement, and an argument at the end of this lecture.

A. Ano

B. Ne

Explanation: The outline states that at the end of the lecture students should be able to "Distinguish a sentence, statement and argument."

Question 2: An explanation aims to prove that something is the case.

A. Ano

B. Ne

Explanation: The study materials state that an explanation tries to show why something is the case, not to prove that it is the case.

Question 3: According to the provided study materials, what is the primary purpose of a report as a type of nonargumentative discourse?

A. To prove a specific claim or conclusion.

B. To simply convey information about a subject or event.

C. To show why something is the case.

D. To persuade the reader to adopt a particular viewpoint.

Explanation: The study materials define a report by stating, 'The purpose of a report is simply to convey information about a subject or event.' This directly aligns with option 1, distinguishing it from explanations (which show why something is the case) or arguments (which aim to prove something).

Question 4: Based on the provided study materials, in a given argument, what role do premises play?

A. They are statements that the evidence is claimed to support or imply.

B. They set forth the reasons or evidence.

C. They are always the third statement in a three-statement argument.

D. They express the inferential claim, showing why something is the case.

Explanation: According to the study materials, 'The premises are the statements that set forth the reasons or evidence.' The conclusion is the statement that the evidence is claimed to support or imply, making option 0 incorrect. Option 2 is incorrect as the position is not fixed. Option 3 describes an inferential claim or an explanation, not specifically premises.

Question 5: A group of exactly one statement can be considered an argument if that single statement is intended to be supported by itself.

A. Ano

B. Ne

Explanation: The study materials state that something counts as an argument when 'it is a group of two or more statements' and 'one of those statements (the conclusion) is claimed or intended to be supported by the others (the premises)'. An argument cannot consist of only one statement.