CCTST Deductive and Inductive 4

Question 1

A student argues: 'My three friends all failed this professor's class. This professor must be an unfair grader.' This argument is BEST described as:

Accepted Answer

A hasty generalization — a weak inductive argument

Answer

Generalizing from only three cases to a conclusion about the professor's grading overall is a hasty generalization, a weak inductive argument.

Question 2

Which is the correct form of modus tollens?

Accepted Answer

If P then Q; not Q; therefore not P

Answer

Modus tollens takes the form: If P then Q; Q is false; therefore P is false — a valid deductive form.

Question 3

An argument by analogy concludes that because two things share several properties, they share another property. This type of reasoning is:

Accepted Answer

A form of inductive reasoning that varies in strength

Answer

Analogical reasoning is inductive because its conclusions are probable based on shared features, not logically guaranteed.

Question 4

Consider: 'Whenever pressure increases in a gas, temperature rises (in a sealed container). We increased the pressure. Therefore the temperature rose.' This is:

Accepted Answer

A valid deductive argument from a scientific law

Answer

Applying an established law (the premise) to a specific case and deducing the outcome is deductive reasoning.

Question 5

What does it mean to say that deductive arguments are 'truth-preserving'?

Accepted Answer

If the premises are true, a valid deductive argument guarantees the conclusion is true

Answer

Truth-preserving means valid deductive reasoning cannot lead from true premises to a false conclusion.

(CCTST) California Critical Thinking Skills Test Practice Test

(CCTST) California Critical Thinking Skills Test Practice Test

CCTST Deductive and Inductive 4