Analytical Thinking Assessment Questions. (Usyd)
1) Only one in four Australians say they would vote for the Gillard Government, therefore the Gillard government is unpopular.
2) The Gillard Government is unpopular because of her inadequate governing skills and the introduction of carbon tax.
3.
(a) Argument (b) Explanation
(c) Argument (d) Explanation
4. No, statement two is not valid as human beings could be killed by accident, or by natural disasters..
Statement one has no counter argument as murder only applies to humans, therefore when a murder is committed; it is only human beings that are killed.
5.
(a) Necessary: Only love
Sufficient: can break your heart
b.) Necessary: two hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom
Sufficient: every water molecule
Counter example not possible as the premise is true, the argument is sound.
c) Necessary: if you have antibodies
Sufficient: you have been exposed to the virus.
Counter example: You can have antibodies when there are pathogens in your body, which are not necessarily viruses.
6. For the following conditional argument: what is the form of the argument? (i.e. denying or affirming which condition?) Is the argument valid? (2 marks)
If there is a will, then there is a way. There is no way. Therefore, there is no will.
This argument it not valid as because the sufficient condition is denied, you can have a will but have no way.
7. For an argument to be sound it must be valid. And have a true premise. This argument is sound because the argument affirms the sufficient and therefore is valid, Also the premises are true because in order to sustain life, there has to be liquid water available.
8. An ostensive definition conveys the meaning of a term by pointing out or defining examples. Ostensive definition is useful where words are difficult to define verbally. E.g. defining ‘yellow’ by pointing at yellow beetles or bananas. However, ostensive definition is not an extensively used term, and is unlikely to be understood as well as direct definition,
2) The Gillard Government is unpopular because of her inadequate governing skills and the introduction of carbon tax.
3.
(a) Argument (b) Explanation
(c) Argument (d) Explanation
4. No, statement two is not valid as human beings could be killed by accident, or by natural disasters..
Statement one has no counter argument as murder only applies to humans, therefore when a murder is committed; it is only human beings that are killed.
5.
(a) Necessary: Only love
Sufficient: can break your heart
b.) Necessary: two hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom
Sufficient: every water molecule
Counter example not possible as the premise is true, the argument is sound.
c) Necessary: if you have antibodies
Sufficient: you have been exposed to the virus.
Counter example: You can have antibodies when there are pathogens in your body, which are not necessarily viruses.
6. For the following conditional argument: what is the form of the argument? (i.e. denying or affirming which condition?) Is the argument valid? (2 marks)
If there is a will, then there is a way. There is no way. Therefore, there is no will.
This argument it not valid as because the sufficient condition is denied, you can have a will but have no way.
7. For an argument to be sound it must be valid. And have a true premise. This argument is sound because the argument affirms the sufficient and therefore is valid, Also the premises are true because in order to sustain life, there has to be liquid water available.
8. An ostensive definition conveys the meaning of a term by pointing out or defining examples. Ostensive definition is useful where words are difficult to define verbally. E.g. defining ‘yellow’ by pointing at yellow beetles or bananas. However, ostensive definition is not an extensively used term, and is unlikely to be understood as well as direct definition,