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Premises Quiz 5 (10 MCQs)

This set of multiple-choice questions evaluates logical reasoning skills, including identifying hypotheses, conditional reasoning, and constructing logical arguments. It covers premises, cause and effect relationships, and the evaluation of evidence reliability. Students will analyze argument strength, support, and the logical connection between claims and supporting reasons.

Quiz Instructions

Select an option to see the correct answer instantly.

1. Which of the following describe a reason?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (A) A point that explains why you can take a certain position on a controversial issue.

Exam Relevance: GRE, LSAT, GMAT

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: A reason in the context of premises is a point that supports or justifies a position or claim. It provides the basis for taking a particular stance on an issue.

Common Mistakes: A common misunderstanding is that a reason is the same as proof. However, a reason is more about providing justification, while proof is about demonstrating the truth of a claim.

Explanations: A reason is a point that explains why a certain position can be taken on a controversial issue. It provides the justification or support for the claim. This aligns with the concept of premises, which are statements that provide the basis for an argument. Option A correctly describes a reason in this context.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. A point that explains why you can take a certain position on a controversial issue is a reason.
Option B: Incorrect. Proof is about demonstrating the truth of a claim, not justifying a position.
Option C: Incorrect. What the other side would argue is not a reason but a counter-argument.
Option D: Incorrect. Since Option A is correct, this option is not applicable.

2. What is evidence in an argument essay?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (D) Facts that support your claim.

Exam Relevance: GRE, GMAT, LSAT, TOEFL, IELTS

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: In an argument essay, evidence is crucial to support the claim or argument being made. Evidence consists of facts, data, or examples that strengthen the argument and make it more convincing.

Common Mistakes: A common misunderstanding is that evidence can be any information that feels relevant, such as personal opinions or unrelated anecdotes. However, evidence must be factual and directly support the claim.

Explanations: In the context of premises, evidence in an argument essay refers to the facts that support the claim. Premises are the foundational statements that provide the basis for the argument. Therefore, evidence must be factual and directly support the claim to strengthen the argument.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Images that we look at are not factual evidence and do not directly support a claim in an argument essay.
Option B: Fluffy stuff that makes one feel happy is subjective and not factual evidence that supports a claim.
Option C: While facts that make sense are important, they must also support the claim to be considered evidence.
Option D: Facts that support your claim are the correct definition of evidence in an argument essay.

3. Which answer offers a reason of support for the statement below?Phones should be banned in school.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (A) Phones are very distracting to students.

Exam Relevance: SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: The question asks for a reason to support the statement that phones should be banned in school. The correct answer must provide a logical reason that aligns with the claim.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake would be to choose an option that does not directly support the claim, such as options B, C, or D, which do not address the issue of distraction.

Explanations: The statement "Phones should be banned in school" is supported by the reason that phones are very distracting to students. This directly addresses the core issue of why banning phones might be beneficial, as it highlights a negative impact on students' ability to focus and learn.

Option Analysis:

Option A: This option directly supports the claim by stating that phones are distracting, which is a valid reason for banning them in school.
Option B: This option contradicts the claim by suggesting a positive use of phones in school, which does not support the idea of a ban.
Option C: This option introduces a different issue (theft) that is not directly related to the claim about banning phones for educational reasons.
Option D: This option is irrelevant to the claim, as it does not address the issue of distraction or any other reason for banning phones.

4. In the sentence, 'Since it was raining heavily, the baseball game was postponed,' which part of the sentence states the cause?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (A) It was raining heavily.

Exam Relevance: GRE, GMAT, LSAT, SAT

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: In logical reasoning, a premise is a statement that provides the reason or cause for a conclusion. In the given sentence, the cause is identified as the premise.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is to confuse the premise (cause) with the conclusion (effect). In this sentence, the conclusion is that the baseball game was postponed, not the cause.

Explanations: The sentence 'Since it was raining heavily, the baseball game was postponed' contains a cause-and-effect relationship. The part 'It was raining heavily' is the premise, as it provides the reason for the conclusion, which is 'the baseball game was postponed.'

Option Analysis:

Option A: This is the correct answer as it states the cause of the event.
Option B: This is the conclusion, not the cause.
Option C: This is part of the conclusion and does not state the cause.
Option D: This is part of the conclusion and does not state the cause.

5. How many reasons are in the claim statement below?:Students should be allowed to play video games after school because they improve hand-eye coordination and develop strong problem-solving skills.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (B) 2.

Exam Relevance: SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: A claim statement typically includes a main claim and supporting reasons. In this case, the claim is that students should be allowed to play video games after school, and the reasons provided are that video games improve hand-eye coordination and develop strong problem-solving skills.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is to count the main claim as a reason, which would incorrectly result in three reasons.

Explanations: The claim statement "Students should be allowed to play video games after school because they improve hand-eye coordination and develop strong problem-solving skills" contains two distinct reasons: 1. Video games improve hand-eye coordination. 2. Video games develop strong problem-solving skills.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect because there are two reasons, not one.
Option B: Correct because there are two reasons supporting the claim.
Option C: Incorrect because there are two reasons, not three.
Option D: Incorrect because there are two reasons, not 34.

6. Which answer offers a reason of support for the statement below?School should start later.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (A) It's difficult for students to get up so early.

Exam Relevance: SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: The question asks for a reason that supports the statement "School should start later." The correct answer must provide a logical reason that aligns with the claim.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake would be to choose an option that does not directly support the claim, such as personal anecdotes or unrelated statements.

Explanations: The statement "It's difficult for students to get up so early" directly supports the claim that school should start later. If students find it difficult to wake up early, starting school later would alleviate this issue.

Option Analysis:

Option A: This option directly supports the claim by explaining a difficulty students face with early school start times.
Option B: This option provides a personal example but does not offer a general reason supporting the claim.
Option C: This option describes a personal habit but does not provide a reason why school should start later.
Option D: This option mentions a bus schedule issue but does not directly support the claim about school start times.

7. "If I'm old, then I'm wise."Which represents p, the hypothesis?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (C) I'm old.

Exam Relevance: GRE, GMAT, LSAT, SAT

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: In a conditional statement "If p, then q," the hypothesis (p) is the part that comes after "If" and before "then."

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is to confuse the hypothesis (p) with the conclusion (q). The hypothesis is the condition that must be met for the conclusion to hold true.

Explanations: The statement "If I'm old, then I'm wise" is a conditional statement where "I'm old" is the hypothesis (p) and "I'm wise" is the conclusion (q). Therefore, the hypothesis is "I'm old."

Option Analysis:

Option A: "I'm not wise" is the negation of the conclusion, not the hypothesis.
Option B: "I'm not old" is the negation of the hypothesis, not the hypothesis itself.
Option C: "I'm old" is the hypothesis (p) in the conditional statement.
Option D: "I'm wise" is the conclusion (q), not the hypothesis.

8. Which of the following does the author do that makes their argument weaker?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (C) Use mainly personal examples as evidence.

Exam Relevance: GRE, LSAT, GMAT

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: In argumentation, using mainly personal examples as evidence can weaken an argument because personal experiences may not be universally applicable or reliable.

Common Mistakes: A common misunderstanding is that personal examples are always strong evidence because they are based on real experiences. However, they may lack generalizability and objectivity.

Explanations: Using mainly personal examples as evidence can weaken an argument because personal experiences are subjective and may not be representative of broader situations. Reliable evidence typically comes from objective, verifiable sources that can be generalized to a wider context.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Providing evidence that supports the other side can strengthen the argument by acknowledging and addressing counterarguments.
Option B: Using evidence from a reliable outside source strengthens the argument by providing objective, verifiable information.
Option C: Using mainly personal examples as evidence can weaken the argument because personal experiences may not be universally applicable or reliable.
Option D: Explaining why the other side is wrong or weak can strengthen the argument by addressing and refuting counterarguments.

9. Evidence given for the argument is called .....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (A) Support.

Exam Relevance: GRE, LSAT, GMAT

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: In the context of premises, evidence given for an argument is referred to as support. Premises are the foundational statements that provide the basis for the argument's conclusion.

Common Mistakes: A common misunderstanding is confusing the terms "claim" and "support." A claim is the main argument or assertion, while support refers to the evidence or reasons provided to back up the claim.

Explanations: In logical arguments, premises are the statements that provide the evidence or reasons to support the conclusion. Therefore, the evidence given for the argument is called support.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Support refers to the evidence or reasons provided to back up the claim or conclusion in an argument.
Option B: Incorrect. A claim is the main argument or assertion, not the evidence provided to support it.
Option C: Incorrect. A counterclaim is an opposing argument or assertion, not the evidence provided to support the main claim.
Option D: Incorrect. A thesis is a statement that summarizes the main argument or claim, not the evidence provided to support it.

10. If it is a triangle then it has three sides.What is the hypothesis?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (B) It is a triangle.

Exam Relevance: SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: In a conditional statement, the hypothesis is the "if" part of the statement. The hypothesis is the condition that must be met for the conclusion to be true.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is to confuse the hypothesis with the conclusion. The hypothesis is the condition that is assumed to be true, while the conclusion is the result that follows from the hypothesis.

Explanations: The statement "If it is a triangle then it has three sides" is a conditional statement. In this statement, "it is a triangle" is the hypothesis, and "it has three sides" is the conclusion. The hypothesis is the condition that must be true for the conclusion to follow.

Option Analysis:

Option A: This is not the hypothesis. It is not part of the given statement.
Option B: This is the hypothesis. It is the "if" part of the conditional statement.
Option C: This is the conclusion. It is the "then" part of the conditional statement.
Option D: This is not part of the given statement and does not fit the context of the hypothesis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a premise in logical reasoning?

A premise is a statement that provides support or evidence for a conclusion in a logical argument. It forms the basis of the argument and helps to establish its validity.

How can I identify the premises in an argument?

To identify premises, look for statements that provide reasons or evidence to support the conclusion. These statements often come before or after the conclusion and are typically indicated by words like "because," "since," or "therefore."

What is the role of evidence in strengthening an argument?

Evidence strengthens an argument by providing factual support for the premises and conclusion. Reliable evidence increases the credibility and persuasiveness of the argument, making it more convincing to the audience.

How do premises relate to the conclusion in a logical argument?

Premises are the foundational statements that logically lead to the conclusion. The conclusion is derived from the premises, and the strength of the argument depends on the logical connection between the premises and the conclusion.

What is the importance of logical reasoning in evaluating arguments?

Logical reasoning is crucial for evaluating the validity and strength of arguments. It helps in identifying fallacies, assessing the relevance and reliability of evidence, and determining whether the conclusion logically follows from the premises.

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