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Quiz - What is a Good Argument?

  1. Which of the following characteristics is NOT a feature of a good argument? a) Clarity b) Emotional impact c) Relevance d) Appropriateness

  2. What is the main difference between rhetoric and argumentation? a) Rhetoric is always manipulative, argumentation never is. b) Rhetoric aims at emotional persuasion, argumentation at rational persuasion. c) Rhetoric is used in politics, argumentation in science. d) Rhetoric is oral, argumentation is written.

  3. What type of reasoning is involved when one infers from an observation to the most likely explanation? a) Deduction b) Induction c) Abduction d) Analogy

  4. Which of the following examples illustrates an analogical argument? a) "All humans are mortal. Socrates is a human. Therefore, Socrates is mortal." b) "Computers function similarly to the human brain. Computers cannot solve certain tasks. Therefore, the human brain probably also cannot solve these tasks." c) "Either it's raining, or the street was sprayed with a hose. The street is wet. Therefore, it has been raining." d) "If it rains, the street becomes wet. The street is wet. Therefore, it has been raining."

  5. Which method is best suited to uncover hidden value assumptions in an argument? a) Gap analysis b) Perspective shift c) Counterexample test d) Conceptual analysis

Answers:

  1. b) Emotional impact
  2. b) Rhetoric aims at emotional persuasion, argumentation at rational persuasion.
  3. c) Abduction
  4. b) "Computers function similarly to the human brain. Computers cannot solve certain tasks. Therefore, the human brain probably also cannot solve these tasks."
  5. b) Perspective shift