ST.

ANTHONY COLLEGE MODULE IN MC 4: LOGIC

AND CRITICAL THINKING
CALAPAN CITY, INC.

SELF CHECK 5-9.1

Direction: For each of the following sets of premises, write a conclusion that follows
deductively.
1. Hero Bicycles is the world’s biggest bicycle manufacturer. Hero Bicycles is
located in the Punjab, India.
2. Each cake requires five eggs. We need to make four cakes.
3. In the game of poker, four of a kind beats a full house, and a full house beats a
straight
4. The probability of rolling an ace with a fair die is 1/6. The probability of rolling two
aces with a pair of fair dice is the probability of rolling an ace on the first die times
the probability of rolling an ace on the second.

Direction: If we define a deductive argument as one in which it is impossible for the

conclusion to be false if all the premises are true, which of the following sentences are
true?
1. A deductive argument can have a false premise.
2. A deductive argument can have a false conclusion.
3. A deductive argument can have all false premises and a false conclusion.
4. A deductive argument can have all false premises and a true conclusion.
5. A deductive argument can have all true premises and a false conclusion.
6. A deductive argument can have one true premise, several false premises,
and a true conclusion.
7. A deductive argument can have one false premise, several true premises,
and a false conclusion.
8. A deductive argument can have the same sentence as one of its premises
and as its conclusion.

Direction: For each of the following arguments, indicate in a general way the
definitional or structural features that make it deductive. If the argument requires the
addition of an obviously true but unstated premise, say what that premise is.
1. John and Mary are siblings. Therefore, Mary has a brother.
2. Mary is Michael’s mother. Therefore, Michael is Mary’s son.
3. Black swans live in Australia. Therefore, not all swans are white.
4. Every senior owns a smart phone. Carlos does not own a smart phone.
Therefore, Carlos is not a senior.
5. The student council meeting began at 11 A.M. and ended at 2 p.M. Thus, the
council meeting lasted three hours.

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 ST. ANTHONY COLLEGE MODULE IN MC 4: LOGIC
AND CRITICAL THINKING
CALAPAN CITY, INC.

6. If unrest persists in the Middle East then oil supplies will be disrupted. If oil
supplies are disrupted, then gasoline prices will rise. And unrest will persist in
the Middle East, so gas prices will go up.
7. Graduation ceremonies will be held in the stadium, which seats 1,500
people. Four tickets to the graduation ceremony are reserved for each
graduating senior. There are 400 graduating seniors. So if all the ticket
holders show up for graduation, there won’t be enough seats for everyone.

Direction: None of the following six arguments is deductive. Describe a situation in

which the conclusion of each of the following arguments could turn out to be false even
though the premises are all true.
1. Every political survey has indicated that the next governor of the state will be
a Republican. Therefore, the Republican candidate will win the governor’s seat
in the next election.
2. Greer was rushed to the hospital yesterday, apparently suffering from heat
exhaustion. Therefore, Greer will not win the marathon today.
3. Many studies have shown that reduction in smoking among teenagers is
correlated with raising the price of cigarettes. Now David Leonhardt, writing in
the New York Times, says a similar effect on beer drinking among teenagers
happens when either the cost of beer or the penalties for underage drinking are
raised. He cites lower rates of teenage drinking in the several states that have
adopted those policies.

Direction: Point out the fallacious reasoning in each of the following:

1. Although the evidence is overwhelming that Mr. J. has skimmed almost a

million dollars from public funds entrusted to him for the city’s regatta, he
shouldn’t be convicted of that crime because he is over 70 years old and has
just completed a series of treatments for pancreatic cancer.
2. In college, you can either be a serious student or establish beneficial social
contacts. In later life, however, who you know is more important than what you
know, so you would be well advised to let your studies slide in favor of an active
social life.
3. The current mayor of your city is just as concerned about gang violence as you
are. Therefore, if you want to see gang violence reduced, you should vote for
her.
4. Of course the governor lost her temper and got emotional when she learned
that some top officials in the state were taking graft—she’s a woman, isn’t she?
5. Vaccinating children against measles is a leading cause of autism. I know this
is so because most of the children in my son’s school program for autistic

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 ST. ANTHONY COLLEGE MODULE IN MC 4: LOGIC
AND CRITICAL THINKING
CALAPAN CITY, INC.

children were vaccinated.

6. Despite reporters’ incriminating testimony to the grand jury, the president
maintains that his chief-of-staff is not guilty of any wrongdoing. The president
dismisses the charges, saying that he has known the man and has been his
friend for more than 30 years.

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