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COURSE TITLE: CRITICAL THINKING AND PRACTICAL REASONING

(UGRC150)

Which of the following statements is logically correct?

• A. Factuals educate by providing insights into the meaning of concepts and

things.

• B. Factuals inform by objectively describing what is there, value judgments

inform by subjectively prescribing what should be there and definitions inform by
giving meaning to the word.

• C. Factuals inform by objectively prescribing what should be there, value

judgments inform by subjectively describing what is there and definitions inform by
giving meaning to the definiens

• D. Factuals inform by subjectively describing what should be there, value

judgments inform by objectively prescribing what is there and definitions inform by
objectively giving meaning to the definiendum.

The expression "The best academic of all time" exemplifies...

• A. ... sentence fragment.

• B. ... value judgment moral.

• C. ... value judgment non-moral.

• D. ... emotive expression.

A plea” is a/an…

• A. interrogative.

• B. emotive.

• C. imperative.
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• D. declarative.

Speaker A: The defendant was driving unlawfully because he was at the wheel of a
heavyduty pickup truck but he is licensed only to drive saloon cars. Speaker B: No; he was
driving lawfully. I am the insurance agent who organized the insurance for the company that
employed him. I have access to documents that shows that he has license for driving
heavyduty trucks, although it was not on his person at the time of the accident. Which of the
alternatives below best describes the above discourse?

• A. Narrative.

• B. Argument

• C. Verbal dispute.

• D. Substantive disagreement.

The components of a definition are ………………………………………………………

• A. ... well-defined and open textured words.

• B. ... connotation and denotation.

• C. ... broad and narrow definitions.

• D. ... definiendum and definiens.

In the sentence “The arrest procedure does however leave the suspect with basic rights to
protect them against unreasonable treatment”, is ...

• A. ... ambiguous.

• B. ... equivocation.
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• C. ... circular.

• D. ... vague.

Which of these senses of law has sanctions attached to it?

• A. Logical law

• B. Scientific law

• C. Civil law

• D. Mathematical law

Every law is a man-made rule for regulating human conduct.

• A. False

• B. True

“Consciousness is either a physical thing or a nonphysical thing. Since it is not a physical

thing, it must be nonphysical.” Which of the following senses of law is exemplified by the
above sentence?

• A. Mathematical law

• B. Moral law

• C. Logical law

• D. Natural law
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“If any student is enrolled in the University of Ghana then he or she is brilliant. Catherine is
enrolled in the University of Ghana. Catherine is brilliant.” This sentence is…

• A. … the conditional version of a deductive argument.

• B. … the categorical version of a deductive argument.

• C. … an inductive argument.

• D. … a fallacy of modus ponens.

According to the deductive rule…

• A. … we can only deny an antecedent or affirm a consequent in order to reach

any valid conclusion.

• B. … we can only affirm an antecedent or deny a consequent in order to reach

any valid conclusion.

• C. … we can reach a conclusion with a single premise.

• D. … we assemble at least two premises to reach a conclusion.

The part of an argument that offers justification for the claim being made is described as
the …………

• A. ... premise.

• B. ... induction.

• C. ... deduction.

• D. ... conclusion.
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The statement Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah is a Ghanaian since all Africans are Ghanaian
and he is an African is best described as ...

• A. ... valid and unsound

• B. ... invalid and unsound.

• C. ... valid and sound.

• D. ... invalid and sound.

Evaluate these passages by choosing the one that is not a valid hypothetical syllogism.

• A. All the law graduates in class 2009 are now practicing commercial law. All the
smartest students in logic became law graduates in 2009. So all the smartest students
in logic are now practicing commercial law.

• B. Anyone who is smart can be a lawyer. Anyone who is a lawyer can be a

doctor. So anyone who is smart can be a doctor.

• C. Anyone who is hardworking in the sciences can be a poet. Anyone who is

intelligent can be a poet. So, anyone who is hardworking in the sciences is very
intelligent.

• D. All these freshmen are tall; and all tall people are good at racing. So all these
freshmen are good at racing.

Which of the following statements is confirmable?

• A. Heavy smokers have a carbon film on their lungs.

• B. That table is green.

• C. All voters interviewed said they would vote for the incumbent candidate.
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• D. None of the students has registered for this course.

“Nine months ago, I met a farmer from Axim, and he was friendly. Five months ago, I met a
Professor from Axim, and he was friendly. Two months ago, I met a Taxi Driver in Accra
who also comes from Axim, and he was friendly. So, I guess people from Axim are friendly”.
This is a/an…

• A. statistical argument.

• B. deductive argument.

• C. ... inductive generalization.

• D. not an argument.

Which of the following statements is not falsifiable?

• A. Either all the fruits are oranges or some are oranges or none are oranges.

• B. Some of the fruits are oranges.

• C. All of the fruits are oranges.

• D. Either all the fruits are oranges or some are oranges.

“The 2018 Brazilian soccer team was so difficult to beat because each of its players was an
experienced world class professional.” This is an example of a …

• A. … common thread.

• B. … concomitant variation.
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• C. … relevant difference.

• D. … false common thread.

"The company collapsed because it ran out of funds completely.” This is an example of a …

• A. … contributory cause.

• B. … sufficient cause.

• C. … necessary cause.

• D. … probabilistic cause.

“You need to at least provide a visa if you wish to travel from Ghana to America.” This is an
example of a …

• A. … sufficient cause.

• B. … probabilistic cause.

• C. … necessary cause.

• D. … contributory cause.

The passage, “Every time that rooster crows, the sun comes up. The rooster must be powerful
and important.” represents which of the following causal fallacies?

• A. Genetic fallacy

• B. Post hoc ergo propter hoc

• C. Overlooking a common (underlying) cause

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• D. Oversimplification

“Quite a good number of Chinese are involved in illegal mining. So China is out to exploit
Africa.” This is an example of …

• A. … misplaced vividness.

• B. … grandstanding.

• C. … semi attached figures.

• D. … hasty generalization.

"I have seen some Chinese social workers working really hard to alleviate suffering in some
African communities. So it is not true that China wants to re-colonize Africa.” This is an
example of …

• A. … grandstanding.

• B. … misplaced vividness. 

• C. … hasty generalization.

• D. … semi attached figures

“A vitamin supplement has been procured for our national team. It was recommended by
Dean Karnazes, the world’s longest (distance) runner.” This is an example of …

• A. … genetic fallacy.

• B. … illegal appeal to authority.

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• C. … semi attached figures.

• D. … misplaced vividness.

The statement "Joe Mettle is popular because he is famous and well-known" can be criticized
with the label ………

• A. ... appeal to emotions.

• B. ... appeal to authority.

• C. ... begging the question.

• D. ... circumvention.

“Johnson still believes in giving and taking bribes, because that is how he was raised.” This
is an example of …

• A. … an appeal to pity.

• B. … grandstanding.

• C. … a genetic fallacy.

• D. … illegitimate appeal to authority.

What is wrong with the logic of the following statement? "How can you believe his
testimony? He is a convicted felon!"

• A. The fact that the person testifying was convicted of a crime does not mean he
is lying.
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• B. A convicted felon cannot testify in court.

• C. The person speaking has a bias against criminals.

• D. The person speaking obviously did not attend law school.

“People are really sadistic. Look at the brutality shown by people such as Adolf Hitler and
Idi Amin.” This is an example of …

• A. … semi attached figures.

• B. … hasty generalization.

• C. … unrepresentative sample.

• D. … misplaced vividness.

The passage, “Despite reporters’ incriminating testimony to the grand jury, the president
maintains that his chief-of-staff is not guilty of the wrong doing. The president dismisses the
charges, saying that he has known the man and has been his friend for more than 30 years.”
represents which of the following fallacies?

• A. Illegitimate appeal to authority

• B. Appeal to threat

• C. Ad hominem

• D. Appeal to pity

Which of the following is NOT true about factual statements?

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• A. They can be either true or false 

• B. They are empirical statements.

• C. They are always true.

• D. They are propositions.

The expression "The best academic of all time" exemplifies...

• A. ... sentence fragment.

• B. ... value judgment moral.

• C. ... value judgment non-moral.

• D. ... emotive expression.

The Lockheed SR-71 (code named Black Bird) can reach speeds of Mach 3 and its standard
missile avoidance technique is simply to accelerate. The Lockheed SR-71 is a long-range,
high-altitude, strategic reconnaissance aircraft designed and produced by the American
aerospace company Lockheed Martin.

• A. First statement is a value judgment, second is a factual statement.

• B. First statement is a factual statement, second is a definition.

• C. First statement is a factual statement, second is a value judgment.

• D. First statement is a definition, second is a factual statement.

Speaker A: The defendant was driving unlawfully because he was at the wheel of a
heavyduty pickup truck but he is licensed only to drive saloon cars. Speaker B: No; he was
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driving lawfully. I am the insurance agent who organized the insurance for the company that
employed him. I have access to documents that shows that he has license for driving
heavyduty trucks, although it was not on his person at the time of the accident. Which of the
alternatives below best describes the above discourse?

• A. Narrative.

• B. Argument

• C. Verbal dispute.

• D. Substantive disagreement.

Essential definitions are …………………………………………………………..

• A. ... operational.

• B. ... open textured.

• C. ... well defined.

• D. ... essentially contestable.

A ……….. definition shows how a word is commonly used.

• A. Stipulative

• B. Theoretical

• C. Lexical

• D. Ostensive
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The ambiguous word in the statement "Angry dog injures farmer with cutlass" is …….

• A. ... farmer.

• B. ... cutlass.

• C. ... angry.

• D. ... with.

• “Five students who were accused of sneaking out of campus to attend Sarkodie’s
Concert and trying to smoke marijuana pleaded not guilty to criminal charges
yesterday. The students scaled a fence to get out of the campus and quickly rushed to
town to attend the said concert. While on their way, they attempted smoking
marijuana before security officials nabbed them”. The above passage is a/an ...

• A. ... argument.

• B. ... instruction.

• C. ... polemic.

• D. ... narrative.

Divine laws are universally acceptable.

• A. False

• B. True

Consider the following statement as the conclusion of a valid syllogism. Then select the
alternative premises among A-D to which this conclusion would follow deductively.
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Conclusion: “All goats are easy to breed”

• A. No goats require vaccinations. Creatures that require no vaccinations are not

easy to breed.

• B. All goats are herbivores. The herbivore lying in the shed is not a goat and is
hard to breed.

• C. Every herbivore is easy to breed. All goats are herbivores.

• D. This creature is a herbivore. All herbivores are easy to breed.

Question 11of 30 1.0Points According to the

deductive rule… 

A. … we can only deny an antecedent or

affirm a consequent in order to reach any
valid conclusion.

• B. … we can only affirm an antecedent or deny a consequent in order to reach

any valid conclusion.

• C. … we can reach a conclusion with a single premise.

• D. … we assemble at least two premises to reach a conclusion.

“Countries with the mrld powers. Uganda has the most advanced technological and financial
capabilities at the global level. Uganda is a world power.” This argument is an example of…

• A. … an invalid and sound argument.

• B. … an invalid and unsound argument.

• C. … a valid and sound argument.

• D. … a valid but unsound argument.

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“If the abortion will have a reassuring and beneficial effect on more members of my family
and friends than it disturbs and harms them, then it would be morally right for me to have
abortion”.

• A. This is an example of someone providing a reason for a moral judgement.

• B. This is an example of a civil law.

• C. This is an expression of an emotional feeling .

• D. This is an example of a sentence fragment.

The statement Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah is a Ghanaian since all Africans are Ghanaian
and he is an African is best described as ...

• A. ... valid and unsound

• B. ... invalid and unsound.

• C. ... valid and sound.

• D. ... invalid and sound.

Which of the following statements is confirmable?

• A. Heavy smokers have a carbon film on their lungs.

• B. That table is green.

• C. All voters interviewed said they would vote for the incumbent candidate.

• D. None of the students has registered for this course.

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Question 16of 30 1.0Points
In contrast to deductive arguments, we evaluate inductive arguments by studying …

• A. … the length of the premises.

• B. … the logical dimension of the relationship between the conclusion and the
premises.

• C. … the number of premises.

• D. … the contents of the premises.

Answer Key:D

Question 17of 30 1.0Points

Statistical hypotheses are …

• A. … less predictive compared to law-like hypotheses.

• B. … as predictive as law-like hypotheses.

• C. … more predictive compared to law-like hypotheses.

• D. … not predictive.

Answer Key:A

Question 18of 30 1.0Points

The statement “The centre for virology has discovered a cure for the virus” is ….

• A. ... confirmable and therefore useful as an observation statement.

• B. ... verifiable and a good example of a hypothesis subject to further test.

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• C. ... verifiable and directly testable.

• D. ... directly testable and confirmable.

Answer Key:C

Part 6 of 7 - Part 6 3.0 / 4.0 Points

Question 19of 30 1.0Points

“You need to at least provide a visa if you wish to travel from Ghana to America.” This is an
example of a …

• A. … sufficient cause.

• B. … probabilistic cause.

• C. … necessary cause.

• D. … contributory cause.

Answer Key:C

Question 20of 30 1.0Points

“We could not hold the land transfer meeting because the current land owner did not show
up.” This is an example of a …

• A. … sufficient cause.

• B. … contributory cause.

• C. … proximate cause.

• D. … necessary cause.
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Answer Key:A

Question 21of 30 1.0Points

"The company collapsed because it ran out of funds completely.” This is an example of a …

• A. … contributory cause.

• B. … sufficient cause.

• C. … necessary cause.

• D. … probabilistic cause.

Answer Key:B

Question 22of 30 1.0Points

“One of the reasons why Peter alone got a blue collar job out of his entire elementary school
class is that he went on to get a Bachelor’s degree.” This is an example of a …

• A. … false common thread.

• B. … common thread.

• C. … relevant difference.

• D. … concomitant variation.

Answer Key:C

Part 7 of 7 - Part 7 2.0 / 8.0 Points

Question 23of 30 1.0Points

Which of the following alternatives is NOT an example of a persuasion?
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• A. "I've been eating Olele Rice since I was a kid," says the Captain of the
Ghanaian Soccer National Team. "It gives me energy to win … and it will do the
same for you!"

• B. "If you care about the environment, give generously to our Afforestation Fund
Today and your life will never be the same!"

• C. "Soft-Sole Sneakers for toddlers are available at Murphy's Discount Store."

• D. "Vote for me to the Flagstaff House as your President. I own so many

companies in Ghana and abroad. You know what it means if I decide to close my
companies”?

Answer Key:C

Question 24of 30 1.0Points

The statement "Joe Mettle is popular because he is famous and well-known" can be criticized
with the label ………

• A. ... appeal to emotions.

• B. ... appeal to authority.

• C. ... begging the question.

• D. ... circumvention.

Answer Key:C

Question 25of 30 1.0Points

What is wrong with the logic of the following statement? "How can you believe his
testimony? He is a convicted felon!"
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• A. The fact that the person testifying was convicted of a crime does not mean he
is lying.

• B. A convicted felon cannot testify in court.

• C. The person speaking has a bias against criminals.

• D. The person speaking obviously did not attend law school.

Answer Key:A

Question 26of 30 1.0Points

“A vitamin supplement has been procured for our national team. It was recommended by
Dean Karnazes, the world’s longest (distance) runner.” This is an example of …

• A. … genetic fallacy.

• B. … illegal appeal to authority.

• C. … semi attached figures.

• D. … misplaced vividness.

Answer Key:B

Question 27of 30 1.0Points

"Everyone hates John Bull because he is so notorious.” This is an example of …

• A. … vagueness.

• B. … ambiguity.

• C. … equivocation.

• D. … circularity.
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Answer Key:A

Question 28of 30 1.0Points

“Quite a good number of Chinese are involved in illegal mining. So China is out to exploit
Africa.” This is an example of …

• A. … misplaced vividness.

• B. … grandstanding.

• C. … semi attached figures.

• D. … hasty generalization.

Answer Key:D

Question 29of 30 1.0Points

What fallacy is committed in the following statement? "How can you believe his testimony?
He is a convicted felon!"

• A. Appeal to anger

• B. Appeal to Pity

• C. Post hoc ergo propter hoc

• D. Ad hominem

Answer Key:D

Question 30of 30 1.0Points

The passage, “Despite reporters’ incriminating testimony to the grand jury, the president
maintains that his chief-of-staff is not guilty of the wrong doing. The president dismisses the
charges, saying that he has known the man and has been his friend for more than 30 years.”
represents which of the following fallacies?
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• A. Illegitimate appeal to authority

• B. Appeal to threat

• C. Ad hominem

• D. Appeal to pity

Answer Key:C

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