A CONCISE INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC 11TH
EDITION 2026 MOCK EXAM PRACTICE SET
WITH SOLUTIONS A+
◉ 1.3 Deduction and Induction
What is a prediction? Answer: A prediction is an argument that
proceeds from our knowledge of the past to a claim about the future.
◉ 1.3 Deduction and Induction
What is an argument from analogy? Answer: An argument from
analogy is an argument that depends on the existence of an analogy,
or similarity, between two things or state of affairs. Because of the
existence of this analogy, a certain condition that affects the better-
known thing or situation is concluded to affect the similar, lesser-
known thing or situation.
◉ 1.3 Deduction and Induction
What is a generalization? Answer: A generalization is an argument
that proceeds from the knowledge of a selected sample to some
claim about the whole group.
,◉ 1.3 Deduction and Induction
What is an argument from authority? Answer: An argument from
authority is an argument that concludes something is true because a
presumed expert or witness has said that it is.
◉ 1.3 Deduction and Induction
What is an argument based on signs? Answer: An argument based
on signs is an argument that proceeds from the knowledge of a sign
to a claim about the thing or situation that the sign symbolizes.
◉ 1.3 Deduction and Induction
What is causal inference? Answer: A causal inference is an argument
that proceeds from knowledge of a cause to a claim about an effect,
or, conversely, from knowledge of an effect to a claim about cause.
◉ 1.3 Deduction and Induction
How does one interpret an argument's inferential claim? Answer: To
interpret an argument's inferential claim we look at three factors:
special indica- tor words, the actual strength of the inferential link
,between premises and conclusion, and the character or form of
argumentation. Given that we have more than one factor to look at, it
is possible in a single argument for the occurrence of two of these
fac- tors to conflict with each other, leading to opposite
interpretations.
◉ 1.4 Validity, Truth, Soundness, Strength, and Cogency Answer:
◉ 1.4 Validity, Truth, Soundness, Strength, and Cogency
What is a valid deductive argument? Answer: A valid deductive
argument is an argument in which it is impossible for the conclusion
to be false given the premises are true. In these arguments the
conclusion follows with strict necessity from the premises.
◉ 1.4 Validity, Truth, Soundness, Strength, and Cogency
What is a invalid deductive argument? Answer: Conversely, an
invalid deductive argument is a deductive argument in which it is
possible for the conclusion to be false given that the premises are
true. In these arguments the conclusion does not follow with strict
necessity from the premises, even though it is claimed to.
◉ 1.4 Validity, Truth, Soundness, Strength, and Cogency
, What is validity? Answer: Rather, validity is something that is
determined by the relationship between premises and conclusion.
The question is not whether the premises and conclusion are true or
false, but whether the premises support the conclusion.
Any deductive argument having actually true premises and an
actually false conclusion is invalid. The reasoning behind this fact is
fairly obvious. If the premises are actually true and the conclusion is
actually false, then it certainly is possible for the premises to be true
and the conclusion false. Thus, by the definition of invalidity, the
argument is invalid.
◉ 1.4 Validity, Truth, Soundness, Strength, and Cogency
What is a sound argument? Answer: A sound argument is a
deductive argument that is valid and has all true premises. Both
conditions must be met for an argument to be sound; if either is
missing the argument is unsound.
◉ 1.4 Validity, Truth, Soundness, Strength, and Cogency
What is an unsound argument? Answer: Thus, an unsound argument
is a deductive argument that is invalid, has one or more false
premises, or both. Because a valid argument is one such that it is
impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false, and
because a sound argument does in fact have true premises, it follows
that every sound argument, by definition, will have a true conclusion
EDITION 2026 MOCK EXAM PRACTICE SET
WITH SOLUTIONS A+
◉ 1.3 Deduction and Induction
What is a prediction? Answer: A prediction is an argument that
proceeds from our knowledge of the past to a claim about the future.
◉ 1.3 Deduction and Induction
What is an argument from analogy? Answer: An argument from
analogy is an argument that depends on the existence of an analogy,
or similarity, between two things or state of affairs. Because of the
existence of this analogy, a certain condition that affects the better-
known thing or situation is concluded to affect the similar, lesser-
known thing or situation.
◉ 1.3 Deduction and Induction
What is a generalization? Answer: A generalization is an argument
that proceeds from the knowledge of a selected sample to some
claim about the whole group.
,◉ 1.3 Deduction and Induction
What is an argument from authority? Answer: An argument from
authority is an argument that concludes something is true because a
presumed expert or witness has said that it is.
◉ 1.3 Deduction and Induction
What is an argument based on signs? Answer: An argument based
on signs is an argument that proceeds from the knowledge of a sign
to a claim about the thing or situation that the sign symbolizes.
◉ 1.3 Deduction and Induction
What is causal inference? Answer: A causal inference is an argument
that proceeds from knowledge of a cause to a claim about an effect,
or, conversely, from knowledge of an effect to a claim about cause.
◉ 1.3 Deduction and Induction
How does one interpret an argument's inferential claim? Answer: To
interpret an argument's inferential claim we look at three factors:
special indica- tor words, the actual strength of the inferential link
,between premises and conclusion, and the character or form of
argumentation. Given that we have more than one factor to look at, it
is possible in a single argument for the occurrence of two of these
fac- tors to conflict with each other, leading to opposite
interpretations.
◉ 1.4 Validity, Truth, Soundness, Strength, and Cogency Answer:
◉ 1.4 Validity, Truth, Soundness, Strength, and Cogency
What is a valid deductive argument? Answer: A valid deductive
argument is an argument in which it is impossible for the conclusion
to be false given the premises are true. In these arguments the
conclusion follows with strict necessity from the premises.
◉ 1.4 Validity, Truth, Soundness, Strength, and Cogency
What is a invalid deductive argument? Answer: Conversely, an
invalid deductive argument is a deductive argument in which it is
possible for the conclusion to be false given that the premises are
true. In these arguments the conclusion does not follow with strict
necessity from the premises, even though it is claimed to.
◉ 1.4 Validity, Truth, Soundness, Strength, and Cogency
, What is validity? Answer: Rather, validity is something that is
determined by the relationship between premises and conclusion.
The question is not whether the premises and conclusion are true or
false, but whether the premises support the conclusion.
Any deductive argument having actually true premises and an
actually false conclusion is invalid. The reasoning behind this fact is
fairly obvious. If the premises are actually true and the conclusion is
actually false, then it certainly is possible for the premises to be true
and the conclusion false. Thus, by the definition of invalidity, the
argument is invalid.
◉ 1.4 Validity, Truth, Soundness, Strength, and Cogency
What is a sound argument? Answer: A sound argument is a
deductive argument that is valid and has all true premises. Both
conditions must be met for an argument to be sound; if either is
missing the argument is unsound.
◉ 1.4 Validity, Truth, Soundness, Strength, and Cogency
What is an unsound argument? Answer: Thus, an unsound argument
is a deductive argument that is invalid, has one or more false
premises, or both. Because a valid argument is one such that it is
impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false, and
because a sound argument does in fact have true premises, it follows
that every sound argument, by definition, will have a true conclusion
