INSTRUCTIONS: The following selections relate to distinguishing arguments from
nonarguments and identifying conclusions. Select the best answer for each.
1. There appears to be a growing happiness gap between men and women. Women today are
working more and relaxing less, while men are working less and relaxing more. Forty years ago a
typical woman spent 40 minutes more per week than the typical man performing an activity
considered unpleasant. Today, with men working less, the gap is 90 minutes and growing.
a. Argument; conclusion: Today ... the gap is 90 minutes and growing.
b. Nonargument.
c. Argument; conclusion: Forty years ago ... an activity considered unpleasant.
d. Argument; conclusion: There appears to be ... between men and women.
e. Argument; conclusion: Women today are working more and relaxing less.
ANSWER: d
2. Lead is toxic, but do you know why? Lead is toxic mainly because it preferentially replaces
other metals in biochemical reactions. In so doing it interferes with the proteins that regulate
blood pressure (which can cause development delays in children and high blood pressure in
adults), heme production (which can lead to anemia), and sperm production. Lead also displaces
calcium in the reactions that transmit electrical impulses in the brain, which diminishes the ability
to think and recall information.
Anne Marie Helmenstine, "Your Guide to Chemistry"
a. Argument; conclusion: It interferes with the proteins ... and sperm production.
b. Argument; conclusion: Lead is toxic.
c. Nonargument.
d. Argument; conclusion: It preferentially replaces other metals in biochemical
reactions.
e. Argument; conclusion: Lead also displaces calcium ... recall information.
ANSWER: c
3. Aristotle focused on clarifying the concept of virtue itself. He argued that it was virtuous to
choose the proper amount of emotion and/or action called for in a particular situation and that
,extremes of emotion and action were vices. In all communities there are some men of practical
wisdom who have the capacity to judge wisely. Aristotle argued that they have the capacity to
follow the "right rule" whatever the situation.
David Cooper, Value Pluralism and Ethical Choice
a. Argument; conclusion: In all communities ... capacity to judge wisely.
b. Argument; conclusion: Aristotle focused on clarifying the concept of virtue itself.
c. Argument; conclusion: They have the capacity to follow ... the situation.
d. Argument; conclusion: He argued that it was virtuous ... were vices
e. Nonargument.
ANSWER: e
4. Undocumented immigrants pay local sales taxes, and many of them also pay state, local, and
federal income tax and Social Security tax. They also purchase items from local merchants,
increasing the amount these merchants pay in taxes. In addition, they work for low salaries,
which increases the earnings of their employers and the amount of taxes these employers pay.
Thus, it is not correct to say that undocumented immigrants contribute nothing to the
communities in which they live.
a. Argument; conclusion: It is not correct to say ... communities in which they live.
b. Argument; conclusion: They work for low salaries ... these employers pay.
c. Argument; conclusion: Undocumented immigrants pay ... Social Security tax.
d. Argument; conclusion: They also purchase items ... pay in taxes.
e. Nonargument.
ANSWER: a
5. Numerous studies have indicated that women of color, black women in particular, are over-
arrested, over-indicted, and over-sentenced. African-American women are seven times more
likely to be arrested for prostitution than women of other ethnic groups. Black women have
received significantly longer sentences for crimes against property and served longer periods in
prison. For both murder and drug offenses, Euroamerican women ended up serving one-third less
time for the same offenses than black women.
Nancy Kurshan, "Women and Imprisonment in the U.S."
a. Argument; conclusion: African-American women ... other ethnic groups.
, b. Nonargument.
c. Argument; conclusion: For both murder and drug offenses ... black women.
d. Argument; conclusion: Numerous studies have indicated ... over-sentenced.
e. Argument; conclusion: Black women have received ... longer periods in prison.
ANSWER: b
6. It's even more important these days that your computer be protected by a firewall. There are
criminal elements lurking in the shadows of cyberspace who send out probes to detect
unprotected PCs. Once a vulnerable computer is found, these criminals install software that
assists them in committing identity theft and fencing stolen IDs. They also defraud online
advertisers by using these zombie computers to visit pay-per-click ads.
a. Argument; conclusion: There are criminal elements ... to detect unprotected PCs.
b. Argument; conclusion: Once a vulnerable computer ... fencing stolen IDs.
c. Nonargument.
d. Argument; conclusion: They also defraud ... to visit pay-per-click ads.
e. Argument; conclusion: It's even more important ... protected by a firewall.
ANSWER: e
7. The earth is of interest to astronomy for many reasons. Nearly all observations must be made
through the atmosphere, and the phenomena of the upper atmosphere and the magnetosphere
reflect the state of interplanetary space. The earth is also the most important object of comparison
for planetologists.
Hannu Karttunen, et al., Fundamental Astronomy
a. Argument; conclusion: The phenomena ... state of interplanetary space.
b. Argument; conclusion: The earth is also ... for planetologists.
c. Argument; conclusion: The earth is of interest to astronomy.
d. Nonargument.
e. Argument; conclusion: Nearly all observations ... through the atmosphere.
ANSWER: c
, 8. If the trade in tiger products is banned, tiger reserves are guarded by well equipped staff,
communities abutting tiger habitat are given a stake in protecting tigers, and the makers of
traditional medicines can be persuaded that tiger parts are not needed, then tiger poaching will be
halted, habitat and life sustaining prey will be restored, and the immanent extinction of tigers in
the wild will be averted.
a. Nonargument.
b. Argument; conclusion: The trade in tiger products is banned.
c. Argument; conclusion: Tiger poaching will be halted.
d. Argument; conclusion: The makers of traditional medicines ... not needed.
e. Argument; conclusion: Tiger poaching will be halted ... will be averted.
ANSWER: a
9. Humans are biological organisms. To understand our behavior and mental processes, we need
to understand their biological underpinnings, starting with the cellular level, the neuron. How we
feel, learn, remember, and think all stem from neuronal activity. So, how a neuron works and how
neurons communicate are crucial pieces of information in solving the puzzle of human behavior
and mental processing.
Richard Griggs, Psychology: A Concise Introduction
a. Argument; conclusion: To understand our behavior ... the neuron.
b. Argument; conclusion: Humans are biological organisms.
c. Argument; conclusion: How we feel ... neuronal activity.
d. Argument; conclusion: How a neuron works ... mental processing.
e. Nonargument.
ANSWER: d
10. Viruses are acellular entities too small to be seen with a light microscope. They are composed
of a nucleic acid and a few proteins. Viruses replicate themselves and display other properties of
living organisms only when they have invaded living cells. Indeed, some viruses can be
crystallized and stored in a container on a shelf for years, but they retain the capacity to invade
cells and cause disease.
nonarguments and identifying conclusions. Select the best answer for each.
1. There appears to be a growing happiness gap between men and women. Women today are
working more and relaxing less, while men are working less and relaxing more. Forty years ago a
typical woman spent 40 minutes more per week than the typical man performing an activity
considered unpleasant. Today, with men working less, the gap is 90 minutes and growing.
a. Argument; conclusion: Today ... the gap is 90 minutes and growing.
b. Nonargument.
c. Argument; conclusion: Forty years ago ... an activity considered unpleasant.
d. Argument; conclusion: There appears to be ... between men and women.
e. Argument; conclusion: Women today are working more and relaxing less.
ANSWER: d
2. Lead is toxic, but do you know why? Lead is toxic mainly because it preferentially replaces
other metals in biochemical reactions. In so doing it interferes with the proteins that regulate
blood pressure (which can cause development delays in children and high blood pressure in
adults), heme production (which can lead to anemia), and sperm production. Lead also displaces
calcium in the reactions that transmit electrical impulses in the brain, which diminishes the ability
to think and recall information.
Anne Marie Helmenstine, "Your Guide to Chemistry"
a. Argument; conclusion: It interferes with the proteins ... and sperm production.
b. Argument; conclusion: Lead is toxic.
c. Nonargument.
d. Argument; conclusion: It preferentially replaces other metals in biochemical
reactions.
e. Argument; conclusion: Lead also displaces calcium ... recall information.
ANSWER: c
3. Aristotle focused on clarifying the concept of virtue itself. He argued that it was virtuous to
choose the proper amount of emotion and/or action called for in a particular situation and that
,extremes of emotion and action were vices. In all communities there are some men of practical
wisdom who have the capacity to judge wisely. Aristotle argued that they have the capacity to
follow the "right rule" whatever the situation.
David Cooper, Value Pluralism and Ethical Choice
a. Argument; conclusion: In all communities ... capacity to judge wisely.
b. Argument; conclusion: Aristotle focused on clarifying the concept of virtue itself.
c. Argument; conclusion: They have the capacity to follow ... the situation.
d. Argument; conclusion: He argued that it was virtuous ... were vices
e. Nonargument.
ANSWER: e
4. Undocumented immigrants pay local sales taxes, and many of them also pay state, local, and
federal income tax and Social Security tax. They also purchase items from local merchants,
increasing the amount these merchants pay in taxes. In addition, they work for low salaries,
which increases the earnings of their employers and the amount of taxes these employers pay.
Thus, it is not correct to say that undocumented immigrants contribute nothing to the
communities in which they live.
a. Argument; conclusion: It is not correct to say ... communities in which they live.
b. Argument; conclusion: They work for low salaries ... these employers pay.
c. Argument; conclusion: Undocumented immigrants pay ... Social Security tax.
d. Argument; conclusion: They also purchase items ... pay in taxes.
e. Nonargument.
ANSWER: a
5. Numerous studies have indicated that women of color, black women in particular, are over-
arrested, over-indicted, and over-sentenced. African-American women are seven times more
likely to be arrested for prostitution than women of other ethnic groups. Black women have
received significantly longer sentences for crimes against property and served longer periods in
prison. For both murder and drug offenses, Euroamerican women ended up serving one-third less
time for the same offenses than black women.
Nancy Kurshan, "Women and Imprisonment in the U.S."
a. Argument; conclusion: African-American women ... other ethnic groups.
, b. Nonargument.
c. Argument; conclusion: For both murder and drug offenses ... black women.
d. Argument; conclusion: Numerous studies have indicated ... over-sentenced.
e. Argument; conclusion: Black women have received ... longer periods in prison.
ANSWER: b
6. It's even more important these days that your computer be protected by a firewall. There are
criminal elements lurking in the shadows of cyberspace who send out probes to detect
unprotected PCs. Once a vulnerable computer is found, these criminals install software that
assists them in committing identity theft and fencing stolen IDs. They also defraud online
advertisers by using these zombie computers to visit pay-per-click ads.
a. Argument; conclusion: There are criminal elements ... to detect unprotected PCs.
b. Argument; conclusion: Once a vulnerable computer ... fencing stolen IDs.
c. Nonargument.
d. Argument; conclusion: They also defraud ... to visit pay-per-click ads.
e. Argument; conclusion: It's even more important ... protected by a firewall.
ANSWER: e
7. The earth is of interest to astronomy for many reasons. Nearly all observations must be made
through the atmosphere, and the phenomena of the upper atmosphere and the magnetosphere
reflect the state of interplanetary space. The earth is also the most important object of comparison
for planetologists.
Hannu Karttunen, et al., Fundamental Astronomy
a. Argument; conclusion: The phenomena ... state of interplanetary space.
b. Argument; conclusion: The earth is also ... for planetologists.
c. Argument; conclusion: The earth is of interest to astronomy.
d. Nonargument.
e. Argument; conclusion: Nearly all observations ... through the atmosphere.
ANSWER: c
, 8. If the trade in tiger products is banned, tiger reserves are guarded by well equipped staff,
communities abutting tiger habitat are given a stake in protecting tigers, and the makers of
traditional medicines can be persuaded that tiger parts are not needed, then tiger poaching will be
halted, habitat and life sustaining prey will be restored, and the immanent extinction of tigers in
the wild will be averted.
a. Nonargument.
b. Argument; conclusion: The trade in tiger products is banned.
c. Argument; conclusion: Tiger poaching will be halted.
d. Argument; conclusion: The makers of traditional medicines ... not needed.
e. Argument; conclusion: Tiger poaching will be halted ... will be averted.
ANSWER: a
9. Humans are biological organisms. To understand our behavior and mental processes, we need
to understand their biological underpinnings, starting with the cellular level, the neuron. How we
feel, learn, remember, and think all stem from neuronal activity. So, how a neuron works and how
neurons communicate are crucial pieces of information in solving the puzzle of human behavior
and mental processing.
Richard Griggs, Psychology: A Concise Introduction
a. Argument; conclusion: To understand our behavior ... the neuron.
b. Argument; conclusion: Humans are biological organisms.
c. Argument; conclusion: How we feel ... neuronal activity.
d. Argument; conclusion: How a neuron works ... mental processing.
e. Nonargument.
ANSWER: d
10. Viruses are acellular entities too small to be seen with a light microscope. They are composed
of a nucleic acid and a few proteins. Viruses replicate themselves and display other properties of
living organisms only when they have invaded living cells. Indeed, some viruses can be
crystallized and stored in a container on a shelf for years, but they retain the capacity to invade
cells and cause disease.
