Hypothetical Syllogism Quiz #4

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Choose the correct answer in each case.

1. It is impossible to construct a roof that is both snow safe and sloped less than 3 feet in 12. This roof is sloped more than 3 feet in twelve, so it must be snow safe.

a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid

2. There’s a discrepancy in the oil flow through the pipe from Bren to Oxbow. Near Bren, the flow measures 1125 barrels per day. Near Oxbow, the flow measures 1108 barrels a day. The only possibilities are that the Bren meter reads high, the Oxbow meter reads low, there is a leak, or someone is stealing the oil. We’ve checked and both meters are accurate and there are no leaks. So we must be losing oil by theft.

a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid

3. We will need to order three truckloads of sugar if we decide to make strawberry soda this week. But we won’t need to order three truckloads of sugar because we aren’t going to make strawberry soda.

a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid

4. If the forest fire heated the soil to at least 200 degrees Fahrenheit, then these redwood seeds will germinate. Our measurements show that the soil was heated to 254 degrees F, so we can expect these redwood seeds to germinate.

a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid

5. Pierre Le Fine never makes his figurines in China. So this figurine cannot be both a Pierre Le Fine and a Chinese-made figurine. On the bottom it says, “Made in China,” so it is not a Pierre Le Fine figurine.

a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid

6. You will come to value your walking stick very highly if you put a lot of time and care into finishing it—filing, sanding, staining, and varnishing it. I note that you value your walking stick a lot. That shows how much time and care you put into finishing it.

a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid

7. Either the whole political process in the US is corrupt or Frimpson would have lost the last election. But Frimpson won, so the whole political process in the US is corrupt.

a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid

8. If this is the last question on the test, I will stop writing and go take a bath now. But this is not the last question on the test so I will not stop writing to take a bath.

a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid

9. Those candles on the mantle were put their either in case the power goes out or for decoration. Jane told me she put them there in case the power goes out, so they were not put there for decoration.

a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid

10. If that new transmission did not work properly, Ted would have to take his pickup back to the repair shop. I just drove by the place and Ted’s truck is back at the repair shop. So that means his new transmission did not work properly.

a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid