PHIL140 (02) Critical Thinking

Exam #2: Categorical Logic

Instructor: Dr. George Williamson
Date: Mar. 7, 2007
Time: 50 mins

Please: do not begin until told to.

Name: ___________________________________________
Student # (if available): _____________________________

Instructions:
Look over the whole exam: make sure you understand what is
required.
No notes or books allowed. (Exception: dictionary)
No talking to neighbors permitted.
Use pencil on Opscan sheet.

Exam breakdown:
A. Multi-choice:
B. Translations:
C. Testing Validity:

17 points
18 points
20 points
55 points

A. Multi-choice
Select the correct, or best, answer by filling in the Opscan sheet.
Scoring: 1 point each
1. Statements that have contrapositives
have the forms:

a. A and E
b. E and I
c. E and O
d. A and O

2. The minor term is:

a. the subject of the main premise

b. the subject of the conclusion
c. the common term between the premises
d. the predicate of the major premise

3. Two statements that are obversions:

a. can both be true, but not false

b. where one is true the other is false and vice versa
c. cannot both be true but can both be false
d. are either both true or both false

4. The contrapositive of Some fascists are

not violent is:
(F = fascists; V = violent persons)

a. Some non-V are not F.

b. Some non-F are not non-V.
c. Some non-V are not non-F.
d. Some non-F are non-V.

5. Contradictories:

a. can both be true, but not false

b. where one is true the other is false and vice versa
c. cannot both be true but can both be false
d. are either both true or both false

6. Statements that have sub-contraries have a. A and E

the forms:
b. I and O
c. E and O
d. A and I
7. Can the following statement be put in
standard form?
All non-violent persons are nice.

a. Yes, by conversion
b. Yes, by obversion
c. Yes, by contraposition
d. No

8. The I statement is:

a. universal affirmative
b. particular affirmative
c. particular negative
d. universal negative

9. An E statement has:

a. a contrapositive and an obverse

b. a contradictory and a contrapositive
c. an obverse and a converse
d. a sub-contrary and a contradictory

10. All S are non-P is the ____ of

No S are P.

a. contradictory
b. obversion
c. sub-contrary
d. contrapositive

11. The middle term is:

a. the subject of the main premise

b. the predicate of the conclusion
c. the common term between the premises
d. the predicate of the major premise

12. Contraries:

a. can both be true, but not false

b. where one is true the other is false and vice versa
c. cannot both be true but can both be false
d. are either both true or both false

13. Put in standard form, Some temperate

persons are not non-drinkers is:
(D = drinkers; T = temperate persons)

a. Some T are D
b. Some T are non-D
c. Some T are not D
d. Some D are not T

14. The obverse of Some lizards are nonslimy is:

(L = lizard; S = slimy)

a. Some L are S
b. Some L are not S
c. Some non-L are not non-S
d. Some S are non-L

15. No S are P is the ____ of

Some S are P.

a. contradictory
b. obversion
c. sub-contrary
d. contrapositive

16. Put in standard form, Some nonamphibians are aquatic creatures is:
(M = amphibians; Q = aquatic creatures)

a. Some M are not Q

b. Some non-Q are M
c. Some Q are not M
d. Some Q are M

17. All non-sailors are non-scurvy dogs

is equivalent to:

a. No sailors are scurvy dogs.

b. All scurvy dogs are sailors.
c. All sailors are scurvy dogs.
d. No scurvy dogs are sailors.

B. Translations
Put these categorical statements in standard form, giving a dictionary of the terms you use.
Scoring: 3 points
1. None of the Conservative MPs voted for the
motion.

_____________________________________
___ = _______________________
___ = _______________________

2. There are times when it is not a good idea to

speak your mind.

_____________________________________
___ = _______________________
___ = _______________________

3. The easiest course is not always the most

satisfying.

_____________________________________
___ = _______________________
___ = _______________________

4. Canadian troops are stationed in Afghanistan.

_____________________________________
___ = _______________________
___ = _______________________

5. Stephen Harper wants to stack the judiciary

with his clones.

_____________________________________
___ = _______________________
___ = _______________________

6. Only Scots can be true Highlanders.

_____________________________________
___ = _______________________
___ = _______________________

C. Testing for Validity

Put each syllogism in standard form, translating sentences where necessary and providing a
dictionary. Then test each for validity on the Venn diagram, circling the correct answer.
Scoring: 5 points each
1. Look, vintage comics are not antiques; if something is less than 100 years old, it is not an antique
and vintage comics are less than 100 years old.
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
___ = _______________________
___ = _______________________
___ = _______________________

2. Everyone who smokes pot goes on to try smack and everyone who tries smack becomes an
addict. Therefore, everyone who smokes pot becomes an addict.
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
___ = _______________________
___ = _______________________
___ = _______________________

3. No epic poems are comedies. Some epic poems are not sagas. So, Some comedies are sagas.
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
___ = _______________________
___ = _______________________
___ = _______________________

4. All governments that fall were weak in the first place, but some governments that fall were
undermined by the CIA; so, some things that were weak in the first place are things that were
undermined by the CIA.

____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
___ = _______________________
___ = _______________________
___ = _______________________