Chapter 1 Answer Key to Select Chapter Exercises

Exercise 1.1
3. Critical thinking is primarily concerned with how you think.
7. Logic is the study of good reasoning and the rules that govern it.
9. Statement: Critical thinking is essential. Non-statement: Is critical thinking essential?
12. A premise is a statement given in support of another statement.
16. No, you can disagree with another person’s statement without supporting your disagreement.
18. True. The arguer’s conclusion is that herbal tea likely cannot cure a headache.
21. Because; since; for… (among other possibilities)
24. No. Many perfectly good arguments leave the indicator words implied, and the flow of logic can be understood based on context.

Exercise 1.2
3. Not a statement (command)
8. Not a statement (question)
9. Statement

Exercise 1.3
2. Not an argument (explanation)
4. Argument (Conclusion: We should go to the beach.)
8. Not an argument (explanation of where that piece of knowledge came from)
9. Argument (Conclusion: Ironman is a cooler superhero than Thor.)
13. Argument (Conclusion: Canada’s economy has been unambiguously strong for about a year.)
16. Not an argument

Exercise 1.4
2. Argument (Conclusion: Therefore, you are not fit to serve in your current position. Premise: You have neglected your duty on several occasions. Premise: You have been absent from work too many times.)
3. Not an argument.
6. Argument. (Conclusion: Investing in my new restaurant is a sure thing. Premise: A number of restaurant critics have said my poutine is the best in town. Premise: Also, my mom says my cooking is amazing.)
8. Argument. (Conclusion: The podcast is worth listening to. Premise: The podcast is always interesting. Premise: The reviews are tough but fair.)

Exercise 1.5
1. Premise: People in small towns are more friendly than people in cities. Premise: Crime rates are lower in small towns than in cities.
2. Premise: Employee surveys suggest that her employees think my mom is both tough but fair as a boss. Premise: My mom won her company’s “Emerging Leader” award.
7. Premise: The mayor denied that he was in a conflict of interest, even though he clearly was. Premise: When asked to define conflict of interest, the mayor got it wrong.
11. Premise: Societies that allow free access to pornography are generally more educated about sexuality. Premise: Pornography allows potentially violent people a safe way to satisfy their sexual urges.
14. Premise: Game of Thrones was based on a critically-acclaimed series of novels. Premise: Game of Thrones had an outstanding cast.

Exercise 1.6
1. Conclusion: You should give up your plan to go to nursing school.
5. Conclusion: Therese will be happy.
7. Conclusion: Priyanka’s investment portfolio is likely to have a lower return now.

Exercise 1.7
4. Argument.
Conclusion: It’s wrong to treat corporations as if they’re people.
Premise: Corporations don’t have the right to free speech.
Premise: Corporations don’t have a conscience.
Premise: All rights are human rights.
Premise: There’s nothing human about a corporation.
5. Argument.
Conclusion: Canada is not a fair society.
Premise: Canada’s Indigenous peoples have never, ever been treated fairly.
Premise: Over hundreds of years, the Canadian government and non-Indigenous Canadians have treated them badly.
Premise: Today, many people in Canada’s Indigenous communities live in terrible conditions.