Given the premises, discuss whether the conclusion of each argument that follows is (a) true beyond a reasonable doubt, (b) probably true, or (c) possibly true or possibly false. You should expect disagreement on these items, but the closer your answers are to your instructor’s, the better.
2. The annual rainfall in California’s north valley averages twenty-three inches. So the rainfall next year will be twenty-three inches. (C) – Averages are just that – they are not a predictor.
3. You expect to get forty miles to the gallon in that? Why, that old wreck has a
monster V8; besides, it’s ?fty years old and needs an overhaul.
(B) Very few if any V8 cars get forty MPG, it needing an overhaul
may or may not make a difference.
4. In three of the last four presidential races, the winner of the Iowa Republican primary
has not captured the Republican nomination. Therefore, the winner winner of the next
Iowa Republican primary will not capture the Republican nomination.
(C) Every primary stands on its own merit. Past performance is in the past.
6. The number of cellular telephones has increased dramatically in each of the past few
years. Therefore there will be even more of them in use this coming year.
(B) The growth of cellular phones can be predicted based on the premise but not
proven.
7. Since the graduates of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and other Ivy League schools
generally score higher on the Graduate Record Examination than students from Central
State, it follows that the Ivy League schools d ...