1. The snack chips in this box are either less fattening for you than the snack chips in that bag or else the nutrition label on this box is deceptive. Ah, look, the label is deceptive: it uses only half an ounce instead of an ounce as a “standard serving.” Well, now we know that the snack chips in this box are not less fattening than the chips in that bag.
a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid
2. It says here that if a perfume is heavy, it is best worn in the evening. And the label says that this perfume is best worn in the evening. Well, it follows then that this perfume must be a heavy perfume.
a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid
3. Aw, I’m sorry, Norm. I can’t go miniature golfing with you and study for the critical thinking test tomorrow. And I really have to study for that test. So I can’t go miniature golfing.
a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid
4. This lighter paint will cover that darker paint in one coat if the lighter paint contains more than 5 percent titanium dioxide. Oh, yay! It will cover it, because, look at the label: “This paint contains 11% titanium dioxide.”
a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid
5. This substance cannot be both real butter and a clear liquid when melted. Well, I melted it and it is a clear liquid. That means it isn’t butter.
a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid
6. We know that the substance we just melted in the experiment above was either butter or margarine. Now that we’ve shown that it isn’t butter, we know it must be margarine.
a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid
7. If a girl is interested in a guy, her pupils will dilate when she is talking to him. Ah, Jane’s talking to Fred and look, her pupils are dilated. So she is obviously interested in him.
a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid
8. The roast won’t be tender if the oven temperature is below 300 degrees. But we can conclude that the roast will be tender because the oven temperature is 450 degrees.
a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid
9. This copy of Gulliver’s Travels cannot be both a first edition and a facsimile reprint. Look, the book says on the back, “Augustan Reprint Society.” Well, we know it is not a first edition, then.
a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid
10. Your excessive water usage is caused by either leaking pipes out in the yard or dripping taps in the house. But we’ve shut off the water at the front door so no water is getting to the house. Yet your water usage continues. So you must have a leak in the yard.
a. affirming the consequent
b. denying the antecedent
c. affirming a disjunct
d. denying a conjunct
e. valid