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1 | |
According to the text, a vague word typically divides things into three classes: those things to which the word clearly applies, those things to which it clearly does not apply, and |
| | A) | those things that are named by other words. |
| | B) | those things to which the term used to apply. |
| | C) | those things to which it may or may not apply. |
| | D) | those things, which the dictionary specifies. |
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2 | |
Which of the responses below is an overgeneral answer to the following question? Highway Patrolman to driver: Just how fast do you think you were driving? |
| | A) | 70 miles per hour. |
| | B) | Less than 150 miles per hour. |
| | C) | Exactly 5 miles per hour above the speed limit. |
| | D) | At the speed limit. |
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3 | |
Which of the following sentences contains a semantic ambiguity? |
| | A) | When making cookies, be sure to include your children. |
| | B) | The party begins at 7:30. |
| | C) | Would you please pass the salt? |
| | D) | Take a left turn at Maple Street and drive five blocks. |
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4 | |
Which of the options below best represents a persuasive definition for the term "profit." |
| | A) | The return received on a business undertaking after all operating expenses. |
| | B) | An advantageous gain or benefit. |
| | C) | The money factory owners steal from their workers by keeping wages low. |
| | D) | A net gain. |
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5 | |
Identify the genus in the following definition: Pornography is obscene material that includes explicit images of sexual behavior, which is likely to cause offence to most members of society. |
| | A) | Obscene material. |
| | B) | Anything that includes explicit images of sexual behavior. |
| | C) | Anything that is likely to cause offence to most members of society. |
| | D) | Magazines and videos that portray sexuality. |
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6 | |
Identify the differentia in the following definition: A hippopotamus is a large mammal which lives primarily in aquatic areas of Africa, having dark thick, almost hairless skin, short legs, and a broad, wide-mouthed muzzle. |
| | A) | Mammal. |
| | B) | Large, lives primarily in aquatic areas of Africa, having dark thick, almost hairless skin, short legs, and a broad, wide-mouthed muzzle. |
| | C) | Large. |
| | D) | A Hippopotamus amphibius. |
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7 | |
Identify the problem with the following definition: Art is an original product of human creation involving the use of paints and/or sculpture. |
| | A) | The definition is too narrow, since it leaves out many objects that obviously are art, but which do not involve painting or sculpture. |
| | B) | The definition is not objective, since it relies upon emotionally charged language. |
| | C) | The definition is too obscure, since it uses technical jargon that most readers will not understand. |
| | D) | There is no problem with the definition. |
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8 | |
Identify the possibly manipulative emotive word in the following description: The President made several thoughtful recommendations to the House Budget Committee. |
| | A) | Recommendations. |
| | B) | Several. |
| | C) | Thoughtful. |
| | D) | House Budget Committee. |
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9 | |
Identify the euphemism in the following statement: Though there remain a good number of underprivileged families in our nation, most people fare better than they would in most other countries. |
| | A) | People in the country. |
| | B) | State of the economy. |
| | C) | Most other countries. |
| | D) | Underprivileged families. |
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10 | |
Which of the options below gives the most neutral interpretation of the following statement: Mrs. Wilby generously gave five dollars to the charity. |
| | A) | Mrs. Wilby only gave five dollars to the charity. |
| | B) | Mrs. Wilby gave a meager five dollars to the charity. |
| | C) | Mrs. Wilby gave five dollars to the charity. |
| | D) | Mrs. Wilby grudgingly gave five dollars to the charity. |
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11 | |
Which of the following represents a definition by subclass for the term "religious leader?" |
| | A) | Pope John Paul, The Dalai Lama, and the Rev. Jerry Farwell. |
| | B) | Priests, rabbis, and clerics. |
| | C) | A respected and usually learned member of a religious denomination. |
| | D) | All of the above. |
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12 | |
An ambiguity that results from faulty grammar or word order is called a |
| | A) | syntactical ambiguity. |
| | B) | semantic ambiguity. |
| | C) | overgeneral ambiguity. |
| | D) | referential ambiguity. |
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13 | |
A factual dispute occurs when opponents disagree over |
| | A) | the meanings of words. |
| | B) | the definition of a fact. |
| | C) | the relevant facts. |
| | D) | All of the above. |
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14 | |
Consider the following advertisement: "Giant Mattress Sale Today!" This ad is best described as |
| | A) | vague. |
| | B) | overgeneral. |
| | C) | ambiguous. |
| | D) | None of the above. |
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15 | |
In response to the question, "Where did you drive on your RV tour this summer?" Samuel responded, "On a lot of roads." Samuel's response is best described as |
| | A) | vague. |
| | B) | overgeneral. |
| | C) | ambiguous. |
| | D) | None of the above. |
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