Chapter 1 - Statements and Arguments

Question 1

another name for statements

Answer 1

Declarative

Question 2

a question being expressed

Answer 2

Interrogative

Question 3

commands

Answer 3

Imperative

Question 4

Cats usually need a bath after they have been into a teapot:
Declarative
Interrogative
Imperative

Answer 4

Declarative

Question 5

Cats usually need a bath after they have been into a teapot:
Declarative
Interrogative
Imperative

Answer 5

Interrogative

Question 6

Take the cat out of the teapot.
Declarative
Interrogative
Imperative

Answer 6

Imperative

Question 7

Each of the following passages can be construed quite reasonably as either constituting or not constituting an argument. For the passage, answer the following questions:

Why could the passage be considered an argument?
Why could it be considered not an argument?

Now, such a theory of life excites in many minds, and among them in some of the most estimable in feeling and purpose, inveterate dislike. To suppose that life has (as they express it) no higher end than pleasure—no better and nobler object of desire and pursuit—they designate as utterly mean and grovelling; as a doctrine worthy only of swine, to whom the followers of Epicurus were, at a very early period, contemptuously likened; and modern holders of the doctrine are occasionally made the subject of equally polite comparisons by its German, French, and English assailants.

Answer 7

This passage can be taken to present an argument that hedonism (the “theory of life” in question) is strongly disliked by many, with the various unkind designations of the theory being enumerated as reasons to believe the people making those designations dislike it. On the other hand, it can be taken as a simple statement that hedonism is disliked by many, followed by elaboration on the points of who it is (both historically and in contemporary times) that dislikes it, what it is about the theory they dislike, and why.

Question 8

Each of the following passages can be construed quite reasonably as either constituting or not constituting an argument. For each passage, answer the following questions:

Why could the passage be considered an argument?
Why could it be considered not an argument?

The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.

Answer 8

This passage can be considered an argument by example. By providing the illustrative example of the different between a lightning bug and lightning, it is reasonable to construe this as being an example offered in support of the claim that the difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. On the other hand, one could also reasonably interpret the example of lightning bug and lightning as being a characterization or poetic description of that difference, rather than evidence in support of a claim.