Logical Reasoning Flashcards
If not x, then not y
Inverse
If x, then y
Premise, conclusion
If y, then x
Converse
If not y, then not x
Contrapositive
What did the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report in late 1995?
It detected the ‘fingerprint’ of human activity as a contributor to the warming of the earth’s atmosphere
The report attributed warming directly to increasing carbon dioxide from fossil fuel burning.
What is a major claim made in Passage B regarding the extreme view of global warming?
It contains exaggerations and misstatements, leading to unreasonable environmental policies
This view suggests catastrophic consequences without fully acknowledging uncertainties.
In Passage B, what is suggested as a potential outcome of rising sea levels?
Melting of polar ice caps and the addition of more water to oceans
However, it also mentions the possibility of Antarctic ice sheets growing.
What natural events does Passage B argue are more important than human activity in affecting global climate?
- The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo
- El Niño
- Variations in the sun’s radiation
- Changes in the earth’s orbit
Passage B emphasizes that climate variability has always existed.
The authors of the two passages would be most likely to disagree over which topic?
The extent to which natural climate variability is responsible for global warming
Passage A attributes more responsibility to human activity, while Passage B emphasizes natural factors.
What central question is addressed in both passages?
To what extent can global warming be attributed to human activity?
This question highlights the debate between human and natural influences on climate change.
How does Passage A’s argument relate to Passage B’s argument?
Passage A warns about effects of recent phenomena, while Passage B argues that inferences based on those phenomena are unfounded
This indicates a fundamental disagreement in their interpretations of climate data.
Which consequence of global warming is mentioned in Passage B but not in Passage A?
An increase in the size of the Antarctic ice sheet
This highlights the complexity of climate change impacts.
Fill in the blank: Most serious students are ______ students.
happy
This statement establishes a correlation between serious students and their happiness.
If all the apples are ripe, how many apples are ripe?
100 apples
This illustrates a clear conclusion based on the premise.
What logical reasoning can be inferred from the premise ‘If X, then Y’?
If not Y, then not X
This is the contrapositive, which is always true.
Which statement can be inferred from ‘Most serious students are happy students, and most serious students go to graduate school’?
Some happy students are overworked
This follows from the premise that all graduate students are overworked.
The argument about societal rules implies that violating rules leads to ______.
chaos
This conclusion connects rule enforcement to societal moral guidance.
What is the criticism about the argument regarding moral guidance?
It takes for granted that a society will avoid chaos as long as none of its explicit rules are routinely violated with impunity
This overlooks other factors that could lead to chaos.
What event occurred in January 1995 involving the Larsen ice shelf?
A vast section of ice broke off the Larsen ice shelf in Antarctica
This event was a significant indicator of climate change linked to a regional warming trend.
What are some symptoms of serious climate changes mentioned?
- More intense storms
- Prolonged droughts
- Extended heat waves
- Record flooding
These symptoms have been emerging around the world for several years.
According to scientific estimates, what is the predicted sea-level rise due to global warming within the next century?
3 feet (1 meter)
Such a rise could submerge vast coastal areas with potentially irreversible consequences.
What did the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report in late 1995?
It detected the ‘fingerprint’ of human activity as a contributor to the warming of the earth’s atmosphere
This report established that global warming can no longer be attributed solely to natural climate variability.
What is the extreme view of global warming mentioned in Passage B?
It contains facts but also exaggerations and misstatements, resulting in unreasonable environmental policies
This view has developed over the past two decades.
What potential consequences of global warming are mentioned in Passage B?
- Melting polar ice
- Raising global sea levels
- Flooding entire regions
- Destroying crops
- Displacing millions of people
These consequences are presented as part of an extreme view of global warming.
What uncertainty is highlighted regarding global warming’s impact on sea levels?
There is uncertainty regarding the potential rise in sea levels
Evidence exists for both melting and growth of Antarctic ice sheets.
What natural events are mentioned as potentially more important than human activity in causing climate change?
- The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo
- El Niño
- Variations in the sun’s radiation
- Variations in the earth’s orbit
These events demonstrate that climate variability has always existed.
What claims are made in Passage A regarding climate change?
- Climate change is occurring and causing harm
- Global warming is caused by human activity
These claims underline the urgency of addressing climate change.
What claims are made in Passage B regarding climate change?
- We need more evidence to know the effects of global warming
- Nature (not humans) is the greatest cause of global warming
These claims emphasize the need for further research and consideration of natural factors.
The authors of the two passages would be most likely to disagree over which aspect?
The extent to which natural climate variability is responsible for global warming
This disagreement reflects differing views on human versus natural contributions to climate change.
What is a central question to both passages?
To what extent can global warming be attributed to human activity?
This question encapsulates the primary debate surrounding climate change.
Fill in the blank: The IPCC report established that global warming can no longer be attributed solely to _______.
natural climate variability
This conclusion was based on the evidence of human activity contributing to atmospheric warming.
True or False: According to Passage A, the melting of polar ice caps is solely due to human activity.
False
Passage A acknowledges human activity as a contributor but does not claim it is the sole cause.
What is the contrapositive of the statement ‘If you have no keyboarding skills at all, you will not be able to use a computer’?
If you are able to use a computer, then you have keyboarding skills
The contrapositive is derived by negating both sides and reversing the premise and conclusion.
What is the central question regarding global warming attributed to human activity?
To what extent can global warming be attributed to human activity?
This question examines the role of human actions in the context of climate change.
What distinguishes the arguments made in passage A and passage B?
Passage A warns about the effects of certain recent phenomena, while passage B argues that some inferences based on those phenomena are unfounded.
This highlights the differing approaches of the two passages regarding evidence and conclusions.
Which consequence of global warming is mentioned in passage B but not in passage A?
An increase in the frequency of major flooding.
This indicates a specific impact of global warming that is not covered in the other passage.
Fill in the blank: Passage A draws conclusions that are not based on _______.
hard evidence
This suggests a critique of passage A’s methodology.
True or False: Passage A relies on evidence that dates back to the 1940s.
True
This indicates the historical context of the evidence used in the argument.
Which one of the following is a possible consequence of global warming mentioned in passage A?
An increase in the severity of heat waves.
This reflects the concerns raised by passage A regarding climate effects.
What is one of the questions central to both passages?
How has an increase in the burning of fossil fuels raised the earth’s temperature?
This question links the discussions in both passages to fossil fuel consumption.
Fill in the blank: Passage B confines itself to _______.
proven fact
This emphasizes the empirical approach taken in passage B.
What does passage B argue regarding inferences based on recent phenomena?
Some inferences based on those phenomena are unfounded.
This suggests skepticism about certain interpretations of recent data.
Which of the following is a potential consequence of global warming discussed in passage A?
A decrease in the amount of snowfall.
This illustrates the impacts of climate change as noted in passage A.
