20. Anthropological1 studies indicate that distinct cultures differs in their moral codes. Thus, as long as there are distinct cultures there are no values shared across cultures
Each of the following, if true, would weaken the argument EXCEPT
Anthropologists rely on inadequate2 translation techniques to investigate the values of cultures that use languages different from the anthropologists languages.
As a result of advancing technology and global communication we will someday all share the same sulture and the same values
Although specific moral values differ across cultures, more general moral principles, such as Friendship is good are common to all cultures
The anthropologists who have studied various cultures have been biased3 in favor of finding differences rather than similarities between distinct cultures
What appear to be differences in values between distinct cultures are nothing more than differences in beliefs about how to live in accordance with shared values.
21. Newspaper editor. Law enforcenment experts, as well as most citizens, have finally come to recognize that legal prohibitions5 against gambling6 all share a common flaw no matter how diligent7 the effort, the laws are impossible to enforce. Ethical8 qualms9 notwithstanding, when a law fails to be effective it should not be a law. That is why there should be no legal prohibition4 against gambling.
Which one of the following if assumed. allows the argument s conclusion to be properly drawn10?
No effective law is unenforceable
All enforceable laws are effective
No legal prohibitions against gambling are enforceable
Most citizens must agree with a law for the law to be effective
Most citizens must agree with a law for the law to be enforceable.
22. Copernicus s astronomical11 system is superior to Ptolemy s and was so at the time it was proposed, even though at that time all observational evidence was equally consistent with both theories. Ptolemy believed that the stars revolved12 around the earth at great speeds. This struck Copernicus as unlikely, he correctly thought that a simpler theory is that the earth rotates on its axis13.
The argument most closely conforms to which one of the following principles?
Simplicity14 should be the sole deciding factor in choosing among competing scientific theories
If one theory is likely to be true, and another competing theory is likely to be false, then the one likely to be true is the superior of the two.
If all observational evidence is consistent with two competing theories, the one that is more intuitively true is the more practical theory to adopt.
Other things being equal the more complex of two competing theories is the inferior theory
Other things being equal, the simpler of two competing theories is the more scientifically important theory.
23. Easayist The existence of a moral order in the universei.e..an order in which bad is always eventually punished and good rewardeddepends upon human souls being immortal15. In some cultures this moral order is regarded as the result of a karma that controls how one is reincarnated16, in others it results from the actions of a supreme17 being who metes18 out justice to people after their death. But however a moral order is represented if human souls are immortal then if follows that the bad will be punished
Which one of the following most accurately19 describes a flaw in the essayist s reasoning?
From the assertion that something is necessary to a moral order the argument concludes that that thing is sufficient for an element of the moral order to be realized
The argument takes mere beliefs to be established facts
From the claim that the immortality of human souls implies that there is a moral order in the universe the argument concludes that there being a moral order in the universe implies that human souls are immortal
The argument treats two fundamentally different conceptions of a moral order as essentially the same
The argument s conclusion is presupposed in the definition it gives of a moral order
Each of the following, if true, would weaken the argument EXCEPT
Anthropologists rely on inadequate2 translation techniques to investigate the values of cultures that use languages different from the anthropologists languages.
As a result of advancing technology and global communication we will someday all share the same sulture and the same values
Although specific moral values differ across cultures, more general moral principles, such as Friendship is good are common to all cultures
The anthropologists who have studied various cultures have been biased3 in favor of finding differences rather than similarities between distinct cultures
What appear to be differences in values between distinct cultures are nothing more than differences in beliefs about how to live in accordance with shared values.
21. Newspaper editor. Law enforcenment experts, as well as most citizens, have finally come to recognize that legal prohibitions5 against gambling6 all share a common flaw no matter how diligent7 the effort, the laws are impossible to enforce. Ethical8 qualms9 notwithstanding, when a law fails to be effective it should not be a law. That is why there should be no legal prohibition4 against gambling.
Which one of the following if assumed. allows the argument s conclusion to be properly drawn10?
No effective law is unenforceable
All enforceable laws are effective
No legal prohibitions against gambling are enforceable
Most citizens must agree with a law for the law to be effective
Most citizens must agree with a law for the law to be enforceable.
22. Copernicus s astronomical11 system is superior to Ptolemy s and was so at the time it was proposed, even though at that time all observational evidence was equally consistent with both theories. Ptolemy believed that the stars revolved12 around the earth at great speeds. This struck Copernicus as unlikely, he correctly thought that a simpler theory is that the earth rotates on its axis13.
The argument most closely conforms to which one of the following principles?
Simplicity14 should be the sole deciding factor in choosing among competing scientific theories
If one theory is likely to be true, and another competing theory is likely to be false, then the one likely to be true is the superior of the two.
If all observational evidence is consistent with two competing theories, the one that is more intuitively true is the more practical theory to adopt.
Other things being equal the more complex of two competing theories is the inferior theory
Other things being equal, the simpler of two competing theories is the more scientifically important theory.
23. Easayist The existence of a moral order in the universei.e..an order in which bad is always eventually punished and good rewardeddepends upon human souls being immortal15. In some cultures this moral order is regarded as the result of a karma that controls how one is reincarnated16, in others it results from the actions of a supreme17 being who metes18 out justice to people after their death. But however a moral order is represented if human souls are immortal then if follows that the bad will be punished
Which one of the following most accurately19 describes a flaw in the essayist s reasoning?
From the assertion that something is necessary to a moral order the argument concludes that that thing is sufficient for an element of the moral order to be realized
The argument takes mere beliefs to be established facts
From the claim that the immortality of human souls implies that there is a moral order in the universe the argument concludes that there being a moral order in the universe implies that human souls are immortal
The argument treats two fundamentally different conceptions of a moral order as essentially the same
The argument s conclusion is presupposed in the definition it gives of a moral order