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68.
Determine whether the following claim is too vague in the context that is stated or implied:
One father, speaking to another: "I read recently that young children who are required to
do chores around the house tend to grow up to be happier, more secure adults than
children who have everything done for them."
While this remark is not too vague for a casual conversation, the listener should be very
careful not to take it as advice. It does not lend itself to implementation unless much more
detail were to be spelled out, never mind confirmation of the general claim itself.
69.
Determine whether the following claim is too vague in the context that is stated or implied:
Renaissance music simply lulls me to sleep.
Precise enough. The remark is not designed to describe the music, just the speaker’s
reaction to it.
70.
Determine whether the following claim is too vague in the context that is stated or implied:
From a gardening book: "Horse manure is many times more beneficial to your garden than
that from cows."
Sufficiently precise to count as good advice.
71.
Determine whether the following claim is too vague in the context that is stated or implied:
It seems clear that within the next ten years they’ll have produced a machine that can
really think.
Too vague in any context.
72.
Determine whether the following claim is too vague in the context that is stated or implied:
From a rebate offer sticker for Johnson’s vinegar: "Mail this form, along with a proof of
purchase from a one-quart bottle of Johnson’s Vinegar, to the address below. You’ll
receive your $1.00 rebate check in about four weeks."
"Proof of purchase" is too vague (given that there’s nothing identified as such on the
bottle). A label might be considered proof of purchase by some people, though others
would claim that at best it shows possession, not purchase.
73.
Determine whether the following claim is too vague in the context that is stated or implied:
Advertisement: "If your house is properly insulated, the Agwar console humidifier should
enhance your comfort when the weather turns cold."
Too vague to help determine whether to purchase a humidifier or whether to purchase this
brand. The vagueness does help protect the manufacturer from charges of false
advertising, however.
74.
Determine whether the following claim is too vague in the context that is stated or implied:
Overheard at a wine-tasting: "This Chablis is just a bit too ambitious for my taste."
Too vague, unless "ambition" is an addition to the enologist’s vocabulary that the authors
have not heard about.
75.
Determine whether the following claim is too vague in the context that is stated or implied:
Take two of these pills three times daily before meals.
The meaning of "before meals" is standard enough for us to say that this claim is precise.
76.
Determine whether the following claim is too vague in the context that is stated or implied:
The president has determined that tax reform will be his first priority during his second
term in office.
Vague enough that we wouldn’t make any predictions about taxes based on it.
77.
Determine whether the following claim is too vague in the context that is stated or implied:
Watch out for the boss; he’s grumpy today.
Precise enough to do the job.
78.
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the following
claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
"Now, how would you like your hair cut, Madam?"
"Oh, just make it a little shorter."
Too vague.
79.
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the following
claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
"In Los Angeles, a ‘humor wagon’ makes weekly visits to hospitals to entertain children
with cancer."
—UPI article
Ambiguous.
80.
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the following
claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
According to the USDA guidelines, you should eat "two to three servings of vegetables
each day."
81.
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the following
claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
Doctor: The arrhythmia you are experiencing indicates that you should lay off jogging for a
while.
Too vague. How long is "a while?"
82.
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the following
claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
"Your satisfaction is guaranteed with our two-year limited guarantee."
"Limited?" Too vague.
83.
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the following
claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
‘PRIESTESS’ WAS HOOKER TO JURY
—AP headline
Ambiguous.
84.
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the following
claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
DEATH HAMPERS BREEDING
—
Enterprise Record
(Chico, Calif.)
Yup—it would do that. Ambiguous.
85.
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the following
claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
FROZEN EMBRYOS RULED CHILDREN
—
Daily News-Record
(Harrisonburg, Va.)
Ambiguous.
86.
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the following
claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
The snacks are delicious. But remember to wash the spoons before you eat them.
Ambiguous.
87.
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the following
claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
Why You Want Sex Changes as You Age
—American Health/Psychology Today
Ambiguous.
88.
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the following
claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
The girls played with the boys.
Ambiguous.
89.
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the following
claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
POLICE NAB STUDENTS WITH PAIR OF PLIERS
—
Journal and Courier
(Lafayette, Ind.)
Ambiguous.
90.
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the following
claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
There will be over one hundred consolation prizes worth over $10,000.
Ambiguous.
91.
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the following
claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
"Men burn off 438 calories per hour gardening."
—
Breakthroughs
Gardening? Vague.
92.
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the following
claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
The instructions for a set of exercises: "Determine whether these claims are too vague
given the contexts that are stated or implied."
93.
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the following
claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
"... and my house is on the right-hand side of the street."
Ambiguous, unless the rest of the directions make it clear which way you are traveling.
94.
Considering the context in which it was most likely uttered, would you say the following
claim is ambiguous, too vague, or neither?
The comet is visible in our area one hour before dawn.
Nothing wrong here in normal circumstances.
95.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "planet." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source of the
trouble.
Our suggestion: Mars.
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96.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "dictator." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source of the
trouble.
Our suggestion: Hitler.
97.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "tall item." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source of the
trouble.
Our suggestion: the former World Trade Center.
98.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "abstraction." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source of the
trouble.
Our suggestion: the square root of 2.
99.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "genius." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source of the
trouble.
Our suggestion: Albert Einstein.
100.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "World Series winner." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source
of the trouble.
Our suggestion: New York Yankees.
101.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "thing." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source of the trouble.
Our suggestion: Any object you point to and name. But notice that no matter what you
point to, it will not be clear to an observer what qualifies that object as a thing. This word
is much too general (that is, vague) to be easily defined by example.
102.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "expensive gift." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source of the
trouble.
Our suggestion: a Rolls-Royce.
103.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "unicorn." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source of the
trouble.
Can’t do it; a drawing of a unicorn is only an example of a
drawing
of a unicorn (perhaps
giving the proper name of a mythical unicorn from a story would work, e.g. Pegasus would
be an example of a winged horse).
104.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "charity." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source of the
trouble.
Our suggestion: the Red Cross. As an abstract noun (as in "Charity begins at home"), this
word is more difficult to define by example. You must point to an act or describe an
instance of generosity, sacrifice, and so on, i.e., "the time that…" then fill in the blank. For
example, the time that little Suzie broke her only cookie to give her cookie-less friend half
- now that’s charity!
105.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "ambiguous claim." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source of
the trouble.
Our suggestion: "He wiped his moustache off."
106.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "education." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source of the
trouble.
We think this word is too vague to be defined by example.
107.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "immoral act." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source of the
trouble.
Our suggestion: torturing puppies just for amusement.
108.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "toothache." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source of the
trouble.
We don’t think you can get much closer than indicating someone who’s having a
toothache, although even then it won’t be clear that it is the toothache and not the
person’s behavior you are exemplifying. Like other sensations, pains are not the sorts of
things we can point to, although we can point to the places where we’re
having
them.
109.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "the color red." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source of the
trouble.
This is more difficult than it appears. A drop of blood is an example of a red thing, but is it
an example of
the color red
, i.e. can the
property
of redness be distinguished from the
thing
that instantiates that property?
110.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "classification system." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the
source of the trouble.
Our suggestion: class rankings of seniors, juniors, and so on.
111.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "industrial hazard." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source of
the trouble.
Our suggestion: sulfur dioxide.
112.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "reasoning." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source of the
trouble.
Our suggestion: a proof in geometry.
113.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "concept." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source of the
trouble.
Our suggestion: number. What we said about "thing" goes for this one, too.
114.
Using a name or description of an item that you can’t point to, provide a definition by
example for "problem." If you have difficulty doing so, try to identify the source of the
trouble.
Our suggestion: this very item.
115.
For "conservative (noun)," provide an analytical definition that is flattering.
Our suggestion: a person whose political views are guided by the wisdom embodied in
traditional institutions.
3-36
116.
For "politician," provide an analytical definition that is flattering.
Our suggestion: one dedicated to public benefit through governmental service.
117.
For "feminist," provide an analytical definition that is flattering.
Our suggestion: a person devoted to the cause of righting the wrongs of economic and
political inequality and social injustice for women.
118.
For "liberal (noun)," provide an analytical definition that is flattering.
Our suggestion: a person whose political philosophy is guided by ideas of democracy,
reform, and progress.
119.
For "educator," provide an analytical definition that is flattering.
Our suggestion: one who preserves and transmits knowledge and culture to succeeding
generations.
3-37
120.
For "liberal (noun)," provide an analytical definition that is
un
flattering.
Our suggestion: a politician who can’t keep out of your wallet.
121.
For "conservative (noun)," provide an analytical definition that is
un
flattering.
Our suggestion: a politician who dictates to others what they can do in their bedrooms.
122.
For "playboy," provide an analytical definition that is
un
flattering.
Our suggestion: a man who treats women as though they were merely objects for his
amusement rather than real people.
123.
For "hunter," provide an analytical definition that is
un
flattering.
Our suggestion: a person who murders animals.
124.
For "teenager," provide an analytical definition that is
un
flattering.
Our suggestion: an ignorant youth between thirteen and twenty, known for poor judgment,
bad manners, and a short attention span.
125.
For "educators," provide an analytical definition that is
un
flattering.
Our suggestion: people who teach a subject because they can’t make a living actually
doing it.
126.
For "physicians," provide an analytical definition that is
un
flattering.
Our suggestion: people who prescribe medicines of which they know little, to cure
diseases of which they know less, in human beings of whom they know nothing (attributed
to Voltaire).
127.
Define "dog (noun)" by synonyms, using one synonym that carries a complimentary
meaning and one that carries a derogatory emotive meaning.
Our suggestions:
pooch; mutt.
3-39
128.
Define "attorney" by synonyms, using one synonym that carries a complimentary meaning
and one that carries a derogatory emotive meaning.
Our suggestions:
counsel; mouthpiece.
129.
Define "thin person" by synonyms, using one synonym that carries a complimentary
meaning and one that carries a derogatory emotive meaning.
Our suggestions:
slender person; skinny person.
130.
Define "thrifty" by synonyms, using one synonym that carries a complimentary meaning
and one that carries a derogatory emotive meaning.
Our suggestions:
frugal; stingy.
131.
Define "farmer" by synonyms, using one synonym that carries a complimentary meaning
and one that carries a derogatory emotive meaning.
Our suggestions:
agriculturalist; hick.
3-40
132.
Define "proud" by synonyms, using one synonym that carries a complimentary meaning
and one that carries a derogatory emotive meaning.
Our suggestions:
a person with high self-esteem; haughty.
133.
Define "display (verb)" by synonyms, using one synonym that carries a complimentary
meaning and one that carries a derogatory emotive meaning.
Our suggestions:
showcase; show off
.
134.
Define "government worker" by synonyms, using one synonym that carries a
complimentary meaning and one that carries a derogatory emotive meaning.
Our suggestions:
public servant; bureaucrat.
135.
Define "drinker" by synonyms, using one synonym that carries a complimentary meaning
and one that carries a derogatory emotive meaning.
Our suggestions:
imbiber; drunk.
