Premise and Conclusion Recognition Mini-Drill

Each of the following problems contains a short argument. For each argument,
identify the conclusion and the premise(s). Answers on the next page.
1. “Given that the price of steel is rising, we will no longer be able to
offer discounts on our car parts.”
2. “The political situation in Somalia is unstable owing to the ability of
individual warlords to maintain powerful armed forces.”
3. “Since we need to have many different interests to sustain us, the
scientists’ belief must be incorrect.”
4. “So, as indicated by the newly released data, we should push forward
with our efforts to recolonize the forest with snowy tree crickets.”
5. “Television has a harmful effect on society. This can be seen from the
poor school performance of children who watch significant amounts of
television and from the fact that children who watch more than six
hours of television a day tend to read less than non-television watching
children.”
6. “The rapid diminishment of the ecosystem of the Amazon threatens the
entire planet. Consequently, we must take immediate steps to convince
the Brazilian government that planned development projects need to be
curtailed for the simple reason that these development projects will
greatly accelerate the loss of currently protected land.”