S.B. – 29

Explanation of Common Sense Is Not Enough
11/3/2017

A position which many people take is that they can work through their problems by so-called “common sense.” The following is intended to indicate the shortcomings of this claim.

A proverb is defined as “a statement of long standing familiar truth,” i.e. a statement that has been considered common sense for a long time.

29-1. “Look before you leap” is an example of a __________, or common sense.

Answer. (Proverb)

29-2. Which of the following means nearly the same thing as the proverb “Look before you leap?”
A. Leaping and looking are good for your health
B. Think before you do something.
C. If you think before you do something, you may lose out.
D. You should never stop and think before you do something.

Answer. (B)

29-3. Which of the following means nearly the same as the proverb “He/She who hesitates is lost?”
A. Think before you do something.
B. Hesitation is the staff of life.
C. Hesitation is good.
D. If you stop and think before acting, you may lose out.

Answer. (D)

29-4 What is the relationship between these two:
Proverb #1 “Look before you leap”
Proverb #2 “He/She who hesitates is lost.”
These two are
A. similar
B. opposite

Answer. (B)

This is a good example of the fact that many things which we accept as common sense have a direct opposite which we also call common sense.

29-5. Which of the following is the opposite of the proverb. “Out of sight, Out of Mind”?
A. “Never too old to learn”
B. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
C. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
D. “Clothes make the man/woman.”
E. “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.”
F. “Great oaks from little acorns grow.”
G. “Like father, like son; like mother, like daughter.”

Answer. (C)

29-6. What is the relation of A &a B in 29-5? __________

Answer. (opposite)

29-7. What is the relation of D & E in 29-5? __________

Answer. (opposite)