MIT examples Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 04:35:06 -0400 (EDT) Hi Everyone, Here are the examples from our group. We based these examples on excerpts from the CNS CBW & WMD Terrorism News Archive, and we used PARC's proposed markup scheme to classify the examples. - Gary ---------- *---------* | MIT #1 | *---------* PREMISE: City workers pretended to be victims of the attack. CONCLUSION: The city workers were harmed by the attack. CLASSIFICATION: false, strict, lexical REMARKS: Pretending to be a victim implies not really being a victim. SOURCE: CBW0918.DOC (1998), #3 EXCERPT: Sirens shattered the calm of Philadelphia's Fairmount Park as hundreds of police, firefighters and federal troops rushed to the aid of city workers pretending to be victims of the attack. *---------* | MIT #2 | *---------* PREMISE: The Defense Department has awarded BioPort Corporation a contract to manufacture, test, bottle and store anthrax vaccine. CONCLUSION: The Defense Department wants BioPort Corporation to manufacture anthrax vaccine. CLASSIFICATION: true, strict, lexical REMARKS: Awarding a contract to do something implies a desire for the recipient to perform the specified task. SOURCE: CBW0928.DOC (1998), #1 EXCERPT: The Defense Department has awarded BioPort Corporation a contract to manufacture, test, bottle and store anthrax vaccine, the company has announced. *---------* | MIT #3 | *---------* PREMISE: Chemical weapon projectiles contain a blasting tube which can be seen in an X-ray. CONCLUSION: The blasting tube is not visible outside the projectile. CLASSIFICATION: true, plausible, extensive world REMARKS: X-rays are usually used to peer inside opaque objects. Projectiles are typically opaque. SOURCE: CBW1016.DOC (1998), #1 EXCERPT: Chemical weapon projectiles contain a distinctive blasting tube down their centers, which can be seen in an X-ray. *---------* | MIT #4 | *---------* PREMISE: The incident at Mayak was the third shooting in recent weeks involving nuclear weapons or facilities in Russia. CONCLUSION: The incident at Mayak involved nuclear weapons or facilities. CLASSIFICATION: true, strict, lexical REMARKS: Must associate "involving..." with "shooting" and not with "weeks". SOURCE: CBW1021.DOC (1998), #2 EXCERPT: The incident at Mayak was the third shooting in recent weeks involving nuclear weapons or facilities in Russia. *---------* | MIT #5 | *---------* PREMISE: Utah's Dugway Proving Ground has been chosen as a site to test military vaccines against germ warfare agents. CONCLUSION: The U.S. military chose the Dugway Proving Ground as a site to test vaccines. CLASSIFICATION: true, plausible, extensive world REMARKS: Dugway Proving Ground is a U.S. military site, and decisions regarding military sites are typically made by the U.S. military. SOURCE: cbw1211.doc (1998), #1 EXCERPT: Utah's Dugway Proving Ground has been chosen as a site to test military vaccines against germ warfare agents. *---------* | MIT #6 | *---------* PREMISE: The Russian Emergencies Ministry predicts a further increase in 1999 of the concentration of toxic agents in marine burials of chemical weapons. CONCLUSION: The concentration of toxic agents in marine burials of chemical weapons has increased prior to 1999. CLASSIFICATION: true, strict, lexical REMARKS: Prediction of a further increase presupposes a past increase. SOURCE: cbw1228.doc (1998), #2 EXCERPT: The Russian Emergencies Ministry predicts a further increase in 1999 of the concentration of toxic agents in marine burials of chemical weapons. *---------* | MIT #7 | *---------* PREMISE: The Army's chemical weapons incinerator has passed a milestone, the destruction of 5 million pounds of GB nerve agent. CONCLUSION: The Army's chemical weapons incinerator destroyed 5 million pounds of GB nerve agent. CLASSIFICATION: true, strict, lexical REMARKS: To pass a milestone implies being the agent of the activity. SOURCE: CBW010899.doc, #1 EXCERPT: The Army's chemical weapons incinerator has passed a milestone, the destruction of 5 million pounds of GB nerve agent. *---------* | MIT #8 | *---------* PREMISE: The military is training for the day a terrorist sets off not just a bomb, but a chemical or biological weapon that would spew out an invisible death. CONCLUSION: A terrorist will set off a chemical or biological weapon. CLASSIFICATION: unknown, strict, lexical REMARKS: "...the day..." and "would" signal a hypothetical situation. SOURCE: cbw012599.doc, #3 EXCERPT: The military is training for the day a terrorist sets off not just a bomb, but a chemical or biological weapon that would spew out an invisible death. *---------* | MIT #9 | *---------* PREMISE: Virginia is ill prepared for a large-scale terrorist attack using chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. CONCLUSION: Virginia is prepared for a small-scale terrorist attack using chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. CLASSIFICATION: true, plausible, lexical REMARKS: Inclusion of "large-scale" in the premise suggests that the statement would not hold with that term omitted or negated. SOURCE: cbw030899.doc, #1A EXCERPT: Virginia is ill prepared for a large-scale terrorist attack using chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, state officials say. *---------* | MIT #10 | *---------* PREMISE: Unlike nuclear or chemical weapons, biological weapons can be made with readily available materials or equipment. CONCLUSION: Nuclear weapons cannot be made with readily available materials or equipment. CLASSIFICATION: true, strict, lexical REMARKS: Note that both instances of "or" in the premise could be replaced by "and" with no apparent change in meaning. SOURCE: cbw031099.doc, #3 EXCERPT: Unlike nuclear or chemical weapons, biological weapons can be made with readily available materials or equipment. *---------* | MIT #11 | *---------* PREMISE: Sudan says it's ready to sign the international convention banning chemical weapons. CONCLUSION: Sudan will not produce chemical weapons in the future. CLASSIFICATION: true, plausible, extensive world REMARKS: Signing the convention suggests that Sudan will not produce chemical weapons, but they might anyway. SOURCE: cbw052199.doc, #3 EXCERPT: Sudan says it's ready to sign the international convention banning chemical weapons. *---------* | MIT #12 | *---------* PREMISE: The Scud C has a range of 500 kilometers and is manufactured in Syria with know-how from North Korea. CONCLUSION: A Scud C can fly 500 kilometers. CLASSIFICATION: true, strict, world REMARKS: Must know that a Scud C is a missile, not a ground vehicle, for example, or a transmitter. SOURCE: cbw091599.doc, #6 EXCERPT: The Scud C has a range of 500 kilometers and is manufactured in Syria with know-how from North Korea. *---------* | MIT #13 | *---------* PREMISE: Some of the 14 alleged bin Laden associates arrested in Jordan in December have begun talking to investigators. CONCLUSION: An associate of bin Laden was arrested in the Middle East. CLASSIFICATION: true, plausible, extensive world REMARKS: Jordan is in the Middle East, and "alleged" suggests a likelihood of actually being a bin Laden associate. Also, talking to investigators suggests culpability. SOURCE: cbw020200.doc, #1B EXCERPT: Some of the 14 alleged bin Laden associates arrested in Jordan in December, for instance, have begun talking to investigators. *---------* | MIT #14 | *---------* PREMISE: The U.S. Senate on Thursday unanimously approved legislation designed to punish Russia and other countries if they help Iran develop weapons of mass destruction. CONCLUSION: Russia will help Iran develop weapons of mass destruction. CLASSIFICATION: unknown, strict, lexical REMARKS: "If" signals a hypothetical. SOURCE: cbw022500.DOC, #2 EXCERPT: The U.S. Senate on Thursday unanimously approved legislation designed to punish Russia and other countries if they help Iran develop weapons of mass destruction. *---------* | MIT #15 | *---------* PREMISE: To date, Congress has authorized more than $4.7 billion for U.S. programs aimed at helping Russia and other newly independent states reduce the threats posed by their weapons of mass destruction. CONCLUSION: The U.S. wants to reduce the threat posed by Russia's weapons of mass destruction. CLASSIFICATION: true, strict, lexical REMARKS: Authorizing money to help some entity undertake a task implies a desire for the task to be carried out. SOURCE: cbw031300.DOC, #1 EXCERPT: To date, Congress has authorized more than $4.7 billion for U.S. programs aimed at helping Russia and other newly independent states reduce the threats posed by their weapons of mass destruction. *---------* | MIT #16 | *---------* PREMISE: A father and a son were admitted to hospital with strychnine poisoning after consuming Herron products. CONCLUSION: The Herron products contained poison. CLASSIFICATION: true, plausible, lexical REMARKS: Relies on formation of a commonsense explanation involving the ingesting of a poison. SOURCE: cbw031700.DOC, #4 EXCERPT: A father and a son were admitted to hospital with strychnine poisoning after consuming Herron products. *---------* | MIT #17 | *---------* PREMISE: About 400 of the more than 2,600 village residents were hospitalized in July and August. CONCLUSION: Some of the village residents were not hospitalized in July and August. CLASSIFICATION: true, strict, lexical REMARKS: - SOURCE: cbw092900.doc, #2 EXCERPT: About 400 of the more than 2,600 village residents were hospitalized in July and August. *---------* | MIT #18 | *---------* PREMISE: The only bacterial attack in America came in 1984, when a cult poisoned a salad bar in Oregon with salmonella, sickening 700 people. CONCLUSION: No biological attacks have occurred in the U.S. CLASSIFICATION: false, strict, lexical REMARKS: Must know that a bacterial attack is a biological attack. SOURCE: cbw102700.doc, #2B EXCERPT: The only bacterial attack in America came in 1984, when a cult poisoned a salad bar in Oregon with salmonella, sickening 700 people. *---------* | MIT #19 | *---------* PREMISE: The new weapons inspection team is composed of scientists from around the world, including South America, Thailand, Bangladesh and Eastern Europe. CONCLUSION: Scientists from Hungary are members of the new weapons inspection team. CLASSIFICATION: unknown, strict, world REMARKS: The Eastern European scientists would not necessarily be from Hungary. Also, Thailand is not a part of Hungary, etc. SOURCE: cbw012201.doc, #1B EXCERPT: Blix said the new weapons inspection team is composed of scientists from around the world, including South America, Thailand, Bangladesh and Eastern Europe. *---------* | MIT #20 | *---------* PREMISE: Biological select agents include about 40 viruses, bacteria, rickettsia, fungi, and toxins whose transfer within the United States is controlled. CONCLUSION: The transfer of biological select agents within the United States is controlled. CLASSIFICATION: unknown, strict, lexical REMARKS: "Include" is ambiguous: it could mean that these are the only biological select agents, or it could mean that these are just some of the biological select agents. SOURCE: cbw021201.DOC, #2B EXCERPT: Biological select agents include about 40 viruses, bacteria, rickettsia, fungi, and toxins whose transfer within the United States is controlled. *---------* | MIT #21 | *---------* PREMISE: During his trip to five Arab capitals and Israel, which ended last Monday, Powell proposed easing sanctions on Iraqi imports. CONCLUSION: Powell visited Israel. CLASSIFICATION: true, strict, lexical REMARKS: - SOURCE: cbw030501.DOC, #1B EXCERPT: During his trip to five Arab capitals and Israel, which ended last Monday, Powell proposed easing sanctions on Iraqi imports of consumer goods to win Arab backing for tighter sanctions on oil exports and weapons imports. *---------* | MIT #22 | *---------* PREMISE: The Chemlab, for instance, is about the size of a Palm Pilot and will be able to detect a range of biological agents. CONCLUSION: The Chemlab is a handheld device. CLASSIFICATION: true, plausible, world REMARKS: Comparing the Chemlab to a well-known handheld device suggests that it may also be a handheld device. SOURCE: cbw050701.DOC, #4 EXCERPT: The Chemlab, for instance, is about the size of a Palm Pilot and will be able to detect a range of biological agents. *---------* | MIT #23 | *---------* PREMISE: Russia could suspend the destruction of its stockpile of chemical weapons if foreign aid is not increased. CONCLUSION: Russia has a stockpile of chemical weapons. CLASSIFICATION: true, strict, lexical REMARKS: - SOURCE: cbw051101.DOC, #2 EXCERPT: Russia could suspend the destruction of its stockpile of chemical weapons if foreign aid is not increased, a senior official and negotiator was quoted as saying by the AVN Military News agency. *---------* | MIT #24 | *---------* PREMISE: BioPort Corp. of Lansing, Michigan is the sole U.S. manufacturer of an anthrax vaccine. CONCLUSION: There are three U.S. manufacturers of anthrax vaccine. CLASSIFICATION: false, strict, lexical REMARKS: - SOURCE: cbw092601.doc, #1E EXCERPT: The sole U.S. manufacturer of an anthrax vaccine, BioPort Corp. of Lansing, Michigan, will file final papers in October to win Food and Drug Administration approval for its newly renovated plant so it can meet Pentagon demand. *---------* | MIT #25 | *---------* PREMISE: Two Al Qaeda computers have been found in Kabul. CONCLUSION: The computers belonged to Al Qaeda. CLASSIFICATION: true, plausible, world REMARKS: Two Dell computers would most likely have been manufactured by Dell. Al Qaeda is not a computer manufacturer, but could have owned the computers. SOURCE: cbw010202.doc, #1 EXCERPT: Two Al Qaeda computers containing hundreds of documents and files, including plans to launch a chemical and biological weapons program, have been found in Kabul, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday. *---------* | MIT #26 | *---------* PREMISE: The White House has ordered a purge of information from government agency websites that could be exploited by terrorists seeking weapons of mass destruction. CONCLUSION: Government agency websites contain information that could be exploited by terrorists. CLASSIFICATION: true, plausible, lexical REMARKS: A purge suggests the existence of items to be purged. SOURCE: cbw032202.doc, #1 EXCERPT: The White House has ordered a purge of information from government agency websites that could be exploited by terrorists seeking weapons of mass destruction. *---------* | MIT #27 | *---------* PREMISE: Agriculture accounts for 22 million jobs and 16.4 percent of the nation's gross domestic product. CONCLUSION: 22 million people are employed in agriculture. CLASSIFICATION: true, strict, lexical REMARKS: - SOURCE: cbw032702.doc, #1B EXCERPT: He noted that agriculture accounts for 22 million jobs and 16.4 percent of the nation's gross domestic product. *---------* | MIT #28 | *---------* PREMISE: The Pentagon is considering a resumption of anthrax vaccinations for U.S. troops. CONCLUSION: Anthrax vaccinations of U.S. troops occurred previously. CLASSIFICATION: true, strict, lexical REMARKS: - SOURCE: cbw040302.doc, #4A EXCERPT: The Pentagon is considering a resumption of anthrax vaccinations for U.S. troops, now that the nation's sole maker of the vaccine has been cleared to resume production. *---------* | MIT #29 | *---------* PREMISE: Libya said on Wednesday it is not developing chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, denying allegations made by a US official. CONCLUSION: A U.S. official claimed Libya is developing chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. CLASSIFICATION: true, strict, lexical REMARKS: - SOURCE: cbw050802.doc, #1B EXCERPT: Libya said on Wednesday it is not developing chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, denying allegations made by a US official. *---------* | MIT #30 | *---------* PREMISE: Al Wafa is one of the organisations whose assets have been frozen in the United States amid suspicions that it might be giving support to Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network. CONCLUSION: Al Wafa has given support to al-Qaeda. CLASSIFICATION: true, plausible, extensive world REMARKS: U.S. freezing of Al Wafa's assets lends credence to the claim that they supported al-Qaeda. SOURCE: cbw082602.doc, #2 EXCERPT: Al Wafa is one of the organisations whose assets have been frozen in the United States amid suspicions that it might be giving support to Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.