Which of the following categories is the best example of an ad hoc category?
A. Even numbers
B. People who are eligible to run for President of the United States
C. Things to take on a camping trip
D. Furniture
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is C. Things to take on a camping trip.
Explanation:
An ad hoc category is a category that is created for a specific purpose or situation. These categories are not based on inherent, long-lasting properties but are formed to meet a particular need or goal, typically in response to immediate circumstances. Ad hoc categories are flexible and tend to be temporary, often dissolving after the specific situation is resolved.
Let’s break down why “Things to take on a camping trip” is the best example of an ad hoc category:
- A. Even numbers: This is not an ad hoc category, as it is based on a clear, mathematical property of numbers (divisibility by 2). Even numbers are a permanent and fixed category that has existed for as long as numbers have been understood, and they serve as a consistent and universal concept.
- B. People who are eligible to run for President of the United States: This is a political category based on legal requirements and criteria that are fixed and unchanging. It is not created for a specific, temporary purpose but instead is part of a long-standing legal and political framework.
- C. Things to take on a camping trip: This category is created for a specific, temporary situation: preparing for a camping trip. The items in this category are context-dependent and are chosen based on the particular needs and goals of the trip. Once the trip is over, this category loses its relevance and becomes obsolete. Therefore, it fits the definition of an ad hoc category, created to serve a particular, immediate purpose.
- D. Furniture: This is a broad, permanent category that encompasses all kinds of furniture items. It’s not ad hoc because it is a general, enduring classification based on the functional purpose of objects used in homes, offices, and other spaces.
Ad hoc categories, like the one for camping trip items, are temporary, goal-driven, and flexible, making C the correct answer.
Here is an illustration that visualizes the idea of an ad hoc category—Things to Take on a Camping Trip. The items on the checklist are specific to the temporary situation of preparing for a camping trip, perfectly illustrating the concept of an ad hoc category.