Exam 3: Informal Fallacies

Nancy, I saw you in Smiley's Bar last night. Level with me. Are you still getting drunk on a regular basis?

For the past several years, every time that Ruben has suffered a bout of sneezing, he has come down with a cold. Therefore, to prevent colds in the future, Ruben must constantly suppress the urge to sneeze.

Tricia is coughing and sneezing, and her head is all stuffed up. Tricia must have a cold.

In which of the following statements is an attribute predicated distributively?

Ladies and gentlemen, the minds of our children are in jeopardy. Today a reckless band of heathen teachers is shoving Darwinism down our children's throats. This ridiculous theory holds that human beings, the children of God, developed from mere monkeys. It holds that blind accident accounts for all life. Down with this godless theory! Fire the heathen teachers! Return God to the classroom!

Amy, since you know something about algebra, you can probably help me out with this. What is the value of x in the equation x² + 3x = 22?

Valerie Norton's new novel is a real thriller. Therefore, every single chapter must be thrilling.

Marsha Taylor, the college president, argues that it's inappropriate to have condom-dispensing machines on campus. Apparently Taylor is completely anti sex. Just abolish sex altogether. That's what she wants. But without sex there would be no human race. And no animals either. Obviously Taylor's argument makes no sense whatsoever.

Children should be seen and not heard. Therefore, it was wrong for that drowning child to scream for help.

Umbrella repair has been a dependable job for most of the past 500 years. Therefore, it should be a dependable job for the next 500 years.

Ending one's own life is morally permissible because people are rightfully in charge of their own lives. And this is so because people have the freedom to determine their own destiny. And this follows from the fact that people have the moral right to decide whether they live or die. And this is true because ending one's own life is morally permissible.

No fish are mammals. Therefore, no mammals are fish.

Gold Medallion wine is the finest wine in the United States. This is true because it's preferred by more people of discriminating taste. Furthermore, we know that it's preferred by more people of discriminating taste because it's the finest wine in the United States.

Whoever fires a gun at another person should be arrested. But those cowboys on the movie set are firing their guns at each other. Thus, those cowboys should be arrested.

Either you buy me a new Rolls Royce or I'll have to walk to work in the snow. And I'm sure you don't want me to do that.

Either Kansas or Ohio is situated on the Mississippi River. But Ohio is not on the Mississippi. Therefore, it must be Kansas.

Dr. David Sherman of the National Skin Cancer Society reports that tanning salons pose a serious risk for skin cancer. Therefore, we should consider legislation to regulate the tanning industry.

People have the right to use their own property as they choose. Therefore, since Julian is the sole owner of this plot of land, he can use it as a site for a hydrogen bomb factory.

The Bible is unquestionably true because deep in my heart I feel that it is.

Clearly the moral standards of our youth have decayed. Two doctors at Central Hospital appeared recently on a talk show, and both were convinced that the youth of today have no morals at all.