Exam 3: Informal Fallacies

The idea that fast food is unhealthy is a lot of hooey. Why, 90% of America eats fast food.

Surely little Jimmy isn't responsible for burning down the school. A year ago, Jimmy's dad, whom Jimmy loved dearly, was killed in an accident, and ever since that time Jimmy has collected aluminum cans and mowed lawns to help his poor mother raise his six brothers and sisters.

It's not possible that Jessica prepared this delicious meal all by herself. Jessica is too stupid to read a cookbook, she can't measure anything, she has absolutely no sense of taste, and she doesn't even know how to boil water.

The last three times I invested money in the stock market, stock prices declined. Therefore, to prevent further declines, I must stop investing any more money.

Stacy is a terrible poker player. But every poker player is a person. Therefore, Stacy is a terrible person.

This .75 liter bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey is 40% alcohol. Therefore, every one-ounce shot of it is 40% alcohol.

If TV programs become more inane, then viewers will be bored even further. Viewers will be bored even further. Therefore, TV programs will become even more inane.

Congressman Baxter, I know you will want to support our application to clear-cut the old growth timber in the Great Northern forest. After all, surely you don't want the media to find out about that affair you've been having with a certain Capitol Hill intern.

Attorney Jane Welch has over 20 suits. Therefore, her wardrobe must be rather substantial.

A few days after Margi joined the Democratic Party she broke her foot and lost her job. Therefore, it's important that you never join up with the Democrats.

The U.S. has a right to eradicate dictatorships wherever it finds them. Dictators crush the right of self-governance given by God to all of his children. Dictators suppress liberty and freedom. They sacrifice the lives of their people to satisfy their own corrupt aims and desires. Dictators are vile monsters! They embody the power of Satan wherever they dwell. Down with dictatorships everywhere!

This custard pudding is sweet. Therefore, every spoonful of this custard pudding is sweet.

The FBI and the CIA failed to prevent the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Therefore, these government agencies should be abolished immediately.

Each word in Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" is very ordinary. Therefore, the "Gettysburg Address" must be a very ordinary speech.

Sheri argues in favor of reducing the Defense Department budget. It appears what Sheri wants is no Defense Department at all. But without a Defense Department, we would have no army, navy, or air force, and any foreign nation could invade our country at will. Clearly we can't allow this. Thus, Sheri's argument is crazy.

This one-liter glass vial contains a 3 percent solution of sulfuric acid. Therefore, every cubic centimeter of its contents is a 3 percent solution of sulfuric acid.

Anyone who fails a drivers test is allowed to retake it. But a calculus test is no less of a test than a drivers test. Therefore, anyone who fails a calculus test should be allowed to retake it.

Karen argues that it's not right to post the photographs of convicted child molesters on the Internet. Obviously Karen supports child molestation. But these monsters have completely ruined the lives of thousands of children. They can't be allowed to wreak their havoc any longer. Clearly, Karen's argument is misguided.

There is no possibility that Jenny could have knitted this beautiful scarf. Jenny can hardly count to 10, she has the dexterity of a bull moose, and she has absolutely no sense for style or color.

The Contract Clause of the Constitution gives everyone the right to enter into contracts. Therefore, it should be legal to hire a hit man to bump off that guy who's been pestering you.