Question 1

Astronomers study stars. Nicole Kidman is a star. Therefore, astronomers study Nicole Kidman.

Accepted Answer

A)  Begging the question. 
B)  Equivocation. 
C)  Amphiboly. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  Composition. 
A)  Begging the question. 
B)  Equivocation. 
C)  Amphiboly. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  Composition.

Question 2

My goodness, Jackie, I haven't seen you since high school. Tell me, are you still as vain as you used to be?

Accepted Answer

A)  Begging the question. 
B)  Red herring. 
C)  Appeal to pity. 
D)  Complex question. 
E)  No fallacy. 
A)  Begging the question. 
B)  Red herring. 
C)  Appeal to pity. 
D)  Complex question. 
E)  No fallacy.

Question 3

Nobody has ever heard a monkey talk. Therefore, probably monkeys don't talk.

Accepted Answer

A)  Appeal to ignorance. 
B)  Division. 
C)  Hasty generalization. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  Appeal to the people. 
A)  Appeal to ignorance. 
B)  Division. 
C)  Hasty generalization. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  Appeal to the people.

Question 4

Which of the following is not mentioned in the text as leading to the commission of informal fallacies?

Accepted Answer

A)  A careless mental posture. 
B)  An emotional disposition favoring or opposing something. 
C)  A failure to distinguish appearance from reality. 
D)  Presuppositions in the arguer's worldview. 
E)  The intentions of the arguer. 
A)  A careless mental posture. 
B)  An emotional disposition favoring or opposing something. 
C)  A failure to distinguish appearance from reality. 
D)  Presuppositions in the arguer's worldview. 
E)  The intentions of the arguer.

Question 5

The sign on the restaurant wall says "No Smoking Rules Enforced." Therefore, we can probably smoke, since the smoking rules aren't enforced.

Accepted Answer

A)  Missing the point. 
B)  Appeal to ignorance. 
C)  Amphiboly. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  Equivocation. 
A)  Missing the point. 
B)  Appeal to ignorance. 
C)  Amphiboly. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  Equivocation.

Question 6

Some individuals with political aspirations are incompetent bozos. Therefore, some incompetent bozos are individuals with political aspirations.

Accepted Answer

A)  Amphiboly. 
B)  Weak analogy. 
C)  Begging the question. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  Argument against the person, abusive. 
A)  Amphiboly. 
B)  Weak analogy. 
C)  Begging the question. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  Argument against the person, abusive.

Question 7

We don't dare allow the public school teachers to have another week of summer vacation. If we do, then the police will want the same thing. Then it will be the firemen, park rangers, highway patrol, social service workers, highway personnel, and motor vehicle workers. In the end, everyone will be working less for the same amount of money.

Accepted Answer

A)  Slippery slope. 
B)  No fallacy. 
C)  Argument against the person, abusive. 
D)  Weak analogy. 
E)  Red herring. 
A)  Slippery slope. 
B)  No fallacy. 
C)  Argument against the person, abusive. 
D)  Weak analogy. 
E)  Red herring.

Question 8

You had better believe in God, because if you don't, then you'll suffer the torment of eternal damnation.

Accepted Answer

A)  Appeal to force. 
B)  Missing the point. 
C)  Appeal to pity. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  Argument against the person, circumstantial. 
A)  Appeal to force. 
B)  Missing the point. 
C)  Appeal to pity. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  Argument against the person, circumstantial.

Question 9

Bertha argues that vitamins and special food supplements are a waste of money. But only yesterday Bertha was seen in a health food store, and her friends report that she takes vitamins every day. Obviously Bertha's argument is crazy.

Accepted Answer

A)  Tu quoque (you, too). 
B)  No fallacy. 
C)  Argument against the person, abusive. 
D)  Appeal to unqualified authority. 
E)  Weak analogy. 
A)  Tu quoque (you, too). 
B)  No fallacy. 
C)  Argument against the person, abusive. 
D)  Appeal to unqualified authority. 
E)  Weak analogy.

Question 10

Every component in this table is made of wood. Therefore, the entire table is made of wood.

Accepted Answer

A)  Composition. 
B)  Weak analogy. 
C)  No fallacy. 
D)  False dichotomy. 
E)  Suppressed evidence. 
A)  Composition. 
B)  Weak analogy. 
C)  No fallacy. 
D)  False dichotomy. 
E)  Suppressed evidence.

Question 11

Dorothy has blue eyes and blond hair. Therefore, probably her identical twin sister Theodora has blue eyes and blond hair.

Accepted Answer

A)  Argument against the person, circumstantial. 
B)  Weak analogy. 
C)  Amphiboly. 
D)  False cause. 
E)  No fallacy. 
A)  Argument against the person, circumstantial. 
B)  Weak analogy. 
C)  Amphiboly. 
D)  False cause. 
E)  No fallacy.

Question 12

Mr. Jones, surely you will find me qualified for the open position in your accounting department. I provide the sole support for my aged mother, who is crippled with arthritis, and if I don't get a job soon I know I'll have a nervous breakdown.

Accepted Answer

A)  Appeal to ignorance. 
B)  Missing the point. 
C)  Appeal to pity. 
D)  Appeal to ignorance.. 
E)  No fallacy. 
A)  Appeal to ignorance. 
B)  Missing the point. 
C)  Appeal to pity. 
D)  Appeal to ignorance.. 
E)  No fallacy.

Question 13

Whoever is vain is hardhearted because if they weren't hardhearted they wouldn't be vain.

Accepted Answer

A)  No fallacy. 
B)  False cause. 
C)  Appeal to unqualified authority. 
D)  Missing the point. 
E)  Begging the question. 
A)  No fallacy. 
B)  False cause. 
C)  Appeal to unqualified authority. 
D)  Missing the point. 
E)  Begging the question.

Question 14

In a random poll of 400 students from Belview College, 83 percent said that they own a smartphone. Therefore, probably most Belview students own a smartphone.

Accepted Answer

A)  Weak analogy. 
B)  False cause. 
C)  Composition. 
D)  Hasty generalization. 
E)  No fallacy. 
A)  Weak analogy. 
B)  False cause. 
C)  Composition. 
D)  Hasty generalization. 
E)  No fallacy.

Question 15

Every member of the drill team marches very well. Therefore, the drill team marches very well.

Accepted Answer

A)  Composition. 
B)  False cause. 
C)  Hasty generalization. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  Division. 
A)  Composition. 
B)  False cause. 
C)  Hasty generalization. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  Division.

Question 16

Every squirrel that has ever been observed likes nuts. Therefore, probably every squirrel likes nuts.

Accepted Answer

A)  False cause. 
B)  No fallacy. 
C)  Composition. 
D)  Hasty generalization. 
E)  Weak analogy. 
A)  False cause. 
B)  No fallacy. 
C)  Composition. 
D)  Hasty generalization. 
E)  Weak analogy.

Question 17

Every member of the Viking Society was born in Norway. Therefore, the Viking Society was born in Norway.

Accepted Answer

A)  No fallacy. 
B)  Complex question. 
C)  Composition. 
D)  Hasty generalization. 
E)  Division. 
A)  No fallacy. 
B)  Complex question. 
C)  Composition. 
D)  Hasty generalization. 
E)  Division.

Question 18

My friend Connie used a green Bic pen to solve the problems on her last algebra test, and after the test was graded she got an A. So if you want to get an A in algebra, you should work all the test problems with a green Bic pen.

Accepted Answer

A)  Begging the question. 
B)  Appeal to pity. 
C)  Argument against the person, abusive. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  False cause. 
A)  Begging the question. 
B)  Appeal to pity. 
C)  Argument against the person, abusive. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  False cause.

Question 19

Professor Carroll, of course you agree that all of us deserve an excellent grade in this class. Because if you don't, you'll get rotten evaluations at the end of the semester, and as a result, you may be denied tenure.

Accepted Answer

A)  Complex question. 
B)  Division. 
C)  Appeal to pity. 
D)  Appeal to force. 
E)  No fallacy. 
A)  Complex question. 
B)  Division. 
C)  Appeal to pity. 
D)  Appeal to force. 
E)  No fallacy.

Question 20

Stem cell research is immoral because anything that involves killing innocent human beings is immoral.

Accepted Answer

A)  Appeal to ignorance. 
B)  Begging the question. 
C)  Red herring. 
D)  Appeal to the people. 
E)  No fallacy. 
A)  Appeal to ignorance. 
B)  Begging the question. 
C)  Red herring. 
D)  Appeal to the people. 
E)  No fallacy.

Astronomers study stars. Nicole Kidman is a star. Therefore, astronomers study Nicole Kidman.

My goodness, Jackie, I haven't seen you since high school. Tell me, are you still as vain as you used to be?

Nobody has ever heard a monkey talk. Therefore, probably monkeys don't talk.

Which of the following is not mentioned in the text as leading to the commission of informal fallacies?

The sign on the restaurant wall says "No Smoking Rules Enforced." Therefore, we can probably smoke, since the smoking rules aren't enforced.

Some individuals with political aspirations are incompetent bozos. Therefore, some incompetent bozos are individuals with political aspirations.

You had better believe in God, because if you don't, then you'll suffer the torment of eternal damnation.

Bertha argues that vitamins and special food supplements are a waste of money. But only yesterday Bertha was seen in a health food store, and her friends report that she takes vitamins every day. Obviously Bertha's argument is crazy.

Every component in this table is made of wood. Therefore, the entire table is made of wood.

Dorothy has blue eyes and blond hair. Therefore, probably her identical twin sister Theodora has blue eyes and blond hair.

Mr. Jones, surely you will find me qualified for the open position in your accounting department. I provide the sole support for my aged mother, who is crippled with arthritis, and if I don't get a job soon I know I'll have a nervous breakdown.

Whoever is vain is hardhearted because if they weren't hardhearted they wouldn't be vain.

In a random poll of 400 students from Belview College, 83 percent said that they own a smartphone. Therefore, probably most Belview students own a smartphone.

Every member of the drill team marches very well. Therefore, the drill team marches very well.

Every squirrel that has ever been observed likes nuts. Therefore, probably every squirrel likes nuts.

Every member of the Viking Society was born in Norway. Therefore, the Viking Society was born in Norway.

My friend Connie used a green Bic pen to solve the problems on her last algebra test, and after the test was graded she got an A. So if you want to get an A in algebra, you should work all the test problems with a green Bic pen.

Professor Carroll, of course you agree that all of us deserve an excellent grade in this class. Because if you don't, you'll get rotten evaluations at the end of the semester, and as a result, you may be denied tenure.

Stem cell research is immoral because anything that involves killing innocent human beings is immoral.

Basic Concepts

Language: Meaning and Definition

Categorical Propositions

Categorical Syllogisms

Propositional Logic

Natural Deduction in Propositional Logic

Predicate Logic

Analogy and Legal and Moral Reasoning

Causality and Mills Methods

Probability

Statistical Reasoning

Hypotheticalscientific Reasoning

Science and Superstition

Filters

Exam 3: Informal Fallacies

Astronomers study stars. Nicole Kidman is a star. Therefore, astronomers study Nicole Kidman.

My goodness, Jackie, I haven't seen you since high school. Tell me, are you still as vain as you used to be?

Nobody has ever heard a monkey talk. Therefore, probably monkeys don't talk.

Which of the following is not mentioned in the text as leading to the commission of informal fallacies?

The sign on the restaurant wall says "No Smoking Rules Enforced." Therefore, we can probably smoke, since the smoking rules aren't enforced.

Some individuals with political aspirations are incompetent bozos. Therefore, some incompetent bozos are individuals with political aspirations.

You had better believe in God, because if you don't, then you'll suffer the torment of eternal damnation.

Bertha argues that vitamins and special food supplements are a waste of money. But only yesterday Bertha was seen in a health food store, and her friends report that she takes vitamins every day. Obviously Bertha's argument is crazy.

Every component in this table is made of wood. Therefore, the entire table is made of wood.

Dorothy has blue eyes and blond hair. Therefore, probably her identical twin sister Theodora has blue eyes and blond hair.

Mr. Jones, surely you will find me qualified for the open position in your accounting department. I provide the sole support for my aged mother, who is crippled with arthritis, and if I don't get a job soon I know I'll have a nervous breakdown.

Whoever is vain is hardhearted because if they weren't hardhearted they wouldn't be vain.

In a random poll of 400 students from Belview College, 83 percent said that they own a smartphone. Therefore, probably most Belview students own a smartphone.

Every member of the drill team marches very well. Therefore, the drill team marches very well.

Every squirrel that has ever been observed likes nuts. Therefore, probably every squirrel likes nuts.

Every member of the Viking Society was born in Norway. Therefore, the Viking Society was born in Norway.

My friend Connie used a green Bic pen to solve the problems on her last algebra test, and after the test was graded she got an A. So if you want to get an A in algebra, you should work all the test problems with a green Bic pen.

Professor Carroll, of course you agree that all of us deserve an excellent grade in this class. Because if you don't, you'll get rotten evaluations at the end of the semester, and as a result, you may be denied tenure.

Stem cell research is immoral because anything that involves killing innocent human beings is immoral.

Basic Concepts

Language: Meaning and Definition

Categorical Propositions

Categorical Syllogisms

Propositional Logic

Natural Deduction in Propositional Logic

Predicate Logic

Analogy and Legal and Moral Reasoning

Causality and Mills Methods

Probability

Statistical Reasoning

Hypotheticalscientific Reasoning

Science and Superstition

Filters