Question 1

The vast majority of Americans believe in God. Therefore, you should believe, too.

Accepted Answer

A)  Tu quoque (you, too). 
B)  No fallacy. 
C)  Argument against the person, circumstantial. 
D)  Appeal to the people. 
E)  False dichotomy. 
A)  Tu quoque (you, too). 
B)  No fallacy. 
C)  Argument against the person, circumstantial. 
D)  Appeal to the people. 
E)  False dichotomy.

Question 2

Most of the residents of the City Heights neighborhood are illiterate. Therefore, it would be a good idea to close the City Heights library. After all, nobody uses it.

Accepted Answer

A)  No fallacy. 
B)  False cause. 
C)  Division. 
D)  Missing the point. 
E)  Appeal to force. 
A)  No fallacy. 
B)  False cause. 
C)  Division. 
D)  Missing the point. 
E)  Appeal to force.

Question 3

Benny has argued for a long time for a new national park in Montana, but you really shouldn't listen to him. Benny owns a general store in the proposed vicinity, and if the park is created, he stands to profit handsomely from the flow of visitors.

Accepted Answer

A)  Argument against the person, abusive. 
B)  Appeal to unqualified authority. 
C)  Argument against the person, circumstantial. 
D)  Appeal to ignorance. 
E)  No fallacy. 
A)  Argument against the person, abusive. 
B)  Appeal to unqualified authority. 
C)  Argument against the person, circumstantial. 
D)  Appeal to ignorance. 
E)  No fallacy.

Question 4

Katie has been squabbling with her fiancé about the details of their wedding. Thus, it would be a good idea for her to hire somebody to beat him up.

Accepted Answer

A)  Division. 
B)  False cause. 
C)  Missing the point. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  Appeal to force. 
A)  Division. 
B)  False cause. 
C)  Missing the point. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  Appeal to force.

Question 5

Congressman Henderson is a tall man with brown hair and blue eyes, and he supports the upcoming bill on handguns. Congressman Wagner is also a tall man with brown hair and blue eyes. Thus, he probably supports the handgun bill, too.

Accepted Answer

A)  Weak analogy. 
B)  False cause. 
C)  Begging the question. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  Missing the point. 
A)  Weak analogy. 
B)  False cause. 
C)  Begging the question. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  Missing the point.

Question 6

When Edward turned the key in his new BMW this morning, the car wouldn't start. Thus, he should call a tow truck and have the car towed to the wrecking yard.

Accepted Answer

A)  False cause. 
B)  Missing the point. 
C)  Accident. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  Begging the question. 
A)  False cause. 
B)  Missing the point. 
C)  Accident. 
D)  No fallacy. 
E)  Begging the question.

Question 7

The fallacy in which the arguer attempts to create a mob mentality is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Appeal to authority. 
B)  Appeal to the people. 
C)  Amphiboly. 
D)  False cause. 
E)  Argument against the person. 
A)  Appeal to authority. 
B)  Appeal to the people. 
C)  Amphiboly. 
D)  False cause. 
E)  Argument against the person.

Question 8

During the five years that Clarence has worn a Rolex watch, three of his married friends have gotten a divorce. Thus, to prevent any more divorces, it is essential that he stop wearing that watch.

Accepted Answer

A)  False cause. 
B)  No fallacy. 
C)  Suppressed evidence. 
D)  Weak analogy. 
E)  Accident. 
A)  False cause. 
B)  No fallacy. 
C)  Suppressed evidence. 
D)  Weak analogy. 
E)  Accident.

Question 9

A person of your status will surely want to buy a Lexus. Owning a Lexus is the ultimate expression of cultural refinement, exquisite taste, and financial success.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

Dr. Harrison has argued that the open position in the mathematics department should be given to Dr. George. But Harrison's arguments should be discounted since Harrison and George are good friends.

Accepted Answer

A)  Weak analogy. 
B)  Argument against the person, abusive. 
C)  Red herring. 
D)  Straw man. 
E)  Argument against the person, circumstantial. 
A)  Weak analogy. 
B)  Argument against the person, abusive. 
C)  Red herring. 
D)  Straw man. 
E)  Argument against the person, circumstantial.

Question 11

Mrs. Gladstone's arguments against cuts in Social Security are worthless. As a recipient of Social Security benefits, she would naturally be expected to argue exactly the way she does.

Accepted Answer

A)  Argument against the person, circumstantial. 
B)  False dichotomy. 
C)  Straw man. 
D)  Argument against the person, abusive. 
E)  No fallacy. 
A)  Argument against the person, circumstantial. 
B)  False dichotomy. 
C)  Straw man. 
D)  Argument against the person, abusive. 
E)  No fallacy.

Question 12

Which of the following fallacies occurs in a valid argument?

Accepted Answer

A)  Missing the point. 
B)  False cause. 
C)  Begging the question. 
D)  Accident. 
E)  Appeal to ignorance. 
A)  Missing the point. 
B)  False cause. 
C)  Begging the question. 
D)  Accident. 
E)  Appeal to ignorance.

Question 13

Every hair on Jane's head is blond. Therefore, Jane is a blond.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 14

Tom Larsen could not have written this fine term paper. Tom is as stupid as the day is long, and he can't put three words together to form an intelligent sentence.

Accepted Answer

A)  Argument against the person, abusive. 
B)  No fallacy. 
C)  Appeal to pity. 
D)  Accident. 
E)  Argument against the person, circumstantial. 
A)  Argument against the person, abusive. 
B)  No fallacy. 
C)  Appeal to pity. 
D)  Accident. 
E)  Argument against the person, circumstantial.

Question 15

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 16

Either you enlist in the Marine Corps or you'll be a baby for the rest of your life. The choice is yours.

Accepted Answer

A)  Composition. 
B)  Appeal to force. 
C)  Suppressed evidence. 
D)  False dichotomy. 
E)  No fallacy. 
A)  Composition. 
B)  Appeal to force. 
C)  Suppressed evidence. 
D)  False dichotomy. 
E)  No fallacy.

Question 17

The use of contraceptives is immoral, because anything that violates nature is immoral.

Accepted Answer

A)  Begging the question. 
B)  Complex question. 
C)  Appeal to the people. 
D)  Weak analogy. 
E)  No fallacy. 
A)  Begging the question. 
B)  Complex question. 
C)  Appeal to the people. 
D)  Weak analogy. 
E)  No fallacy.

Question 18

The distributive predication of an attribute is found in:

Accepted Answer

A)  Disjunctive statements. 
B)  Conditional statements. 
C)  Class statements. 
D)  General statements. 
E)  Presumptive statements. 
A)  Disjunctive statements. 
B)  Conditional statements. 
C)  Class statements. 
D)  General statements. 
E)  Presumptive statements.

Question 19

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.

Accepted Answer

A)  Missing the point. 
B)  No fallacy. 
C)  Red herring. 
D)  Straw man. 
E)  Argument against the person, circumstantial. 
A)  Missing the point. 
B)  No fallacy. 
C)  Red herring. 
D)  Straw man. 
E)  Argument against the person, circumstantial.

Question 20

Which fallacy involves a chain reaction of causes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Begging the question. 
B)  Slippery slope. 
C)  Weak analogy. 
D)  Equivocation. 
E)  False dichotomy. 
A)  Begging the question. 
B)  Slippery slope. 
C)  Weak analogy. 
D)  Equivocation. 
E)  False dichotomy.

The vast majority of Americans believe in God. Therefore, you should believe, too.

Most of the residents of the City Heights neighborhood are illiterate. Therefore, it would be a good idea to close the City Heights library. After all, nobody uses it.

Benny has argued for a long time for a new national park in Montana, but you really shouldn't listen to him. Benny owns a general store in the proposed vicinity, and if the park is created, he stands to profit handsomely from the flow of visitors.

Katie has been squabbling with her fiancé about the details of their wedding. Thus, it would be a good idea for her to hire somebody to beat him up.

Congressman Henderson is a tall man with brown hair and blue eyes, and he supports the upcoming bill on handguns. Congressman Wagner is also a tall man with brown hair and blue eyes. Thus, he probably supports the handgun bill, too.

When Edward turned the key in his new BMW this morning, the car wouldn't start. Thus, he should call a tow truck and have the car towed to the wrecking yard.

The fallacy in which the arguer attempts to create a mob mentality is:

During the five years that Clarence has worn a Rolex watch, three of his married friends have gotten a divorce. Thus, to prevent any more divorces, it is essential that he stop wearing that watch.

A person of your status will surely want to buy a Lexus. Owning a Lexus is the ultimate expression of cultural refinement, exquisite taste, and financial success.

Dr. Harrison has argued that the open position in the mathematics department should be given to Dr. George. But Harrison's arguments should be discounted since Harrison and George are good friends.

Mrs. Gladstone's arguments against cuts in Social Security are worthless. As a recipient of Social Security benefits, she would naturally be expected to argue exactly the way she does.

Which of the following fallacies occurs in a valid argument?

Every hair on Jane's head is blond. Therefore, Jane is a blond.

Tom Larsen could not have written this fine term paper. Tom is as stupid as the day is long, and he can't put three words together to form an intelligent sentence.

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

Either you enlist in the Marine Corps or you'll be a baby for the rest of your life. The choice is yours.

The use of contraceptives is immoral, because anything that violates nature is immoral.

The distributive predication of an attribute is found in:

Which fallacy involves a chain reaction of causes?

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

The vast majority of Americans believe in God. Therefore, you should believe, too.

Most of the residents of the City Heights neighborhood are illiterate. Therefore, it would be a good idea to close the City Heights library. After all, nobody uses it.

Benny has argued for a long time for a new national park in Montana, but you really shouldn't listen to him. Benny owns a general store in the proposed vicinity, and if the park is created, he stands to profit handsomely from the flow of visitors.

Katie has been squabbling with her fiancé about the details of their wedding. Thus, it would be a good idea for her to hire somebody to beat him up.

Congressman Henderson is a tall man with brown hair and blue eyes, and he supports the upcoming bill on handguns. Congressman Wagner is also a tall man with brown hair and blue eyes. Thus, he probably supports the handgun bill, too.

When Edward turned the key in his new BMW this morning, the car wouldn't start. Thus, he should call a tow truck and have the car towed to the wrecking yard.

The fallacy in which the arguer attempts to create a mob mentality is:

During the five years that Clarence has worn a Rolex watch, three of his married friends have gotten a divorce. Thus, to prevent any more divorces, it is essential that he stop wearing that watch.

A person of your status will surely want to buy a Lexus. Owning a Lexus is the ultimate expression of cultural refinement, exquisite taste, and financial success.

Dr. Harrison has argued that the open position in the mathematics department should be given to Dr. George. But Harrison's arguments should be discounted since Harrison and George are good friends.

Mrs. Gladstone's arguments against cuts in Social Security are worthless. As a recipient of Social Security benefits, she would naturally be expected to argue exactly the way she does.

Which of the following fallacies occurs in a valid argument?

Every hair on Jane's head is blond. Therefore, Jane is a blond.

Tom Larsen could not have written this fine term paper. Tom is as stupid as the day is long, and he can't put three words together to form an intelligent sentence.

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

Either you enlist in the Marine Corps or you'll be a baby for the rest of your life. The choice is yours.

The use of contraceptives is immoral, because anything that violates nature is immoral.

The distributive predication of an attribute is found in:

Which fallacy involves a chain reaction of causes?

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