Question 1

A loaded question is a question that is loaded with:

Accepted Answer

A) insincerity 
B) importance 
C) unnecessarily difficult words 
D) several smaller questions 
E) an implicit assumption 
A) insincerity 
B) importance 
C) unnecessarily difficult words 
D) several smaller questions 
E) an implicit assumption E

Question 2

Which subjectivist fallacy is committed in the following argument? Michael Palin: Well an argument's not the same as contradiction.
John Cleese: Can be.
Michael Palin: No, it can't! An argument is a connected series of statements that establish a definite proposition.
John Cleese: No it isn't.
Michael Palin: Yes, it is! It isn't just contradiction!
John Cleese: Look, if I argue with you, I must take up a contrary position.
(Monty Python's Flying Circus, "Argument Clinic")

Accepted Answer

A) subjectivism 
B) appeal to majority 
C) appeal to emotion 
D) appeal to force 
E) none 
A) subjectivism 
B) appeal to majority 
C) appeal to emotion 
D) appeal to force 
E) none E

Question 3

Which factors are most important in determining the strength of a slippery slope argument?

Accepted Answer

A) the number of links in the argument and the strength of each link 
B) the number of links in the argument and the amount of historical knowledge possessed by the person making the argument 
C) the historical knowledge possessed by the person making the argument and that person's past rate of success at predicting the future 
D) the number of people who believe in the argument and the severity of the outcome it predicts 
E) the number of links in the argument and the severity of the outcome it predicts 
A) the number of links in the argument and the strength of each link 
B) the number of links in the argument and the amount of historical knowledge possessed by the person making the argument 
C) the historical knowledge possessed by the person making the argument and that person's past rate of success at predicting the future 
D) the number of people who believe in the argument and the severity of the outcome it predicts 
E) the number of links in the argument and the severity of the outcome it predicts A

Question 4

Which fallacy is committed by the following argument? Abused animals will benefit from my financial contribution because Sarah McLachlan says they will.

Accepted Answer

A) appeal to authority 
B) ad hominem 
C) post hoc 
D) subjectivism 
E) appeal to emotion 
A) appeal to authority 
B) ad hominem 
C) post hoc 
D) subjectivism 
E) appeal to emotion

Question 5

When there is a positive claim (X is true) and a negative claim (X is false), which one initially has the burden of proof?

Accepted Answer

A) neither 
B) both 
C) the negative claim 
D) the positive claim 
E) it depends on which one is asserted first 
A) neither 
B) both 
C) the negative claim 
D) the positive claim 
E) it depends on which one is asserted first

Question 6

Which fallacy is committed by the following argument? No one who denies that I am in charge is leaving this room with all of his teeth!

Accepted Answer

A) equivocation 
B) false alternative 
C) appeal to authority 
D) ad hominem 
E) appeal to force 
A) equivocation 
B) false alternative 
C) appeal to authority 
D) ad hominem 
E) appeal to force

Question 7

Which of the following arguments commits the fallacy of composition?

Accepted Answer

A) Economic planning is good for individuals, so it is also good for society as a whole. 
B) A human body is made up of cells, so a human arm is made up of cells. 
C) Swans are beautiful birds, so all water birds are beautiful. 
D) All fruits contain sugars, so citrus fruits contain sugars. 
E) Legos are colorful, so most children's toys are probably colorful. 
A) Economic planning is good for individuals, so it is also good for society as a whole. 
B) A human body is made up of cells, so a human arm is made up of cells. 
C) Swans are beautiful birds, so all water birds are beautiful. 
D) All fruits contain sugars, so citrus fruits contain sugars. 
E) Legos are colorful, so most children's toys are probably colorful.

Question 8

Is it ever possible to conclude that two things are causally related without committing the post hoc fallacy?

Accepted Answer

A) No, because conclusions about causality are always false. 
B) No, because causal conclusions can only be deduced from the order of events. 
C) Yes, as long as the conclusion isn't based solely on the order of events. 
D) Yes, as long as the conclusion is based solely on the order of events. 
E) Yes, as long as we don't try to conclude which is the cause and which is the effect. 
A) No, because conclusions about causality are always false. 
B) No, because causal conclusions can only be deduced from the order of events. 
C) Yes, as long as the conclusion isn't based solely on the order of events. 
D) Yes, as long as the conclusion is based solely on the order of events. 
E) Yes, as long as we don't try to conclude which is the cause and which is the effect.

Question 9

Accident and division:

Accepted Answer

A) are two different names for the same fallacy 
B) differ because accident concerns parts and wholes, whereas division concerns examples and classes 
C) differ because accident concerns examples and classes, whereas division concerns parts and wholes 
D) differ because accident concerns a genus, whereas division concerns a species 
E) differ because accident concerns a species, whereas division concerns a genus 
A) are two different names for the same fallacy 
B) differ because accident concerns parts and wholes, whereas division concerns examples and classes 
C) differ because accident concerns examples and classes, whereas division concerns parts and wholes 
D) differ because accident concerns a genus, whereas division concerns a species 
E) differ because accident concerns a species, whereas division concerns a genus

Question 10

The post hoc fallacy occurs when someone:

Accepted Answer

A) assumes that something is true because it appeared on a blog 
B) assumes that something is true because it appeared in a newspaper 
C) tries to take back what he or she said earlier in the discussion 
D) stalls for time instead of answering a question immediately 
E) assumes that because A occurred before B, A caused B 
A) assumes that something is true because it appeared on a blog 
B) assumes that something is true because it appeared in a newspaper 
C) tries to take back what he or she said earlier in the discussion 
D) stalls for time instead of answering a question immediately 
E) assumes that because A occurred before B, A caused B

Question 11

Which of the following arguments commits the fallacy of subjectivism?

Accepted Answer

A) Since I want to make more money, I should look for a better job. 
B) Since I want a video game for Christmas, I should tell my parents. 
C) Since I want to rest tomorrow, I must finish my project today. 
D) Since I want there to be life on other planets, there is life on other planets. 
E) Since I want to make sushi tonight, I will need to buy some rice. 
A) Since I want to make more money, I should look for a better job. 
B) Since I want a video game for Christmas, I should tell my parents. 
C) Since I want to rest tomorrow, I must finish my project today. 
D) Since I want there to be life on other planets, there is life on other planets. 
E) Since I want to make sushi tonight, I will need to buy some rice.

Question 12

Which fallacy is committed by the following argument? We should all tell the truth all of the time, since no one should ever lie at any time.

Accepted Answer

A) accident 
B) begging the question 
C) slippery slope 
D) equivocation 
E) appeal to emotion 
A) accident 
B) begging the question 
C) slippery slope 
D) equivocation 
E) appeal to emotion

Question 13

The fallacy of equivocation occurs when someone:

Accepted Answer

A) uses a premise that is known to be a lie 
B) uses the same premise twice in an argument 
C) who is not an expert on a subject claims to be an expert 
D) switches the meaning of a word in the middle of an argument 
E) uses a proposition as support for itself in an argument 
A) uses a premise that is known to be a lie 
B) uses the same premise twice in an argument 
C) who is not an expert on a subject claims to be an expert 
D) switches the meaning of a word in the middle of an argument 
E) uses a proposition as support for itself in an argument

Question 14

Is it possible to consider only two alternatives without committing the fallacy of false alternative?

Accepted Answer

A) No, because there are always more than two alternatives. 
B) No, because the contra-binary principle requires that there are always exactly three alternatives. 
C) Yes, but only if one of the alternatives is already known to be true. 
D) Yes, but only if one of the alternatives is already known to be false. 
E) Yes, because sometimes there are only two alternatives to consider. 
A) No, because there are always more than two alternatives. 
B) No, because the contra-binary principle requires that there are always exactly three alternatives. 
C) Yes, but only if one of the alternatives is already known to be true. 
D) Yes, but only if one of the alternatives is already known to be false. 
E) Yes, because sometimes there are only two alternatives to consider.

Question 15

Argumentum ad populum is another name for which fallacy?

Accepted Answer

A) subjectivism 
B) appeal to authority 
C) appeal to emotion 
D) appeal to force 
E) There is no such fallacy. 
A) subjectivism 
B) appeal to authority 
C) appeal to emotion 
D) appeal to force 
E) There is no such fallacy.

Question 16

Which fallacy is committed by the following argument? Arthur says that there is no gold left in these hills, but he is a notorious liar and has an interest in keeping others from looking for gold.

Accepted Answer

A) post hoc 
B) ad hominem 
C) diversion 
D) false alternative 
E) equivocation 
A) post hoc 
B) ad hominem 
C) diversion 
D) false alternative 
E) equivocation

Question 17

The fallacies of diversion and division have similar names.What is the difference between them?

Accepted Answer

A) Division means ascribing properties of a part to the whole, while diversion means changing the subject in the middle of the argument. 
B) Diversion means ascribing properties of a part to the whole, while division means changing the subject in the middle of the argument. 
C) Division means ascribing properties of a whole to one of its parts, while diversion means changing the subject in the middle of the argument. 
D) Diversion means ascribing properties of a whole to one of its parts, while division means changing the subject in the middle of the argument. 
E) There is no difference.They are two names for the same fallacy. 
A) Division means ascribing properties of a part to the whole, while diversion means changing the subject in the middle of the argument. 
B) Diversion means ascribing properties of a part to the whole, while division means changing the subject in the middle of the argument. 
C) Division means ascribing properties of a whole to one of its parts, while diversion means changing the subject in the middle of the argument. 
D) Diversion means ascribing properties of a whole to one of its parts, while division means changing the subject in the middle of the argument. 
E) There is no difference.They are two names for the same fallacy.

Question 18

Which of the following arguments commits the fallacy of appeal to majority?

Accepted Answer

A) A lot of people prefer the Android operating system to its competitors, so it must be the best operating system. 
B) There are many people on the street outside my office, so there is probably a parade going by. 
C) Most people are disenchanted with politics right now, so turnout for the upcoming election is likely to be low. 
D) Worldwide demand for petroleum products is rapidly increasing, so the price of petroleum will continue to rise. 
E) Most of my Facebook friends have said that they will attend my birthday party, so they must really like me. 
A) A lot of people prefer the Android operating system to its competitors, so it must be the best operating system. 
B) There are many people on the street outside my office, so there is probably a parade going by. 
C) Most people are disenchanted with politics right now, so turnout for the upcoming election is likely to be low. 
D) Worldwide demand for petroleum products is rapidly increasing, so the price of petroleum will continue to rise. 
E) Most of my Facebook friends have said that they will attend my birthday party, so they must really like me.

Question 19

Which of the following arguments is an example of hasty generalization?

Accepted Answer

A) All fish have gills, and trout are fish, so all trout have gills. 
B) All American citizens have Social Security numbers, so all legal voters have Social Security numbers. 
C) I once ate at Fishy Joe's and did not enjoy my food, so my meal was unpleasant. 
D) I once had a bad experience while traveling in France, so France is a bad place to travel. 
E) The Reds have won all of their games so far this season, so they will win the next one. 
A) All fish have gills, and trout are fish, so all trout have gills. 
B) All American citizens have Social Security numbers, so all legal voters have Social Security numbers. 
C) I once ate at Fishy Joe's and did not enjoy my food, so my meal was unpleasant. 
D) I once had a bad experience while traveling in France, so France is a bad place to travel. 
E) The Reds have won all of their games so far this season, so they will win the next one.

Question 20

Which fallacy of context is committed by the following argument? Our local high school team is great at football, so every player on the team must be great at it.

Accepted Answer

A) post hoc 
B) division 
C) slippery slope 
D) hasty generalization 
E) composition 
A) post hoc 
B) division 
C) slippery slope 
D) hasty generalization 
E) composition

A loaded question is a question that is loaded with:

Which factors are most important in determining the strength of a slippery slope argument?

Which fallacy is committed by the following argument? Abused animals will benefit from my financial contribution because Sarah McLachlan says they will.

When there is a positive claim (X is true) and a negative claim (X is false), which one initially has the burden of proof?

Which fallacy is committed by the following argument? No one who denies that I am in charge is leaving this room with all of his teeth!

Which of the following arguments commits the fallacy of composition?

Is it ever possible to conclude that two things are causally related without committing the post hoc fallacy?

Accident and division:

The post hoc fallacy occurs when someone:

Which of the following arguments commits the fallacy of subjectivism?

Which fallacy is committed by the following argument? We should all tell the truth all of the time, since no one should ever lie at any time.

The fallacy of equivocation occurs when someone:

Is it possible to consider only two alternatives without committing the fallacy of false alternative?

Argumentum ad populum is another name for which fallacy?

Which fallacy is committed by the following argument? Arthur says that there is no gold left in these hills, but he is a notorious liar and has an interest in keeping others from looking for gold.

The fallacies of diversion and division have similar names.What is the difference between them?

Which of the following arguments commits the fallacy of appeal to majority?

Which of the following arguments is an example of hasty generalization?

Which fallacy of context is committed by the following argument? Our local high school team is great at football, so every player on the team must be great at it.

Classification

Definitions

Propositions

Argument Analysis

Categorical Propositions

Categorical Syllogisms

Reasoning With Syllogisms

Propositional Logic-Propositions

Propositional Logic-Arguments

Predicate Logic

Inductive Generalizations

Argument by Analogy

Statistical Reasoning

Explanation

Probability

Filters

Exam 5: Fallacies

A loaded question is a question that is loaded with:

Which factors are most important in determining the strength of a slippery slope argument?

Which fallacy is committed by the following argument? Abused animals will benefit from my financial contribution because Sarah McLachlan says they will.

When there is a positive claim (X is true) and a negative claim (X is false), which one initially has the burden of proof?

Which fallacy is committed by the following argument? No one who denies that I am in charge is leaving this room with all of his teeth!

Which of the following arguments commits the fallacy of composition?

Is it ever possible to conclude that two things are causally related without committing the post hoc fallacy?

Accident and division:

The post hoc fallacy occurs when someone:

Which of the following arguments commits the fallacy of subjectivism?

Which fallacy is committed by the following argument? We should all tell the truth all of the time, since no one should ever lie at any time.

The fallacy of equivocation occurs when someone:

Is it possible to consider only two alternatives without committing the fallacy of false alternative?

Argumentum ad populum is another name for which fallacy?

Which fallacy is committed by the following argument? Arthur says that there is no gold left in these hills, but he is a notorious liar and has an interest in keeping others from looking for gold.

The fallacies of diversion and division have similar names.What is the difference between them?

Which of the following arguments commits the fallacy of appeal to majority?

Which of the following arguments is an example of hasty generalization?

Which fallacy of context is committed by the following argument? Our local high school team is great at football, so every player on the team must be great at it.

Classification

Definitions

Propositions

Argument Analysis

Categorical Propositions

Categorical Syllogisms

Reasoning With Syllogisms

Propositional Logic-Propositions

Propositional Logic-Arguments

Predicate Logic

Inductive Generalizations

Argument by Analogy

Statistical Reasoning

Explanation

Probability

Filters