Exam 7: Activity-Based Costing and Activity-Based Management

Identify the type of fallacy in the following passage. "American Idol dropped a little in the ratings this week. It must be the new judge."

Identify the type of fallacy in the following passage. "We can't close the farmers' market. It's a tradition in this town."

Identify any fallacies in the following passage either by naming them or, where they seem not to conform to any of the patterns described in the text, by giving a brief explanation of why the fallacious reasoning is irrelevant to the point at issue. There must be a God. After all, people and cultures have always believed in some sort of a deity going back to the beginning of humankind.

Identify the type of fallacy in the following passage. Remark made while driving on the Pennsylvania Turnpike: "We've seen nine cars with license plates from west of the Mississippi today, and six of them have been from Texas. Texans must travel more than other people."

It is widely believed that chocolate causes acne, since people susceptible to acne frequently assert that eating chocolate is invariably followed by an outbreak of the skin condition. However, Donald G.Bruns, in a letter to Science News, wondered whether those who have the belief that chocolate causes acne might not have things backwards.Some studies indicate that hormonal changes associated with stress may cause acne, he notes.Other studies indicate that people fond of chocolate may tend to eat more chocolate when under stress.Given these studies, Bruns comments, it may be easy to confuse which, the chocolate or the acne, is the cause-and which is the effect.In a brief essay, explain what pattern of reasoning seems to underlie the belief that chocolate causes acne (probably the paired unusual events principle-the relevant difference between this situation, where there were an outbreak of acne, and situations in which there was none is that in this situation the person ate chocolate), and then answer this question: Bruns complains that those who believe that chocolate causes acne may be guilty of the fallacy of reversed causation.Given the studies he cites, has Bruns correctly identified the mistake?

It must have affected my mental state, because I didn't score that well again for almost a year."

Identify any fallacies in the following passage either by naming them or, where they seem not to conform to any of the patterns described in the text, by giving a brief explanation of why the fallacious reasoning is irrelevant to the point at issue. Gays in the military? If we allow that, then next we'll be letting women into the men's barracks. And the next thing you know, women, men, gays, everyone-they'll all be showering together and sleeping in the same bunks. Get real.

Identify the type of fallacy in the following passage. "The lights came back on immediately after that huge clap of thunder-how on earth did the thunder make that happen?"

Identify the type of fallacy in the following passage. Bill bought one of those Burn-Rite wood stoves last year, and it smoked up his house all winter. Those stoves are not worth the high prices we pay for them.

Identify any fallacies in the following passage either by naming them or, where they seem not to conform to any of the patterns described in the text, by giving a brief explanation of why the fallacious reasoning is irrelevant to the point at issue. George, I speak for the rest of the neighbors on our street. Frankly, your front yard is a mess, and we'd appreciate it if you would do something about it. We put the time and money into making our places look nice, but the effort is largely ruined by one awful looking place right here in the middle of the block. We hope you'll do something about it.

Identify the type of fallacy in the following passage. "I don't believe that poverty is a problem. Nobody I know faces this problem. It is just something the media wants you to fear. It is not real."

Identify any fallacies in the following passage either by naming them or, where they seem not to conform to any of the patterns described in the text, by giving a brief explanation of why the fallacious reasoning is irrelevant to the point at issue. In its July 1988 issue, Consumer Reports criticized the Suzuki Samurai as unsafe and dangerously easy to roll over. In the next issue, a reader wrote in response, "In order to completely idiot-proof our society, we would have to surrender all freedom. Your suggestion that the government protect us from this evil vehicle is just another step in a journey that could ultimately lead to an erosion of freedom in this country."

Identify the type of fallacy in the following passage. "He's a great boxer. He will become an excellent dancer."

Identify the type of fallacy in the following passage. "Being overweight can't be all that bad for you. Eighty percent of the population over 25 is overweight."

Identify the type of fallacy in the following passage. "My cousin has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from his service in Afghanistan. We're going to have huge numbers of mentally troubled soldiers coming home from this war."

Identify the type of fallacy in the following passage. "Man to his wife: Poopsie, I bought a lot of this soap. Everyone at the Amway party said it works great."

Identify the type of fallacy in the following passage. "After his friends and relatives said a prayer for Pete, his cancer went into remission."

Identify the type of fallacy in the following passage. "Melinda has two dachshunds who lived to be over 15, so when she recommended a diet for Jobie, my Doberman, I figured she knew what she was talking about."

Identify the type of fallacy in the following passage. "They want to make it illegal for a running back to hit someone with his helmet? Next thing you know they won't even allow tackling."

Identify the type of fallacy in the following passage. "What are they are talking about, it rains a lot in Seattle? We went there in October-had nothing but beautiful weather."