Question 1

Which of the following is not a fallacy of irrelevance?

Accepted Answer

A)  Appeal to Force 
B)  Appeal to Unsuitable Authority 
C)  Appeal to the People 
D)  Appeal to Ignorance 
A)  Appeal to Force 
B)  Appeal to Unsuitable Authority 
C)  Appeal to the People 
D)  Appeal to Ignorance B

Question 2

The fallacy of complex question is committed by inferences that rely on the answer to a question that illegitimately presupposes some conclusion alluded to in the question.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

The false cause fallacy occurs when

Accepted Answer

A)  one appeals to the opinion of an authority on causation and explanation to answer a question about something outside his or her field of expertise. 
B)  one possible cause of a phenomenon is assumed to be a (or the) cause although reasons are lacking for excluding other possible causes. 
C)  one asks a question that illegitimately presupposes some causal claim alluded to in the question. 
D)  one appeals to the desire to be accepted by others in order to gain acceptance of a claim that one thing caused another. 
A)  one appeals to the opinion of an authority on causation and explanation to answer a question about something outside his or her field of expertise. 
B)  one possible cause of a phenomenon is assumed to be a (or the) cause although reasons are lacking for excluding other possible causes. 
C)  one asks a question that illegitimately presupposes some causal claim alluded to in the question. 
D)  one appeals to the desire to be accepted by others in order to gain acceptance of a claim that one thing caused another. B

Question 4

Superstitious beliefs, such as that breaking a mirror brings bad luck for seven years, are examples of

Accepted Answer

A)  a false cause fallacy. 
B)  an appeal to unreliable authority. 
C)  begging the question. 
D)  a fallacy of complex question. 
A)  a false cause fallacy. 
B)  an appeal to unreliable authority. 
C)  begging the question. 
D)  a fallacy of complex question.

Question 5

The following passage contains an argument that commits at least one informal fallacy. Name the type of fallacy committed and explain why the passage is an example of that type.
Teacher: So, tell me Stephen, did you plagiarize this paper, too?
Stephen: No, of course not!
Teacher: So, you admit you've plagiarized your other papers!

Accepted Answer

The answer of The following passage contains an argument that...

Question 6

The following passage contains an argument that commits at least one informal fallacy. Name the type of fallacy committed and explain why the passage is an example of that type.
I know that religion is a necessary support for the human spirit because all living past presidents of the United States say so.

Accepted Answer

The passage contains the informal fallac

Question 7

The primary difference between formal and informal fallacies is that

Accepted Answer

A)  formal fallacies involve invalid inferences while informal fallacies involve rhetoric. 
B)  formal fallacies involve explicit use of an invalid argument form while informal fallacies involve problems with the argument's content. 
C)  formal fallacies are identifiable while informal fallacies are not. 
D)  arguments committing formal fallacies can be repaired while those committing informal fallacies are beyond repair. 
A)  formal fallacies involve invalid inferences while informal fallacies involve rhetoric. 
B)  formal fallacies involve explicit use of an invalid argument form while informal fallacies involve problems with the argument's content. 
C)  formal fallacies are identifiable while informal fallacies are not. 
D)  arguments committing formal fallacies can be repaired while those committing informal fallacies are beyond repair.

Question 8

The fallacy of equivocation is committed by arguments whose persuasiveness depends on

Accepted Answer

A)  a statement that is ambiguous due to faulty sentence structure or grammatical error. 
B)  distorting the opponent's argument by equating it with an oversimplified version. 
C)  equating the attributes of the parts with those of the whole.
D two (or more) meanings of a word or phrase being used in the argument when the argument's validity . requires a single meaning of that word or phrase. 
A)  a statement that is ambiguous due to faulty sentence structure or grammatical error. 
B)  distorting the opponent's argument by equating it with an oversimplified version. 
C)  equating the attributes of the parts with those of the whole.
D two (or more) meanings of a word or phrase being used in the argument when the argument's validity . requires a single meaning of that word or phrase.

Question 9

The following passage contains an argument that commits at least one informal fallacy. Name the type of fallacy committed and explain why the passage is an example of that type.
As far as I'm concerned, we need pay no attention to the president of the college when it comes to education because he has no authority in education. He doesn't even have enough authority to prevent students from staging protest rallies.

Accepted Answer

Equivocati

Question 10

The following passage contains an argument that commits at least one informal fallacy. Name the type of fallacy committed and explain why the passage is an example of that type.
Hugo told me it was true that he was the strongest wrestler in the village, and the reason he gave for why I should believe him was that he would have to push my face in the mud if I didn't.

Accepted Answer

The fallacy committed in this passage is

Question 11

Which of the following is not a fallacy involving unwarranted assumptions?

Accepted Answer

A)  Complex Question 
B)  Composition 
C)  False Dilemma 
D)  Begging the Question 
A)  Complex Question 
B)  Composition 
C)  False Dilemma 
D)  Begging the Question

Question 12

The following passage contains an argument that commits at least one informal fallacy. Name the type of fallacy committed and explain why the passage is an example of that type.
From a B. C. comic strip . . .
B. C.: Bugs. YECHT. Bugs. YAPTH. And more bugs. Bugs in the dirt. Bugs in the trees. Bugs in the flowers. Bugs in the breeze. Thank goodness for rocks, the one thing on the planet that ain't got no bugs. What are you skritching, Peter?
Peter: I am etching in stone a comprehensive plan to solve the social and economic ills of mankind . . . It's got a few bugs in it, but . . .
B. C.: Liverwurst! I bet there ain't no bugs in liverwurst!

Accepted Answer

Equivocati

Question 13

Rejecting an opponent's argument on the ground that the person's own actions are inconsistent with the argument's conclusion involves which of the following fallacies?

Accepted Answer

A)  abusive ad hominem 
B)  straw man 
C)  appeal to ignorance 
D)  tu quoque 
A)  abusive ad hominem 
B)  straw man 
C)  appeal to ignorance 
D)  tu quoque

Question 14

The following passage contains an argument that commits at least one informal fallacy. Name the type of fallacy committed and explain why the passage is an example of that type.
Time is money. Time is always passing. So, money is always passing.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The following passage contains an argument that...

Question 15

The following passage contains an argument that commits at least one informal fallacy. Name the type of fallacy committed and explain why the passage is an example of that type.
It's true that several college professors have testified that marijuana is harmless and nonaddictive. But these same professors have admitted that were marijuana legal they themselves would smoke some!

Accepted Answer

Circumstan

Question 16

The fallacy of false dilemma involves

Accepted Answer

A)  assuming the point to be proved. 
B)  relying on an ambiguity in the meaning of one or more premises. 
C)  assuming that a certain list of alternatives is complete when it isn't. 
D)  relying on a controversial moral principle in order to solve a dilemma. 
A)  assuming the point to be proved. 
B)  relying on an ambiguity in the meaning of one or more premises. 
C)  assuming that a certain list of alternatives is complete when it isn't. 
D)  relying on a controversial moral principle in order to solve a dilemma.

Question 17

The following passage contains an argument that commits at least one informal fallacy. Name the type of fallacy committed and explain why the passage is an example of that type.
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, and said to him, "Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, '. . .
Let my people go, that they may serve me. For if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country, and they shall cover the face of the land, so that no one can see the land; and they shall eat what is left to you after the hail, and they shall eat every tree of yours which grows in the field, and they shall fill your houses. . . .'" (Bible, Exodus 10:3-6)

Accepted Answer

The passage contains an example of the i

Question 18

Appealing to the opinion of your logic teacher in order to settle a dispute about whether a particular argument is valid commits the fallacy of appeal to unreliable authority.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Appeals to authority are only acceptable when the authority is reliable and the subject is in that authority's field of expertise.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

The following passage contains an argument that commits at least one informal fallacy. Name the type of fallacy committed and explain why the passage is an example of that type.
I just know that getting the flu shot gives me the flu! Last year, I decided to get the flu vaccine and what do you know? I caught the flu. The same thing happened the year before that, and the year before that! There's no way I'm getting the flu shot again this year. I've had enough of the flu!

Accepted Answer

The answer of The following passage contains an argument that...

Which of the following is not a fallacy of irrelevance?

The fallacy of complex question is committed by inferences that rely on the answer to a question that illegitimately presupposes some conclusion alluded to in the question.

The false cause fallacy occurs when

Superstitious beliefs, such as that breaking a mirror brings bad luck for seven years, are examples of

The primary difference between formal and informal fallacies is that

The fallacy of equivocation is committed by arguments whose persuasiveness depends on

Which of the following is not a fallacy involving unwarranted assumptions?

Rejecting an opponent's argument on the ground that the person's own actions are inconsistent with the argument's conclusion involves which of the following fallacies?

The following passage contains an argument that commits at least one informal fallacy. Name the type of fallacy committed and explain why the passage is an example of that type. Time is money. Time is always passing. So, money is always passing.

The fallacy of false dilemma involves

Appealing to the opinion of your logic teacher in order to settle a dispute about whether a particular argument is valid commits the fallacy of appeal to unreliable authority.

Appeals to authority are only acceptable when the authority is reliable and the subject is in that authority's field of expertise.

Basic Concepts

Identifying Arguments

Logic and Language

Categorical Logic: Statements

Categorical Logic: Syllogisms

Statement Logic: Truth Tables

Statement Logic: Proofs

Predicate Logic

Inductive Logic

Filters

Exam 4: Informal Fallacies

Which of the following is not a fallacy of irrelevance?

The fallacy of complex question is committed by inferences that rely on the answer to a question that illegitimately presupposes some conclusion alluded to in the question.

The false cause fallacy occurs when

Superstitious beliefs, such as that breaking a mirror brings bad luck for seven years, are examples of

The primary difference between formal and informal fallacies is that

The fallacy of equivocation is committed by arguments whose persuasiveness depends on

Which of the following is not a fallacy involving unwarranted assumptions?

Rejecting an opponent's argument on the ground that the person's own actions are inconsistent with the argument's conclusion involves which of the following fallacies?

The following passage contains an argument that commits at least one informal fallacy. Name the type of fallacy committed and explain why the passage is an example of that type. Time is money. Time is always passing. So, money is always passing.

The fallacy of false dilemma involves

Appealing to the opinion of your logic teacher in order to settle a dispute about whether a particular argument is valid commits the fallacy of appeal to unreliable authority.

Appeals to authority are only acceptable when the authority is reliable and the subject is in that authority's field of expertise.

Basic Concepts

Identifying Arguments

Logic and Language

Categorical Logic: Statements

Categorical Logic: Syllogisms

Statement Logic: Truth Tables

Statement Logic: Proofs

Predicate Logic

Inductive Logic

Filters