Question 1

Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association believes that the best way to keep schools safe is to:

Accepted Answer

A)  Make schools gun-free zones 
B)  Allow children over the age of fourteen to carry guns to school 
C)  Have armed guards in schools 
D)  Ban handguns altogether 
A)  Make schools gun-free zones 
B)  Allow children over the age of fourteen to carry guns to school 
C)  Have armed guards in schools 
D)  Ban handguns altogether C

Question 2

The following argument commits the post hoc fallacy: "I stepped on a crack in the sidewalk and then my mother's back was broken.So my stepping on the crack caused her back to be broken."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

An argument that forces you to choose from a small set of the possible choices commits the fallacy of ambiguity.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 4

Which of the following fallacies is a fallacy of ambiguity?

Accepted Answer

A)  the fallacy of equivocation 
B)  hasty generalization 
C)  modus tollens 
D)  the ad hominem fallacy 
A)  the fallacy of equivocation 
B)  hasty generalization 
C)  modus tollens 
D)  the ad hominem fallacy

Question 5

We can assume that there is a causal connection between two things if a correlation can be found between them.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

An argument contains an informal fallacy only if it begs the question.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Which of the following best describes the red herring fallacy?

Accepted Answer

A)  slapping someone with a large fish 
B)  bringing up information that is completely irrelevant to the point at hand 
C)  seeking only information that confirms the opinion you hold 
D)  ignoring information that would disconfirm your opinion 
A)  slapping someone with a large fish 
B)  bringing up information that is completely irrelevant to the point at hand 
C)  seeking only information that confirms the opinion you hold 
D)  ignoring information that would disconfirm your opinion

Question 8

The following argument contains a formal fallacy: "The Earth is round.Therefore,the Earth is round."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

An argument contains a fallacy when it appears to be a good argument but is not.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

A loaded question is a fallacy involving an unwarranted assumption.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The following is an example of an argument that contains a fallacy of equivocation: "If you do not believe in God,then the Crusaders will kill you.So you should believe in God."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Evoking a person's pity is always to invoke an irrelevant consideration.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the slippery slope fallacy?

Accepted Answer

A) attacking an individual's character rather than considering his or her arguments. 
B) drawing a general conclusion from an unrepresentative sample. 
C) arguing that if something is accepted in one case,then it must be accepted in all cases. 
D) an argument with the following form: "If A,then B.Not A.Therefore,not B." 
A) attacking an individual's character rather than considering his or her arguments. 
B) drawing a general conclusion from an unrepresentative sample. 
C) arguing that if something is accepted in one case,then it must be accepted in all cases. 
D) an argument with the following form: "If A,then B.Not A.Therefore,not B."

Question 14

Which of the following best describes an argument that commits the informal fallacy of equivocation?

Accepted Answer

A)  an argument that fails because it relies on words that are ambiguous 
B)  an argument that is invalid 
C)  an argument that is valid but relies on a false premise 
D)  an argument in which a grammatical mistake allows more than one conclusion to be drawn 
A)  an argument that fails because it relies on words that are ambiguous 
B)  an argument that is invalid 
C)  an argument that is valid but relies on a false premise 
D)  an argument in which a grammatical mistake allows more than one conclusion to be drawn

Question 15

Careful attention to grammar can help you avoid which fallacy?

Accepted Answer

A)  the fallacy of amphiboly 
B)  appeal to force 
C)  confirmation bias 
D)  the fallacy of equivocation 
A)  the fallacy of amphiboly 
B)  appeal to force 
C)  confirmation bias 
D)  the fallacy of equivocation

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

A)  an argument that we should believe a claim because only a stupid person would deny it. 
B)  an argument that we should not believe a claim because only a stupid person would accept it. 
C)  an argument that some claim must be false because no one can prove that it is true. 
D)  an argument that claims we should not believe something because the person making the argument is not an authority in that field. 
A)  an argument that we should believe a claim because only a stupid person would deny it. 
B)  an argument that we should not believe a claim because only a stupid person would accept it. 
C)  an argument that some claim must be false because no one can prove that it is true. 
D)  an argument that claims we should not believe something because the person making the argument is not an authority in that field.

Question 17

If I conclude that all actors are wealthy on the grounds that Brad Pitt is an actor and wealthy,then I have committed the fallacy of amphiboly.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

One strategy for avoiding informal fallacies is to have a generally skeptical attitude.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Which of the following best describes an informal fallacy?

Accepted Answer

A)  an argument that at first appears to be correct but has a false premise 
B)  an argument that has a structure that renders it invalid 
C)  an argument that is psychologically appealing, but provides no support for its conclusion 
D)  an argument that does not provide enough detail for you to determine whether it provides support for its conclusion or not 
A)  an argument that at first appears to be correct but has a false premise 
B)  an argument that has a structure that renders it invalid 
C)  an argument that is psychologically appealing, but provides no support for its conclusion 
D)  an argument that does not provide enough detail for you to determine whether it provides support for its conclusion or not

Question 20

If something is natural,then it is good.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association believes that the best way to keep schools safe is to:

The following argument commits the post hoc fallacy: "I stepped on a crack in the sidewalk and then my mother's back was broken.So my stepping on the crack caused her back to be broken."

An argument that forces you to choose from a small set of the possible choices commits the fallacy of ambiguity.

Which of the following fallacies is a fallacy of ambiguity?

We can assume that there is a causal connection between two things if a correlation can be found between them.

An argument contains an informal fallacy only if it begs the question.

Which of the following best describes the red herring fallacy?

The following argument contains a formal fallacy: "The Earth is round.Therefore,the Earth is round."

An argument contains a fallacy when it appears to be a good argument but is not.

A loaded question is a fallacy involving an unwarranted assumption.

The following is an example of an argument that contains a fallacy of equivocation: "If you do not believe in God,then the Crusaders will kill you.So you should believe in God."

Evoking a person's pity is always to invoke an irrelevant consideration.

Which of the following best describes the slippery slope fallacy?

Which of the following best describes an argument that commits the informal fallacy of equivocation?

Careful attention to grammar can help you avoid which fallacy?

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

If I conclude that all actors are wealthy on the grounds that Brad Pitt is an actor and wealthy,then I have committed the fallacy of amphiboly.

One strategy for avoiding informal fallacies is to have a generally skeptical attitude.

Which of the following best describes an informal fallacy?

If something is natural,then it is good.

Critical Thinking: Why Its Important?

Reason and Emotion

Language and Communication

Knowledge, Evidence, and Errors in Thinking

Recognizing, Analyzing, and Constructing Arguments

Inductive Arguments

Deductive Arguments

Ethics and Moral Decision Making

Marketing and Advertising

Mass Media

Science

Law and Politics

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Exam 5: Informal Fallacies

Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association believes that the best way to keep schools safe is to:

The following argument commits the post hoc fallacy: "I stepped on a crack in the sidewalk and then my mother's back was broken.So my stepping on the crack caused her back to be broken."

An argument that forces you to choose from a small set of the possible choices commits the fallacy of ambiguity.

Which of the following fallacies is a fallacy of ambiguity?

We can assume that there is a causal connection between two things if a correlation can be found between them.

An argument contains an informal fallacy only if it begs the question.

Which of the following best describes the red herring fallacy?

The following argument contains a formal fallacy: "The Earth is round.Therefore,the Earth is round."

An argument contains a fallacy when it appears to be a good argument but is not.

A loaded question is a fallacy involving an unwarranted assumption.

The following is an example of an argument that contains a fallacy of equivocation: "If you do not believe in God,then the Crusaders will kill you.So you should believe in God."

Evoking a person's pity is always to invoke an irrelevant consideration.

Which of the following best describes the slippery slope fallacy?

Which of the following best describes an argument that commits the informal fallacy of equivocation?

Careful attention to grammar can help you avoid which fallacy?

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

If I conclude that all actors are wealthy on the grounds that Brad Pitt is an actor and wealthy,then I have committed the fallacy of amphiboly.

One strategy for avoiding informal fallacies is to have a generally skeptical attitude.

Which of the following best describes an informal fallacy?

If something is natural,then it is good.

Critical Thinking: Why Its Important?

Reason and Emotion

Language and Communication

Knowledge, Evidence, and Errors in Thinking

Recognizing, Analyzing, and Constructing Arguments

Inductive Arguments

Deductive Arguments

Ethics and Moral Decision Making

Marketing and Advertising

Mass Media

Science

Law and Politics

Filters