Question 1

Which of the following is an instance of snob appeal?

Accepted Answer

A)  an argument that claims Smith is the best candidate for office on the grounds that he has a ninety-two percent approval rating in the latest poll 
B)  an argument that you should vote for Smith on the grounds that if you do not, Smith will have you killed 
C)  an argument that you should vote for Smith on the grounds that a movie star has endorsed him 
D)  None of these answers is an example of snob appeal. 
A)  an argument that claims Smith is the best candidate for office on the grounds that he has a ninety-two percent approval rating in the latest poll 
B)  an argument that you should vote for Smith on the grounds that if you do not, Smith will have you killed 
C)  an argument that you should vote for Smith on the grounds that a movie star has endorsed him 
D)  None of these answers is an example of snob appeal.

Question 2

The following argument commits the ad hominem fallacy: "John believes the Earth is flat,but you should not believe him.He smells funny."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

An appeal to ignorance is a fallacy of relevance.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

A famous person appearing in an ad for a product completely unrelated to the person's fame or expertise commits a fallacy of popular appeal.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

A formal fallacy occurs is when the form of the argument itself is invalid.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

If I conclude that Brad Pitt is wealthy on the grounds that actors are wealthy,I have committed the fallacy of division.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Which of the following commits the fallacy of popular appeal?

Accepted Answer

A)  an argument that we should believe that evolutionary theory is correct on the grounds that almost all biologists believe it 
B)  an argument that you should vote for Smith because everyone else is going to vote for him 
C)  an argument that we should believe that the Earth is flat on the grounds that the Earth certainly does not look round when you are standing on it 
D)  All of these answers describe arguments that commit the fallacy of popular appeal. 
A)  an argument that we should believe that evolutionary theory is correct on the grounds that almost all biologists believe it 
B)  an argument that you should vote for Smith because everyone else is going to vote for him 
C)  an argument that we should believe that the Earth is flat on the grounds that the Earth certainly does not look round when you are standing on it 
D)  All of these answers describe arguments that commit the fallacy of popular appeal.

Question 8

Which of the following commits the naturalistic fallacy?

Accepted Answer

A)  an argument that we should not eat meat on the grounds that it will help the environment 
B)  an argument that birth control should be widely distributed because it would help end poverty 
C)  an argument that we should try to eat more natural foods because of the overuse of pesticides in farming 
D)  an argument that birth control is wrong because it is unnatural 
A)  an argument that we should not eat meat on the grounds that it will help the environment 
B)  an argument that birth control should be widely distributed because it would help end poverty 
C)  an argument that we should try to eat more natural foods because of the overuse of pesticides in farming 
D)  an argument that birth control is wrong because it is unnatural

Question 9

Avoiding verbal disputes can require careful attention to the meaning of words.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Which of the following involves the fallacy of hasty generalization?

Accepted Answer

A)  drawing a general conclusion from a sample that is too small 
B)  concluding something about an entire group based on a study of every member of the group 
C)  drawing a general conclusion from a randomly selected sample 
D)  All of these are ways of committing the fallacy of hasty generalization. 
A)  drawing a general conclusion from a sample that is too small 
B)  concluding something about an entire group based on a study of every member of the group 
C)  drawing a general conclusion from a randomly selected sample 
D)  All of these are ways of committing the fallacy of hasty generalization.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the fallacy of accent?

Accepted Answer

A)  an argument where there is misunderstanding someone due to a person's foreign accent 
B)  seeking out only information that confirms your opinion 
C)  ignoring information that disconfirms your opinion 
D)  an argument that relies on a change of meaning due to focusing on one word or phrase inappropriately 
A)  an argument where there is misunderstanding someone due to a person's foreign accent 
B)  seeking out only information that confirms your opinion 
C)  ignoring information that disconfirms your opinion 
D)  an argument that relies on a change of meaning due to focusing on one word or phrase inappropriately

Question 12

Which of the following is true of making a negative claim about a person's character?

Accepted Answer

A)  Doing so always results in committing the ad hominem fallacy. 
B)  Such attacks can only benefit a personal relationship. 
C)  Such claims can be a relevant consideration in an argument. 
D)  None of these answers is true of making negative claims about a person's character. 
A)  Doing so always results in committing the ad hominem fallacy. 
B)  Such attacks can only benefit a personal relationship. 
C)  Such claims can be a relevant consideration in an argument. 
D)  None of these answers is true of making negative claims about a person's character.

Question 13

Claiming that a member of a group must have some characteristic of that group is which informal fallacy?

Accepted Answer

A)  the fallacy of amphiboly 
B)  appeal to ignorance 
C)  the fallacy of division 
D)  the fallacy of accent 
A)  the fallacy of amphiboly 
B)  appeal to ignorance 
C)  the fallacy of division 
D)  the fallacy of accent

Question 14

Which of the following displays the informal fallacy of appeal to pity?

Accepted Answer

A) A man argues that you should believe that he is rich because,if you do not,he will punch you in the face. 
B) A classmate concedes a disagreement with you,but only because she believes you are not smart enough to win a debate with her. 
C) A student asks a teacher to give him an A in a course because,if he gets anything less,he will not get into medical school. 
D) A woman argues that you must be wrong because you are a jerk. 
A) A man argues that you should believe that he is rich because,if you do not,he will punch you in the face. 
B) A classmate concedes a disagreement with you,but only because she believes you are not smart enough to win a debate with her. 
C) A student asks a teacher to give him an A in a course because,if he gets anything less,he will not get into medical school. 
D) A woman argues that you must be wrong because you are a jerk.

Question 15

If most people believe something,then you should believe it too.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Which of the following is a strategy for avoiding informal fallacies?

Accepted Answer

A)  Determine which fallacies others are likely to fall for and use these fallacies in your argument. 
B)  Focus on winning when presenting the argument. 
C)  Learn to listen carefully. 
D)  Draw conclusions before doing research. 
A)  Determine which fallacies others are likely to fall for and use these fallacies in your argument. 
B)  Focus on winning when presenting the argument. 
C)  Learn to listen carefully. 
D)  Draw conclusions before doing research.

Question 17

Which of the following is a fallacy of relevance?

Accepted Answer

A)  modus ponens 
B)  the straw man fallacy 
C)  the fallacy of equivocation 
D)  affirming the consequent 
A)  modus ponens 
B)  the straw man fallacy 
C)  the fallacy of equivocation 
D)  affirming the consequent

Question 18

Which of the following is a fallacy that does NOT involve making an unwarranted assumption?

Accepted Answer

A)  begging the question 
B)  slippery slope 
C)  inappropriate appeal to authority 
D)  red herring 
A)  begging the question 
B)  slippery slope 
C)  inappropriate appeal to authority 
D)  red herring

Which of the following is an instance of snob appeal?

The following argument commits the ad hominem fallacy: "John believes the Earth is flat,but you should not believe him.He smells funny."

An appeal to ignorance is a fallacy of relevance.

A famous person appearing in an ad for a product completely unrelated to the person's fame or expertise commits a fallacy of popular appeal.

A formal fallacy occurs is when the form of the argument itself is invalid.

If I conclude that Brad Pitt is wealthy on the grounds that actors are wealthy,I have committed the fallacy of division.

Which of the following commits the fallacy of popular appeal?

Which of the following commits the naturalistic fallacy?

Avoiding verbal disputes can require careful attention to the meaning of words.

Which of the following involves the fallacy of hasty generalization?

Which of the following best describes the fallacy of accent?

Which of the following is true of making a negative claim about a person's character?

Claiming that a member of a group must have some characteristic of that group is which informal fallacy?

Which of the following displays the informal fallacy of appeal to pity?

If most people believe something,then you should believe it too.

Which of the following is a strategy for avoiding informal fallacies?

Which of the following is a fallacy of relevance?

Which of the following is a fallacy that does NOT involve making an unwarranted assumption?

Critical Thinking: Why Its Important?

Reason and Emotion

Language and Communication

Knowledge, Evidence, and Errors in Thinking

Recognizing, Analyzing, and Constructing Arguments

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Exam 5: Informal Fallacies

Which of the following is an instance of snob appeal?

The following argument commits the ad hominem fallacy: "John believes the Earth is flat,but you should not believe him.He smells funny."

An appeal to ignorance is a fallacy of relevance.

A famous person appearing in an ad for a product completely unrelated to the person's fame or expertise commits a fallacy of popular appeal.

A formal fallacy occurs is when the form of the argument itself is invalid.

If I conclude that Brad Pitt is wealthy on the grounds that actors are wealthy,I have committed the fallacy of division.

Which of the following commits the fallacy of popular appeal?

Which of the following commits the naturalistic fallacy?

Avoiding verbal disputes can require careful attention to the meaning of words.

Which of the following involves the fallacy of hasty generalization?

Which of the following best describes the fallacy of accent?

Which of the following is true of making a negative claim about a person's character?

Claiming that a member of a group must have some characteristic of that group is which informal fallacy?

Which of the following displays the informal fallacy of appeal to pity?

If most people believe something,then you should believe it too.

Which of the following is a strategy for avoiding informal fallacies?

Which of the following is a fallacy of relevance?

Which of the following is a fallacy that does NOT involve making an unwarranted assumption?

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