Question 1

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.
Those four officers who killed the innocent man in New York by mistake should be found not guilty of any crime. None of them had ever been in any kind of trouble before, and, tragically, this kind of thing is just going to happen when we have aggressive police work.

Accepted Answer

Irrelevant conclusion; in fact, two irrelevant conclusions.

Question 2

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.
Getting on Senator Davis's case about the propriety of some of his financial dealings strikes me as just plain carping. Davis made a considerable economic sacrifice when he left private industry and entered politics; the people of this district are lucky to have him there.

Accepted Answer

Irrelevant conclusion with an appeal to pity.

Question 3

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.
I know there are people who think that Sarah is too impetuous and flighty. But these qualities only make her exciting to me and make me love her all the more.

Accepted Answer

This is really as much a case of self-induced self-deception as it is fallacious reasoning. We suppose wishful thinking is as close as our categories come to it. (Instances of this sort seem almost absurdly silly to most of us most of the time, but we must remember that reasoning about certain subjects becomes much more difficult when romance puts one's brain chemistry inconveniently, if pleasantly, out of kilter. It is part of the human condition that we are sometimes called on to make crucial decisions at such times.)

Question 4

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.
"A preliminary economic analysis suggests that federal government proposals to protect the northern spotted owl will cost the Pacific Northwest about 40,000 jobs-and the effect on the spotted owl population is pretty much unknown. But, hey, what do the livelihoods of 40,000 human beings matter when the government is responding to pressure groups?"
-Orange County Register

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Question 5

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.
"I say let's splurge and buy seats on the fifty-yard line. I know a place we can get them for twenty-five dollars apiece."
"Good grief! Maybe you want to spend every last cent we make on a football game, but not me. Are you nuts?"

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Question 6

Identify any fallacies in the following passage.
"You hear that idea at Tea Party conventions. I'm surprised you agree with it."

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"You...

Question 7

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.
Listen, friends, it's our money the board of supervisors wants to spend putting sewers and other improvements out there in that Antelope Creek development. And you know who's going to profit from it the most? The developers, who don't even live around here. I tell you, we have sat back and done nothing long enough! It's high time we told these out-of-town interlopers or antelopers or whatever they are to go mess with somebody else's town. I won't stand for it any more!

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Question 8

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.
No, I do NOT believe that a murderer has a right to live, and here's why: The criminal justice system in this country has gotten completely out of control, what with rapists, murderers, you name it-all getting off scot-free. It's got to change!

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Question 9

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.
You show me when a fetus wasn't a person, just show me! Tell me exactly when it is. When the baby is born? Well, why not just a day before that? Or the day before that? Or the day before that? Where you gonna draw the line? You gotta say life begins with conception.

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Question 10

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.
Every event has a cause other than itself, since if it didn't, it would have to have caused itself, which is impossible.

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Question 11

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.
Sure, I've been irritable today, but I actually did a good thing for Zanja when I told him he's an annoying person who always hangs around us like a leech. It's not because I'm in a bad mood; I'm actually doing him a kindness.

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Question 12

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.
You should give Arthur the job. He just lost his wife last week; he needs this job.

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Question 13

Identify any fallacies in the following passage.
"Pryor's diatribe against gun control is flat-out nonsense. He probably doesn't believe that stuff himself."

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"Pryor's...

Question 14

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.
I am absolutely sick of hearing about those L.
A.police officers who committed all those crimes.It's time for the press to lay off and give law enforcement officers a break.There are a lot of very good police officers out there, and they aren't recognized nearly as often as they should be.

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Question 15

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.
"Of course the Task Force on Crime is going to conclude that crime is on the way up. If they conclude it's on the way down, they'd have to disband the task force, wouldn't they?"

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Question 16

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.
This business of American car manufacturers having joint ventures with foreign car makers really stinks. Think of the consequences of not being able to buy American-made cars. No jobs for American car workers, no big cars, no ready supply of parts, no consumption of American steel. I think we should prohibit joint ventures.

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Question 17

Identify any fallacies in the following passage.
"It is essential that we arrive early. Shake a leg, or we will leave without you."

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"It...

Question 18

Identify any fallacies in the following passage.
"There can't be anything worthwhile in this new operating system. Microsoft comes out with a new OS every two years, it seems like."

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"There...

Question 19

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? Yes. Maybe you favor excluding everyone except for white Anglo-Saxon males with adolescent personalities, but not me.

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Question 20

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.
Don't give me reasons where feelings are concerned; I can't be argued out of my feelings.

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Exam 6: Performance Evaluation: Variance Analysis

Identify any fallacies in the following passage. "You hear that idea at Tea Party conventions. I'm surprised you agree with it."

Identify any fallacies in the following passage. "Pryor's diatribe against gun control is flat-out nonsense. He probably doesn't believe that stuff himself."

Identify any fallacies in the following passage. "It is essential that we arrive early. Shake a leg, or we will leave without you."

Identify any fallacies in the following passage. "There can't be anything worthwhile in this new operating system. Microsoft comes out with a new OS every two years, it seems like."