Question 1

Which fallacy attacks the arguer rather than the argument?

Accepted Answer

A)   Slippery slope
B)   Begging the question
C)   False dilemma
D)   Ad hominem
E)   Straw man D

Question 2

Which fallacy involves basing a claim on an unstated assumption or premise which has yet to be proven?

Accepted Answer

A)   Ad hominem
B)   Faulty cause
C)   Begging the question
D)   Generalization C

Question 3

Compare and contrast the following two fallacies: appeal to tradition and appeal to the crowd. In what ways are they similar? How do they differ?

Accepted Answer

The appeal to tradition fallacy and the appeal to the crowd fallacy are both types of logical fallacies that rely on emotional or popular appeal rather than sound reasoning.

Similarities:
- Both fallacies rely on appealing to emotions or popular opinion rather than presenting logical arguments.
- They both attempt to persuade by using the beliefs or actions of others as evidence, rather than providing valid reasoning or evidence.

Differences:
- The appeal to tradition fallacy relies on the belief that something is better or more valid because it is old or traditional. It argues that because something has been done a certain way for a long time, it must be the best way. On the other hand, the appeal to the crowd fallacy relies on the belief that something is true or valid because many people believe it to be so. It argues that because a large number of people believe something, it must be true or correct.
- The appeal to tradition fallacy focuses on the past and the way things have always been done, while the appeal to the crowd fallacy focuses on the present and the beliefs or actions of a current group of people.

In conclusion, while both fallacies rely on emotional or popular appeal, they differ in their focus and the way they use tradition or popular opinion as evidence. Both fallacies should be avoided in logical arguments, as they do not provide valid reasoning or evidence.

Question 4

In the statement, "Professor Windplenty's test was extremely unfair. Just ask anyone who took it!" the primary fallacy is:

Accepted Answer

A)   Sweeping generalization
B)   Appeal to the crowd
C)   False dilemma
D)   Hasty generalization
E)   Ad hominem

Question 5

"Foods that are low in sugar have more fat. Foods that are low in fat have more sugar. A dieter can't win." This is an example of which fallacy?

Accepted Answer

A)   Slippery slope
B)   Tu quoque
C)   Red herring
D)   Post hoc
E)   False dilemma

Question 6

Provide an example of a bifurcation fallacy or false dilemma. If confronted with such an argument, what is the best way to counter or refute it?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Provide an example of a bifurcation fallacy...

Question 7

Your book discusses several fallacies that divert attention away from the substantive issue at hand. Compare and contrast two of these fallacies.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Your book discusses several fallacies that divert...

Question 8

Lloyd is interviewing for a job. Interviewer: "How do I know you are trustworthy and dependable?" Lloyd: "Just ask my friend, Harvey. He'll tell you." Interviewer: "Why should I take Harvey's word for it? I don't even know him." Lloyd: "Trust me, he's my best friend. He would never lie." Which fallacy has Lloyd committed?

Accepted Answer

A)   Straw man
B)   Appeal to the crowd
C)   Post hoc
D)   Slippery slope
E)   Tautology

Question 9

Dr. Peter Duesberg, a molecular biologist at U.C. Berkeley claims, "It is not proven that HIV is the cause of AIDS," because no one has proven that HIV causes AIDS and, "there should be scientific documents … which demonstrate that fact." Duesberg's argument entails which fallacy?

Accepted Answer

A)   Faulty sign
B)   Hasty generalization
C)   Sweeping generalization
D)   Red herring
E)   Appeal to ignorance

Question 10

Beating up on a weak or minor issue in a controversy because it is easy or convenient to attack is known as a/an:

Accepted Answer

A)   Tar baby
B)   Trojan horse
C)   Straw man
D)   Circumlocution

Question 11

Which of these is a variation of the tu quoque fallacy?

Accepted Answer

A)   Abusive ad hominem
B)   Hollow man
C)   Whataboutism
D)   Circular reasoning

Question 12

"The U.S. shouldn't use Apache helicopters to attack enemy positions, because the use of the name "Apache" to refer to a military weapon is offensive to Native Americans." The most likely fallacy here is:

Accepted Answer

A)   False dilemma
B)   Red herring
C)   Faulty cause
D)   Faulty analogy

Question 13

"Thousands of people have reported seeing UFOs. When that many people claim to have seen something, the phenomenon must be real." The most likely fallacy here is:

Accepted Answer

A)   Appeal to the crowd
B)   Red herring
C)   Non-sequitur
D)   Appeal to extremes

Question 14

"I haven't seen any studies proving that lyrics in rap music lead to negative attitudes toward women, increased violence against women, or sexual aggression toward women. In the absence of any firm evidence against rap music, I think it is safe to say rap lyrics are harmless or benign." The most likely fallacy here is:

Accepted Answer

A)   Equivocation
B)   Appeal to ignorance
C)   Tautology
D)   False dilemma

Question 15

An adolescent is arrested for shoplifting cigarettes at a convenience store. Officer: "We'll be taking you down to the station, where you'll be formally charged with shoplifting." Adolescent: "Why punish me? I just did some other smoker a favor. Smoking is harmful, so by taking those cigarettes, I may have prevented another smoker's death." What fallacy in reasoning has the troubled teen committed?

Accepted Answer

A)   Faulty sign
B)   Sweeping generalization
C)   Red herring
D)   Appeal to authority

Question 16

"People who want to keep marijuana illegal should realize that two of our founding fathers, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, grew hemp." This argument is based on:

Accepted Answer

A)   Appeal to the crowd
B)   Slippery slope
C)   False dilemma
D)   Appeal to authority

Question 17

What fallacy is represented by this statement?:"Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons. Either we bomb Iran back to the Stone Age, or we wait for them to bomb us."

Accepted Answer

A)   Slippery slope
B)   False dilemma
C)   Ad hominem
D)   Hasty generalization

Question 18

Provide an example of a real or imaginary tu quoque fallacy. Using the same example, explain how the fallacy could be refuted.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Provide an example of a real or...

Question 19

At a school board meeting, Edna tells the board, "Anyone who is against school prayer is against God. And anyone who is against God is for Satan. And anyone who is for Satan shouldn't have a say in how our schools are run." Edna has committed which fallacy?

Accepted Answer

A)   Faulty cause
B)   Damning the source
C)   Faulty analogy
D)   Nolo divertium

Question 20

What is the difference between a legitimate attack on a source's credibility and an abusive ad hominem attack? Offer a specific example of each to support your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the difference between a legitimate...

Exam 9: Fallacies in Reasoning, Part II