Question 1

The song "I lost My Love in Nashville" is very sad. But every song is composed of notes. Therefore, every note in that song is very sad.
A) Division.
B) False cause.
C) Missing the point.
D) No fallacy.
E) Composition.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The song "I lost My Love in...

Question 2

This .75 liter bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey is 40% alcohol. Therefore, every one-ounce shot of it is 40% alcohol.
A) Division.
B) Suppressed evidence.
C) No fallacy.
D) Hasty generalization.
E) Composition.

Accepted Answer

The answer of This .75 liter bottle of Jack Daniels...

Question 3

The first thing many airline passengers do on arrival is make a phone call. TravelCom is a company that installs and operates coin operated phones in airports. Therefore, it would be a good idea to buy stock in TravelCom.
A) Suppressed evidence.
B) No fallacy.
C) Accident.
D) Appeal to ignorance.
E) Red herring.

Accepted Answer

The argument overlooks potential evidence that could weaken the conclusion, such as the increasing use of mobile phones reducing the demand for coin-operated phones, making it a suppressed evidence fallacy.

Question 4

Some halfwits manage to succeed in business. Therefore, some people who manage to succeed in business are halfwits.
A) Amphiboly.
B) Weak analogy.
C) Begging the question.
D) No fallacy.
E) Argument against the person, abusive.

Accepted Answer

The statement logically follows that if some halfwits succeed in business, then among those who succeed in business, there are some halfwits. There is no fallacy in the reasoning presented.

Question 5

Every hair on Tony's head will fall out within five years. Therefore, Tony will be bald within five years.
A) Hasty generalization.
B) False cause.
C) Composition.
D) No fallacy.
E) Division.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Every hair on Tony's head will fall...

Question 6

Joe Bradley has thick calluses on both of his hands. Thus, it would appear that Joe does a lot of manual labor.
A) False cause.
B) Accident.
C) No fallacy.
D) Composition.
E) Appeal to ignorance.

Accepted Answer

The statement logically infers that Joe's thick calluses are a result of manual labor, which is a common and reasonable conclusion. There's no evident misuse of logic or reasoning in the statement, making it free from fallacy.

Question 7

Shortly after retiring from his job, Mr. Lopez had a heart attack and died. The same thing happened to Mrs. Harris. I think the message is clear: Whatever you do, never retire from your job.
A) Hasty generalization.
B) Slippery slope.
C) No fallacy.
D) Appeal to the people.
E) False cause.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Shortly after retiring from his job, Mr....

Question 8

More and more cars in this state are unable to pass the fuel emissions test. Therefore, it seems clear we should relax the emissions standard.
A) Straw man.
B) No fallacy.
C) Missing the point.
D) Appeal to unqualified authority.
E) Argument against the person, abusive.

Accepted Answer

The argument misses the point because the problem is with the cars not meeting the current emissions standard, not the standard itself. Relaxing the standard would not solve the problem and could potentially make it worse.

Question 9

Ending one's own life is morally permissible because people are rightfully in charge of their own lives. And this is so because people have the freedom to determine their own destiny. And this follows from the fact that people have the moral right to decide whether they live or die. And this is true because ending one's own life is morally permissible.
A) Equivocation.
B) Slippery slope.
C) False cause.
D) No fallacy.
E) Begging the question.

Accepted Answer

This argument is circular and begs the question, assuming what it is trying to prove. It claims that ending one's own life is morally permissible because people have the moral right to decide whether they live or die, and then asserts that this is true because ending one's own life is morally permissible. It fails to provide valid reasoning or evidence to support its conclusion.

Question 10

Nobody has ever proved that the universe wasn't created in six days. Therefore, we must conclude that the universe was indeed created in six days, just like it says in Genesis.
A) Appeal to ignorance.
B) False dichotomy.
C) No fallacy.
D) Hasty generalization.
E) Appeal to unqualified authority.

Accepted Answer

The argument is using the lack of evidence to support a claim as evidence for the claim. This is known as the fallacy of appeal to ignorance.

Question 11

Madam Voodoo, the famous psychic, says she has communicated with departed souls. Therefore, it follows there is life after death.
A) Red herring.
B) Straw man.
C) Argument against the person, abusive.
D) Appeal to unqualified authority.
E) No fallacy.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of the fallacy of appeal to unqualified authority, as Madam Voodoo's claim to have communicated with departed souls does not necessarily make her an expert on the topic of the existence of life after death.

Question 12

If U.S. Presidents start more wars, then the U.S. will go broke. If U.S. Presidents start more wars, then every country will boycott U.S. products. Therefore, if every country boycotts U.S. products, then the U.S. will go broke.
A) This argument contains a fallacy of illicit transference.
B) This argument contains a fallacy of relevance.
C) This argument contains no fallacy.
D) This argument contains a fallacy of ambiguity.
E) This argument contains a formal fallacy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If U.S. Presidents start more wars, then...

Question 13

Harry shouldn't be thrown out of college for cheating. He's been on academic probation for the past year, and this has caused terrible stress. The poor guy hasn't been able to sleep at night, he can't keep his food down, and he's constantly sick with worry about his future. Surely you can find it in your hearts to give him a second chance.
A) Missing the point.
B) Appeal to force.
C) False cause.
D) No fallacy.
E) Appeal to pity.

Accepted Answer

This argument is using an appeal to pity by emphasizing the negative consequences Harry has faced as a result of academic probation and cheating. The argument is attempting to evoke sympathy and compassion, rather than presenting a logical justification for why Harry should not be thrown out of college.

Question 14

The U.S. has a right to eradicate dictatorships wherever it finds them. Dictators crush the right of self-governance given by God to all of his children. Dictators suppress liberty and freedom. They sacrifice the lives of their people to satisfy their own corrupt aims and desires. Dictators are vile monsters! They embody the power of Satan wherever they dwell. Down with dictatorships everywhere!
A) No fallacy.
B) Suppressed evidence.
C) Argument against the person, abusive.
D) Appeal to the people.
E) Appeal to unqualified authority.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The U.S. has a right to eradicate...

Question 15

Johnny, you better not tell anyone that I stole the apple from the teacher's desk. I'm sure you don't want to come to class with a bloody nose and a black eye tomorrow.
A) Appeal to force.
B) No fallacy.
C) Argument against the person, circumstantial.
D) Straw man.
E) Appeal to pity.

Accepted Answer

This is an appeal to force, as the speaker is threatening physical harm in order to prevent the listener from revealing their theft.

Question 16

Pauline's argument for stricter drug laws is as worn out as she is. Her brain has practically calcified, she can hardly remember anything, and she confuses the letter carrier with the gardener. I'm afraid we'll just have to pass over her argument.
A) Missing the point.
B) Argument against the person, abusive.
C) No fallacy.
D) Red herring.
E) Appeal to unqualified authority.

Accepted Answer

The speaker attacks Pauline's character and age instead of addressing the merits of her argument, which is a personal attack or ad hominem fallacy.

Question 17

You should never buy your child a goldfish, because next it will be a hamster and then a rabbit. After that the kid will scream for a cat, and then a dog. Next it will be a horse, then a water buffalo, and finally an elephant. The cost of pet food will drive you to the poor house.
A) No fallacy.
B) Slippery slope.
C) Begging the question.
D) False cause.
E) Appeal to force.

Accepted Answer

The argument presents a series of events that escalate from a minor decision (buying a goldfish) to a disastrous consequence (owning an elephant), without any clear causal connection between them. This is a classic example of a slippery slope fallacy.

Question 18

Colleen, you know something about American history. Tell me, did the Civil War start in 1860 or 1861?
A) Begging the question.
B) No fallacy.
C) False dichotomy.
D) Complex question.
E) Missing the point.

Accepted Answer

The question is not fallacious.

Question 19

There is no possibility that Jenny could have knitted this beautiful scarf. Jenny can hardly count to 10, she has the dexterity of a bull moose, and she has absolutely no sense for style or color.
A) Composition.
B) False cause.
C) Argument against the person, abusive.
D) No fallacy.
E) Argument against the person, circumstantial.

Accepted Answer

The answer of There is no possibility that Jenny could...

Question 20

Paul's argument against hiring undocumented immigrants is totally worthless. For six years Paul hired an undocumented nanny from Guatemala to take care of his kids.
A) Argument against the person, abusive.
B) Appeal to unqualified authority.
C) Straw man.
D) No fallacy.
E) You, too (tu quoque).

Accepted Answer

This is an example of the "You, too" or "tu quoque" fallacy, which attempts to discredit an argument by pointing out hypocrisy or inconsistency on the part of the person making the argument. Just because Paul hired an undocumented nanny does not necessarily mean that his argument against hiring undocumented immigrants is invalid, but it does call into question his consistency and integrity on the issue.

Quiz 3: Informal Fallacies

The song "I lost My Love in Nashville" is very sad. But every song is composed of notes. Therefore, every note in that song is very sad.

This .75 liter bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey is 40% alcohol. Therefore, every one-ounce shot of it is 40% alcohol.

The first thing many airline passengers do on arrival is make a phone call. TravelCom is a company that installs and operates coin operated phones in airports. Therefore, it would be a good idea to buy stock in TravelCom.

Some halfwits manage to succeed in business. Therefore, some people who manage to succeed in business are halfwits.

Every hair on Tony's head will fall out within five years. Therefore, Tony will be bald within five years.

Joe Bradley has thick calluses on both of his hands. Thus, it would appear that Joe does a lot of manual labor.

Shortly after retiring from his job, Mr. Lopez had a heart attack and died. The same thing happened to Mrs. Harris. I think the message is clear: Whatever you do, never retire from your job.

More and more cars in this state are unable to pass the fuel emissions test. Therefore, it seems clear we should relax the emissions standard.

Nobody has ever proved that the universe wasn't created in six days. Therefore, we must conclude that the universe was indeed created in six days, just like it says in Genesis.

Madam Voodoo, the famous psychic, says she has communicated with departed souls. Therefore, it follows there is life after death.

If U.S. Presidents start more wars, then the U.S. will go broke. If U.S. Presidents start more wars, then every country will boycott U.S. products. Therefore, if every country boycotts U.S. products, then the U.S. will go broke.

Johnny, you better not tell anyone that I stole the apple from the teacher's desk. I'm sure you don't want to come to class with a bloody nose and a black eye tomorrow.

Pauline's argument for stricter drug laws is as worn out as she is. Her brain has practically calcified, she can hardly remember anything, and she confuses the letter carrier with the gardener. I'm afraid we'll just have to pass over her argument.

You should never buy your child a goldfish, because next it will be a hamster and then a rabbit. After that the kid will scream for a cat, and then a dog. Next it will be a horse, then a water buffalo, and finally an elephant. The cost of pet food will drive you to the poor house.

Colleen, you know something about American history. Tell me, did the Civil War start in 1860 or 1861?

There is no possibility that Jenny could have knitted this beautiful scarf. Jenny can hardly count to 10, she has the dexterity of a bull moose, and she has absolutely no sense for style or color.

Paul's argument against hiring undocumented immigrants is totally worthless. For six years Paul hired an undocumented nanny from Guatemala to take care of his kids.