Question 1

Sugar is sweet. Therefore, its chemical components, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, are sweet.
A) Missing the point.
B) False cause.
C) Division.
D) No fallacy.
E) Composition.

Accepted Answer

The fallacy of division is assuming that what is true of the whole must also be true of its parts. In this case, assuming the chemical components of sugar must be sweet because sugar is sweet is an example of this fallacy.

Question 2

Every member of the drill team marches very well. Therefore, the drill team marches very well.
A) Composition.
B) False cause.
C) Hasty generalization.
D) No fallacy.
E) Division.

Accepted Answer

This is the composition fallacy, where the belief that the whole (drill team) shares the property of its individual parts (members) is assumed to be true without adequate evidence.

Question 3

Professor Wilson argues that it is absolutely wrong for students to plagiarize their work. But who is she to talk? I have it on good evidence that Wilson plagiarized her own work when she was a student.
A) No fallacy.
B) Appeal to unqualified authority.
C) Straw man.
D) You, too (tu quoque).
E) Argument against the person, abusive.

Accepted Answer

This argument uses the tu quoque fallacy because it attempts to discredit Professor Wilson's argument against plagiarism by pointing out that she herself has committed plagiarism in the past. While it may be true that Wilson has committed plagiarism, it does not change the fact that plagiarism is still wrong, and her argument against it is still valid.

Question 4

This one-liter glass vial contains a 3 percent solution of sulfuric acid. Therefore, every cubic centimeter of its contents is a 3 percent solution of sulfuric acid.
A) No fallacy.
B) Suppressed evidence.
C) Division.
D) Hasty generalization.
E) Composition.

Accepted Answer

The answer of This one-liter glass vial contains a 3...

Question 5

Cynthia, you know a lot about geography. Tell me. Does Zambia share a border with the Congo?
A) No fallacy.
B) Begging the question.
C) Division.
D) Complex question.
E) Missing the point.

Accepted Answer

This is a straightforward factual question that can be answered with a yes or no, so there is no fallacy involved. As for the answer to the question, the correct answer is yes, Zambia shares a border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Question 6

During the past 100 years the average minimum wage in the U.S. has been less than $3 per hour. Therefore, during the next 100 years the average minimum wage in the U.S. will be less than $3 per hour.
A) Appeal to ignorance.
B) No fallacy.
C) Accident.
D) Suppressed evidence.
E) Red herring.

Accepted Answer

The argument fails to consider factors that could change the future minimum wage, such as inflation, economic growth, and legislative changes, which could lead to an increase in the minimum wage. This omission of relevant information is why "Suppressed evidence" is the correct choice.

Question 7

Some individuals with political aspirations are incompetent bozos. Therefore, some incompetent bozos are individuals with political aspirations.
A) Amphiboly.
B) Weak analogy.
C) Begging the question.
D) No fallacy.
E) Argument against the person, abusive.

Accepted Answer

This is a valid and logical statement that does not contain any fallacy. It simply provides a conclusion based on a logical premise.

Question 8

Philosopher Peter Singer argues for the right to kill handicapped newborn babies. But Singer is a disgusting irreligious crypto Nazi who is sometimes described as the most dangerous man in the world today. Obviously his arguments are nonsense.
A) Missing the point.
B) Argument against the person, abusive.
C) No fallacy.
D) Red herring.
E) Appeal to unqualified authority.

Accepted Answer

This is an argument against the person, also known as an ad hominem fallacy. It attacks the character of Peter Singer rather than addressing the validity of his arguments.

Question 9

Rachel could not possibly have painted this beautiful landscape scene. Rachel is so inept she doesn't even know which end of the brush goes in the paint. And she hasn't a shred of ability when it comes to color or design.
A) No fallacy.
B) False cause.
C) Argument against the person, abusive.
D) Composition.
E) Argument against the person, circumstantial.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rachel could not possibly have painted this...

Question 10

Yes, I know it's been made legal, but this idea of same-sex marriage is an abomination! The Holy Bible says that marriage is between a man and a woman. This sacred rule is engraved in the order of nature by almighty God! Who are these perverts who would undermine the sanctity of holy wedlock? Down with the gays! Away with the femiNazis!
A) Appeal to unqualified authority.
B) Suppressed evidence.
C) Argument against the person, abusive.
D) No fallacy.
E) Appeal to the people.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Yes, I know it's been made legal,...

Question 11

The death penalty is clearly immoral. This is so because life is intrinsically valuable. And this follows from the fact that human beings are ends in themselves. And we know this is true because human beings have a right not to be killed-which follows from the fact that the state has no right to take human life. And why is this true? Because the death penalty is clearly immoral.
A) False cause.
B) Slippery slope.
C) Begging the question.
D) No fallacy.
E) Equivocation.

Accepted Answer

The argument is circular and begs the question by assuming that the death penalty is clearly immoral without providing any argument for why this is the case. It also equivocates on the meaning of "right" by using it in two different senses - as a moral entitlement and as a legal restriction.

Question 12

The use of marijuana for medical purposes should never be allowed. Before long it will be marijuana for anyone who wants it. Then it will be hash, cocaine, and crack. In no time they'll want crystal, ecstasy, and heroin. In the end everyone will be so drugged out they won't be able to see straight.
A) Appeal to force.
B) No fallacy.
C) Begging the question.
D) False cause.
E) Slippery slope.

Accepted Answer

The argument uses a slippery slope fallacy. It presents a series of increasingly extreme scenarios as inevitable consequences of allowing medical marijuana use without sufficient evidence or logic to support the claim that one will necessarily lead to the other.

Question 13

Nobody has ever proved that pornography results in increased incidents of rape and child abuse. Thus, we can only conclude that pornography has no effect on the crime rate.
A) False dichotomy.
B) Appeal to ignorance.
C) No fallacy.
D) Hasty generalization.
E) Appeal to unqualified authority.

Accepted Answer

This is an appeal to ignorance fallacy because it assumes that just because there is no proof that pornography leads to increased incidents of rape and child abuse, it must have no effect on the crime rate. Lack of evidence does not necessarily mean that the conclusion is true.

Question 14

Richard has been doing very poorly in biology this term. Therefore, he should schedule an appointment with the professor so he can criticize and berate her teaching ability.
A) Appeal to unqualified authority.
B) No fallacy.
C) Straw man.
D) Missing the point.
E) Argument against the person, abusive.

Accepted Answer

The conclusion that Richard should criticize and berate his professor's teaching ability misses the point of his poor performance, which could be addressed in more constructive ways than attacking the professor.

Question 15

The proposal to ban smoking in the workplace is a terrible idea. Consider the plight of the poor smokers. Just to get a puff, they'll have to go outside, where they'll face the icy blasts of winter, torrential rains in the spring, and the blazing sun in summer. Nobody should ever be subjected to such torture.
A) Missing the point.
B) Appeal to force.
C) False cause.
D) No fallacy.
E) Appeal to pity.

Accepted Answer

This is an appeal to pity fallacy because the argument is attempting to evoke sympathy for smokers by portraying them as victims who are subjected to unbearable weather conditions just to smoke. However, this does not address the main issue of the health consequences of secondhand smoke in the workplace.

Question 16

Senator Carter, I'm sure you will be happy to cast the deciding vote for our request to drill for oil in the Big Glacier wilderness area. After all, we know your wife is a double agent for the CIA, and I'm sure you wouldn't want her identity made known to certain foreign governments.
A) No fallacy.
B) Appeal to force.
C) Argument against the person, circumstantial.
D) Straw man.
E) Appeal to pity.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of an appeal to force, where the speaker is attempting to coerce Senator Carter into voting a certain way by threatening to expose his wife's identity as a CIA agent.

Question 17

SureShotJoe, who posts regularly on the Yahoo message boards, says that the stock of Super Tech should triple this year. Referring to Super Tech, he writes, "there stock shood goe throo the roof!" We can only conclude that Super Tech offers a great investment opportunity.
A) Appeal to unqualified authority.
B) Straw man.
C) Argument against the person, abusive.
D) Red herring.
E) No fallacy.

Accepted Answer

SureShotJoe is an unqualified authority and his statement should not be taken as a reliable source of information for making investment decisions. This fallacy is known as an appeal to unqualified authority.

Question 18

After returning from a month-long vacation, Robert turned the key in his usually reliable Camry, but nothing happened. The car must have a dead battery.
A) Accident.
B) No fallacy.
C) False cause.
D) Composition.
E) Appeal to ignorance.

Accepted Answer

Robert's conclusion that his car has a dead battery is a reasonable inference based on the common knowledge that cars that have not been started for a long period can have their batteries drained, leading to the car not starting. This is not a fallacy but a logical deduction based on experience and common automotive issues.

Question 19

A few days after Margi joined the Democratic Party she broke her foot and lost her job. Therefore, it's important that you never join up with the Democrats.
A) No fallacy.
B) Slippery slope.
C) False cause.
D) Appeal to the people.
E) Hasty generalization.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of false cause fallacy because the argument assumes that joining the Democratic Party caused Margi to break her foot and lose her job, without any evidence to support this claim. Therefore, it is not a valid reason to discourage others from joining the party.

Question 20

If media pundits accept bribes, then all credibility will vanish. If media pundits accept bribes, then national cynicism will grow. Thus, if all credibility vanishes, then national cynicism will grow.
A) This argument contains no fallacy.
B) This argument contains a fallacy of relevance.
C) This argument contains a formal fallacy.
D) This argument contains a fallacy of ambiguity.
E) This argument contains a fallacy of illicit transference.

Accepted Answer

This argument contains a formal fallacy known as the fallacy of the inverse. The conclusion is that if credibility vanishes, cynicism will grow. However, the argument assumes that if bribery occurs, it will necessarily lead to a loss of credibility. While it is likely that taking bribes would lead to a loss of credibility, it is not logically equivalent to say that a loss of credibility necessarily means that there were bribes involved. Thus, the argument is logically flawed.

Quiz 3: Informal Fallacies

Sugar is sweet. Therefore, its chemical components, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, are sweet.

Every member of the drill team marches very well. Therefore, the drill team marches very well.

Professor Wilson argues that it is absolutely wrong for students to plagiarize their work. But who is she to talk? I have it on good evidence that Wilson plagiarized her own work when she was a student.

This one-liter glass vial contains a 3 percent solution of sulfuric acid. Therefore, every cubic centimeter of its contents is a 3 percent solution of sulfuric acid.

Cynthia, you know a lot about geography. Tell me. Does Zambia share a border with the Congo?

During the past 100 years the average minimum wage in the U.S. has been less than $3 per hour. Therefore, during the next 100 years the average minimum wage in the U.S. will be less than $3 per hour.

Some individuals with political aspirations are incompetent bozos. Therefore, some incompetent bozos are individuals with political aspirations.

Philosopher Peter Singer argues for the right to kill handicapped newborn babies. But Singer is a disgusting irreligious crypto Nazi who is sometimes described as the most dangerous man in the world today. Obviously his arguments are nonsense.

Rachel could not possibly have painted this beautiful landscape scene. Rachel is so inept she doesn't even know which end of the brush goes in the paint. And she hasn't a shred of ability when it comes to color or design.

The use of marijuana for medical purposes should never be allowed. Before long it will be marijuana for anyone who wants it. Then it will be hash, cocaine, and crack. In no time they'll want crystal, ecstasy, and heroin. In the end everyone will be so drugged out they won't be able to see straight.

Nobody has ever proved that pornography results in increased incidents of rape and child abuse. Thus, we can only conclude that pornography has no effect on the crime rate.

Richard has been doing very poorly in biology this term. Therefore, he should schedule an appointment with the professor so he can criticize and berate her teaching ability.

Senator Carter, I'm sure you will be happy to cast the deciding vote for our request to drill for oil in the Big Glacier wilderness area. After all, we know your wife is a double agent for the CIA, and I'm sure you wouldn't want her identity made known to certain foreign governments.

SureShotJoe, who posts regularly on the Yahoo message boards, says that the stock of Super Tech should triple this year. Referring to Super Tech, he writes, "there stock shood goe throo the roof!" We can only conclude that Super Tech offers a great investment opportunity.

After returning from a month-long vacation, Robert turned the key in his usually reliable Camry, but nothing happened. The car must have a dead battery.

A few days after Margi joined the Democratic Party she broke her foot and lost her job. Therefore, it's important that you never join up with the Democrats.

If media pundits accept bribes, then all credibility will vanish. If media pundits accept bribes, then national cynicism will grow. Thus, if all credibility vanishes, then national cynicism will grow.