Question 1

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 2

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 3

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 4

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 slippery slope fallacy, suggesting that buying a goldfish will lead to an inevitable progression of acquiring more and more expensive pets, ultimately leading to financial ruin.

Question 5

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 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

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 argument commits the fallacy of appeal to unqualified authority because Madam Voodoo is not a qualified authority on the topic of life after death, despite her claim to have communicated with departed souls.

Question 8

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 trying to evoke sympathy for Harry's situation in order to persuade the listener to give him a second chance. It is not addressing the actual issue of his cheating and does not provide any logical reasons for why he should be allowed to continue in college.

Question 9

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 example of an appeal to force as the speaker is threatening physical harm in order to prevent Johnny from reporting the theft.

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

This statement is an example of the appeal to ignorance fallacy, as it suggests that the lack of evidence to disprove something means that it must be true. It presents a false dichotomy by disregarding alternative explanations and assumes that Genesis is a qualified authority on the creation of the universe.

Question 11

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 12

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

Paul's previous hiring of an undocumented immigrant nanny undermines the credibility of his argument against hiring undocumented immigrants, thus making it an example of the "you, too" fallacy (tu quoque).

Question 13

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 argument attacks Pauline personally rather than addressing the merits or flaws of her argument, making it an example of an ad hominem fallacy.

Question 14

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 answer of Colleen, you know something about American history....

Question 15

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 16

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 17

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 fact that more cars are unable to pass emissions tests does not necessarily mean that the emissions standard should be relaxed. The issue may be with the cars themselves, rather than the standard.

Question 18

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

The argument begs the question by assuming that ending one's own life is morally permissible without providing any evidence or reasoning to support this claim. The conclusion is essentially the same as the premise, and there is no attempt to address opposing viewpoints or provide evidence for the claim.

Question 19

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 20

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

This argument is an example of a formal fallacy known as affirming the consequent. It takes the form of "if A then B, B, therefore A," but it is invalid because there could be other reasons why B occurs besides A. In this case, just because every country boycotts U.S. products and the U.S. goes broke, it doesn't necessarily mean that U.S. Presidents started more wars.

Quiz 3: Informal Fallacies

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.