The Court Reporter said that after the jurors had heard the testimony of the convicts they were returned to their cells for the night. One can only conclude that the jurors' rights have been violated, since jurors are not supposed to be locked up in cells.
A) Amphiboly.
B) Equivocation.
C) Appeal to force.
D) Appeal to pity.
E) Appeal to unqualified authority.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is an example of amphiboly, which is a type of ambiguity created by unclear syntax or sentence structure. The sentence could be interpreted in two ways, one where the jurors are locked up in cells, and another where the convicts are locked up in cells. In this case, the sentence intends to mean that the convicts were returned to their cells, but the ambiguous syntax may lead someone to conclude otherwise, hence creating an argument based on a false premise.

The Court Reporter Said That After the Jurors Had Heard