Question 1

Which of the following fallacies occurs in a valid argument?
A) Missing the point.
B) False cause.
C) Begging the question.
D) Accident.
E) Appeal to ignorance.

Accepted Answer

Begging the question is a fallacy that can occur in a valid argument because it assumes the conclusion within the premises, thus making the argument logically consistent but fallacious in its reasoning.

Question 2

Which of the following fallacies always involves two arguers?
A) Red herring.
B) Complex question.
C) Straw man.
D) Slippery slope.
E) Begging the question.

Accepted Answer

The straw man fallacy involves one arguer misrepresenting the argument of another arguer. Therefore, it requires at least two arguers. The other fallacies can involve one arguer engaging in faulty reasoning or rhetorical tactics.

Question 3

Which fallacy involves a chain reaction of causes?
A) Begging the question.
B) Slippery slope.
C) Weak analogy.
D) Equivocation.
E) False dichotomy.

Accepted Answer

Slippery slope fallacy involves the assumption that one event will lead to a chain of events with negative outcomes, without providing sufficient evidence to support the causal link between the events. The fallacy in argumentative reasoning suggests a sequence of events or consequences that will result in an undesirable outcome.

Question 4

A person of your status will surely want to buy a Lexus. Owning a Lexus is the ultimate expression of cultural refinement, exquisite taste, and financial success.
A) Appeal to ignorance.
B) Red herring.
C) Straw man.
D) Appeal to the people.
E) No fallacy.

Accepted Answer

This statement is an example of "Appeal to the people" fallacy, as it suggests that owning a Lexus is associated with positive attributes like cultural refinement, exquisite taste, and financial success, appealing to the desire to be part of a prestigious group.

Question 5

Which of the following is presented as a factor leading to the commission of informal fallacies?
A) The arguer's irrational quest for power.
B) The defective worldview of the arguer.
C) A genetic predisposition to illogical reasoning.
D) Misfiring synapses in the brain of the arguer.
E) The intent of the arguer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is presented as...

Question 6

Given the argument, "If the sky is clear, then the stars are visible. The stars are visible. Therefore, the sky is clear." This argument is an example of:
A) A sound argument.
B) A formal fallacy.
C) A valid argument.
D) A fallacy of presumption.
E) An informal fallacy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Given the argument, "If the sky is...

Question 7

The distributive predication of an attribute is found in:
A) Disjunctive statements.
B) Conditional statements.
C) Class statements.
D) General statements.
E) Presumptive statements.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The distributive predication of an attribute is...

Question 8

Protons are not combustible, and neither are electrons. It therefore follows that hydrogen, which is composed of protons and electrons, is not combustible.
A) Composition.
B) Weak analogy.
C) Division.
D) No fallacy.
E) Missing the point.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Protons are not combustible, and neither are...

Question 9

Professional sports figures are not the clean, upright types people take them to be. Just look at Tiger Woods. He betrayed his lovely wife by engaging in extramarital affairs with several different women.
A) Weak analogy.
B) No fallacy.
C) Hasty generalization.
D) Composition.
E) Accident.

Accepted Answer

The argument commits the fallacy of hasty generalization by using one example of a sports figure's negative behavior to make a sweeping claim about all sports figures.

Question 10

"Greensleeves" is a lovely tune. Therefore, every note of "Greensleeves" is a lovely tune.
A) Division.
B) Accident.
C) Composition.
D) Weak analogy.
E) No fallacy.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of the fallacy of division, which occurs when one assumes that what is true of the whole must be true of each individual part. Just because "Greensleeves" is a lovely tune in its entirety does not necessarily mean that every individual note is also lovely on its own.

Question 11

Rich people tend to be snobs because they have materialistic values. Of course they have materialistic values because they fail to appreciate true human qualities. And why do they do this? Because they are condescending and haughty. Naturally they are condescending and haughty because they tend to be snobs.
A) Appeal to ignorance.
B) No fallacy.
C) Begging the question.
D) False cause.
E) Accident.

Accepted Answer

The argument is circular, assuming what it attempts to prove, which is characteristic of begging the question. It starts and ends with the assertion that rich people are snobs without providing independent support for this claim.

Question 12

It is permissible for physicians to write prescriptions for drugs. But chiropractors are health care professionals no less than physicians. Therefore, it should be permissible for chiropractors to write prescriptions for drugs.
A) False cause.
B) Complex question.
C) No fallacy.
D) Weak analogy.
E) Hasty generalization.

Accepted Answer

The argument commits the fallacy of weak analogy by assuming that chiropractors should have the same prescribing authority as physicians based solely on the fact that they are both health care professionals. However, the two professions have different educational and training backgrounds, and the scope of practice for chiropractors does not typically include medication prescription. Therefore, the analogy between the two professions is weak and the argument is flawed.

Question 13

Either you pay my tuition to Stanford or I'll be doomed to a life of mediocrity. I'm sure you don't want that.
A) Appeal to the people.
B) Appeal to ignorance.
C) No fallacy.
D) Appeal to unqualified authority.
E) False dichotomy.

Accepted Answer

The speaker presents a false dichotomy by only offering two options: paying for their tuition or ensuring their life will be mediocre. This is a fallacy because there may be other options available for achieving success or avoiding mediocrity.

Question 14

Which fallacy occurs when a general rule is applied to a specific case that the rule was not intended to cover?
A) Hasty generalization.
B) Tu quoque (you, too).
C) Composition.
D) Accident.
E) Division.

Accepted Answer

This type of fallacy is called "Accident." It occurs when a general rule or principle is applied without considering any exceptions or special circumstances that may affect the situation at hand.

Question 15

The appeal to fear is a variety of:
A) Appeal to the people.
B) Argument against the person.
C) Appeal to force.
D) Red herring.
E) Appeal to pity.

Accepted Answer

The appeal to fear is a type of fallacy that falls under the category of appeal to the people. It involves the use of scare tactics to convince people to take a specific course of action or make a particular decision. The appeal to fear plays on people's emotions rather than their reasoning abilities and is therefore considered a fallacious argument.

Question 16

Andrew said he petted his dog reading a newspaper. Andrew must have a very intelligent dog.
A) No fallacy.
B) Appeal to ignorance.
C) Equivocation.
D) Amphiboly.
E) False cause.

Accepted Answer

The sentence is ambiguous due to the use of "petted" which can either mean "stroked" or "farted". Therefore, we cannot conclude whether Andrew's dog is intelligent or not based on this sentence alone.

Question 17

What fallacy often involves collective predication in the premise of an argument?
A) False cause.
B) Accident.
C) Composition.
D) Hasty generalization.
E) Division.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What fallacy often involves collective predication in...

Question 18

Professor Friedman, the great constitutional scholar, says that the First Amendment is the most important part of the Bill of Rights. We therefore conclude that the First Amendment is indeed the most important part of the Bill of Rights.
A) Amphiboly.
B) No fallacy.
C) Appeal to unqualified authority.
D) Equivocation.
E) Argument against the person, circumstantial.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Professor Friedman, the great constitutional scholar, says...

Question 19

Surely little Jimmy isn't responsible for burning down the school. A year ago, Jimmy's dad, whom Jimmy loved dearly, was killed in an accident, and ever since that time Jimmy has collected aluminum cans and mowed lawns to help his poor mother raise his six brothers and sisters.
A) Accident.
B) Division.
C) Appeal to pity.
D) Appeal to force.
E) Equivocation.

Accepted Answer

The argument tries to evoke an emotional response from the reader by appealing to pity for Jimmy's situation and his loss of a loving father. This emotional appeal is used to deflect from the actual accusation of Jimmy's responsibility for the fire.

Question 20

Either Jane Austen was English or she was American. Since Jane Austen was not American, it follows that she was English.
A) Begging the question.
B) No fallacy.
C) False dichotomy.
D) Suppressed evidence.
E) Accident.

Accepted Answer

The argument correctly applies the process of elimination within a given dichotomy (English or American) and concludes that Jane Austen was English after establishing she was not American. This is a valid form of argumentation, assuming the initial dichotomy is accepted as exhaustive.

Quiz 3: Informal Fallacies

Which of the following fallacies occurs in a valid argument?

Which of the following fallacies always involves two arguers?

Which fallacy involves a chain reaction of causes?

A person of your status will surely want to buy a Lexus. Owning a Lexus is the ultimate expression of cultural refinement, exquisite taste, and financial success.

Which of the following is presented as a factor leading to the commission of informal fallacies?

Given the argument, "If the sky is clear, then the stars are visible. The stars are visible. Therefore, the sky is clear." This argument is an example of:

The distributive predication of an attribute is found in:

Protons are not combustible, and neither are electrons. It therefore follows that hydrogen, which is composed of protons and electrons, is not combustible.

Professional sports figures are not the clean, upright types people take them to be. Just look at Tiger Woods. He betrayed his lovely wife by engaging in extramarital affairs with several different women.

"Greensleeves" is a lovely tune. Therefore, every note of "Greensleeves" is a lovely tune.

It is permissible for physicians to write prescriptions for drugs. But chiropractors are health care professionals no less than physicians. Therefore, it should be permissible for chiropractors to write prescriptions for drugs.

Either you pay my tuition to Stanford or I'll be doomed to a life of mediocrity. I'm sure you don't want that.

Which fallacy occurs when a general rule is applied to a specific case that the rule was not intended to cover?

The appeal to fear is a variety of:

Andrew said he petted his dog reading a newspaper. Andrew must have a very intelligent dog.

What fallacy often involves collective predication in the premise of an argument?

Professor Friedman, the great constitutional scholar, says that the First Amendment is the most important part of the Bill of Rights. We therefore conclude that the First Amendment is indeed the most important part of the Bill of Rights.

Surely little Jimmy isn't responsible for burning down the school. A year ago, Jimmy's dad, whom Jimmy loved dearly, was killed in an accident, and ever since that time Jimmy has collected aluminum cans and mowed lawns to help his poor mother raise his six brothers and sisters.

Either Jane Austen was English or she was American. Since Jane Austen was not American, it follows that she was English.