Question 1

Mr. Fuller, who is running for the U.S. Senate, was seriously wounded during the last war. Therefore, it is certain that he would make a great senator.
A) Argument against the person, circumstantial.
B) False dichotomy.
C) Weak analogy.
D) Missing the point.
E) Red herring.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Mr. Fuller, who is running for the...

Question 2

Twenty percent of the women attending Ponderosa College are beautiful. Since Charlotte attends Ponderosa College, it follows that twenty percent of her is beautiful.
A) Hasty generalization.
B) Division.
C) Amphiboly.
D) Composition.
E) Accident.

Accepted Answer

The fallacy committed here is "Division," which incorrectly assumes that what is true of a whole must also be true of its parts. In this case, it wrongly concludes that because 20% of the women at Ponderosa College are beautiful, then 20% of Charlotte (an individual part of that group) must be beautiful.

Question 3

Every patch in this patchwork quilt is some shade of green. Therefore, the entire quilt is green.
A) Division.
B) No fallacy.
C) Accident.
D) Composition.
E) False cause.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Every patch in this patchwork quilt is...

Question 4

Gold Medallion wine is the finest wine in the United States. This is true because it's preferred by more people of discriminating taste. Furthermore, we know that it's preferred by more people of discriminating taste because it's the finest wine in the United States.
A) Suppressed evidence.
B) Slippery slope.
C) Missing the point.
D) False cause.
E) Begging the question.

Accepted Answer

This argument is circular in nature, as it assumes what it's trying to prove. It's begging the question by stating that Gold Medallion is the finest wine in the United States because it's preferred by more people of discriminating taste, and using the fact that it's the finest wine to support the claim that it's preferred by more people of discriminating taste.

Question 5

Dr. Harrison has argued that the open position in the mathematics department should be given to Dr. George. But Harrison's arguments should be discounted since Harrison and George are good friends.
A) Weak analogy.
B) Argument against the person, abusive.
C) Red herring.
D) Straw man.
E) Argument against the person, circumstantial.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of an argument against the person, circumstantial fallacy because it attempts to discredit Dr. Harrison's argument based on his relationship with Dr. George rather than the actual merits of Dr. George's qualifications for the job. The fact that Harrison and George are friends does not necessarily mean that George is not the best candidate for the job. The argument should be evaluated based on the evidence and reasoning presented.

Question 6

Dog owners have asked that they be allowed to bring their pets to the beach. This request will have to be denied. If dogs are allowed on the beach, then soon we will have horses and cows. Before long there will be sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens. All that potential food will attract the owners of jaguars, lions, and tigers. In the end, the beach will be a war zone.
A) False dichotomy.
B) Suppressed evidence.
C) Begging the question.
D) Slippery slope.
E) Composition.

Accepted Answer

The argument is presenting a slippery slope, where the initial acceptance of dogs on the beach will lead to a series of events with increasingly negative consequences, without providing evidence to support this causal chain. It also presents a false dichotomy by suggesting that allowing dogs on the beach means opening it up to all kinds of animals.

Question 7

You have been rather outspoken lately in your criticism of the administration; but I am sure that you will want to keep your mouth shut in the future, because several of those who have been critical in the past have now lost their jobs.
A) Tu quoque (you, too).
B) Argument against the person, abusive.
C) Red herring.
D) Complex question.
E) Appeal to force.

Accepted Answer

This is an appeal to force, as it is a threat of negative consequences if the person does not comply with the speaker's desires.

Question 8

The Surgeon General recently issued a report arguing that one third of the cancer fatalities in the United States can be attributed to smoking. But this claim is ridiculous. Smoking produces a great deal of enjoyment for millions of Americans. What would life be like if you can't enjoy something once in a while?
A) Slippery slope.
B) Red herring.
C) Appeal to unqualified authority.
D) Complex question.
E) No fallacy.

Accepted Answer

The argument is a red herring because it is distracting from the issue of the health risks of smoking by focusing on the enjoyment that smoking brings to people's lives, which is not relevant to the claim made by the Surgeon General.

Question 9

Either you send Hallmark cards or you don't care enough to send the very best. Surely you care enough to send the very best. Therefore, you will want to send Hallmark cards.
A) False dichotomy.
B) No fallacy.
C) Amphiboly.
D) Equivocation.
E) Complex question.

Accepted Answer

The argument presents only two options - either you send Hallmark cards or you don't care enough to send the very best. This is a false dichotomy because it ignores other possible options, such as sending cards from other high-quality brands or creating homemade cards. The argument also assumes that if someone doesn't send Hallmark cards, it must be because they don't care enough, which is not necessarily true.

Question 10

Steve, I know that you've never been in a serious accident, but do you still drive your car like a madman?
A) Complex question.
B) Accident.
C) Argument against the person, abusive.
D) No fallacy.
E) Tu quoque (you, too).

Accepted Answer

The question presupposes that Steve drives recklessly without evidence, making it a complex question fallacy by combining an unproven claim with a question.

Question 11

A spokesman for the government has argued that our insistence on a twelve percent increase in pay for steel workers is inflationary. But the government's own actions are far more inflationary than ours. The government just gave a fifteen percent increase to every single employee of the giant federal bureaucracy.
A) Tu quoque (you, too).
B) Argument against the person, circumstantial.
C) Appeal to ignorance.
D) Straw man.
E) Hasty generalization.

Accepted Answer

The spokesman's argument is a tu quoque fallacy, also known as the "you, too" fallacy. This fallacy attempts to discredit an opponent's argument by pointing out their own hypocrisy or wrongdoing, rather than addressing the argument itself.

Question 12

Stealing is wrong. Therefore, it would be wrong for me to steal the spark plug wires from that getaway car while the driver is busy robbing the First National Bank.
A) Hasty generalization.
B) Accident.
C) Appeal to pity.
D) Division.
E) Weak analogy.

Accepted Answer

The statement commits the fallacy of accident by applying a general rule (stealing is wrong) to a specific case where the application might not be appropriate due to exceptional circumstances (preventing a crime).

Question 13

No fish are mammals. Therefore, no mammals are fish.
A) Equivocation.
B) Begging the question.
C) No fallacy.
D) Missing the point.
E) Accident.

Accepted Answer

There is no fallacy in this statement as it is a simple logical deduction.

Question 14

Nobody has ever seen Mr. Fearnside drive a car. He does own a car, though, but his wife is the only one to drive it. Therefore, probably Mr. Fearnside doesn't drive.
A) Begging the question.
B) Suppressed evidence.
C) No fallacy.
D) Complex question.
E) Appeal to ignorance.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Nobody has ever seen Mr. Fearnside drive...

Question 15

Smith, Adams, and Harris all outlived their wives, and their wives were younger than they were. It must be the case that men outlive women these days.
A) False cause.
B) Accident.
C) Weak analogy.
D) No fallacy.
E) Hasty generalization.

Accepted Answer

The fact that three specific men outlived their wives and their wives happened to be younger than them is not sufficient evidence to make a generalization about all men and women. This is a hasty generalization fallacy.

Question 16

Most elderly people who are hospitalized with cancer eventually die from the disease. Thus, if an elderly person wants to recover from cancer he or she must, at all costs, refuse hospitalization.
A) Appeal to ignorance.
B) Appeal to the people.
C) Accident.
D) False cause.
E) Hasty generalization.

Accepted Answer

This argument makes a false cause fallacy by assuming that hospitalization is the cause of death for elderly cancer patients. In reality, hospitalization is often necessary for cancer treatment and can improve the chances of survival. Additionally, the argument presents a hasty generalization by implying that all elderly cancer patients who are hospitalized will inevitably die from the disease.

Question 17

Clearly the moral standards of our youth have decayed. Two doctors at Central Hospital appeared recently on a talk show, and both were convinced that the youth of today have no morals at all.
A) Argument against the person, abusive.
B) Hasty generalization.
C) Weak analogy.
D) Appeal to unqualified authority.
E) Missing the point.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Clearly the moral standards of our youth...

Question 18

Sparky the Weasel is clearly unqualified to operate the Paradise Day Care Center for young children. A few years ago Sparky was convicted of fifteen counts of child molestation and statutory rape.
A) Appeal to the people.
B) Begging the question.
C) Argument against the person, abusive.
D) Argument against the person, circumstantial.
E) No fallacy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Sparky the Weasel is clearly unqualified to...

Question 19

Aspirin is a drug that relieves pain, and it is appropriately purchased over the counter. Morphine, like aspirin, is a drug that relieves pain. Therefore, it would be appropriate that morphine be available over the counter.
A) Weak analogy.
B) Appeal to pity.
C) Appeal to ignorance.
D) No fallacy.
E) Appeal to unqualified authority.

Accepted Answer

This argument is using a weak analogy by comparing two drugs that both relieve pain, but have vastly different levels of potency and potential side effects. Morphine is a highly addictive opioid that can cause respiratory depression and other serious side effects, while aspirin is a relatively mild pain reliever with fewer potential risks. Therefore, just because aspirin is available over the counter does not mean that it would be appropriate for morphine to be available over the counter.

Question 20

Oak trees are shady. Shady things are not to be trusted. Therefore, oak trees are not to be trusted.
A) Amphiboly.
B) False cause.
C) Missing the point.
D) Begging the question.
E) Equivocation.

Accepted Answer

The argument commits the fallacy of equivocation by using the word "shady" in two different senses: first to mean "casting shade" and then to mean "suspicious or untrustworthy."

Quiz 3: Informal Fallacies

Mr. Fuller, who is running for the U.S. Senate, was seriously wounded during the last war. Therefore, it is certain that he would make a great senator.

Twenty percent of the women attending Ponderosa College are beautiful. Since Charlotte attends Ponderosa College, it follows that twenty percent of her is beautiful.

Every patch in this patchwork quilt is some shade of green. Therefore, the entire quilt is green.

Gold Medallion wine is the finest wine in the United States. This is true because it's preferred by more people of discriminating taste. Furthermore, we know that it's preferred by more people of discriminating taste because it's the finest wine in the United States.

Dr. Harrison has argued that the open position in the mathematics department should be given to Dr. George. But Harrison's arguments should be discounted since Harrison and George are good friends.

You have been rather outspoken lately in your criticism of the administration; but I am sure that you will want to keep your mouth shut in the future, because several of those who have been critical in the past have now lost their jobs.

Either you send Hallmark cards or you don't care enough to send the very best. Surely you care enough to send the very best. Therefore, you will want to send Hallmark cards.

Steve, I know that you've never been in a serious accident, but do you still drive your car like a madman?

Stealing is wrong. Therefore, it would be wrong for me to steal the spark plug wires from that getaway car while the driver is busy robbing the First National Bank.

No fish are mammals. Therefore, no mammals are fish.

Nobody has ever seen Mr. Fearnside drive a car. He does own a car, though, but his wife is the only one to drive it. Therefore, probably Mr. Fearnside doesn't drive.

Smith, Adams, and Harris all outlived their wives, and their wives were younger than they were. It must be the case that men outlive women these days.

Most elderly people who are hospitalized with cancer eventually die from the disease. Thus, if an elderly person wants to recover from cancer he or she must, at all costs, refuse hospitalization.

Clearly the moral standards of our youth have decayed. Two doctors at Central Hospital appeared recently on a talk show, and both were convinced that the youth of today have no morals at all.

Sparky the Weasel is clearly unqualified to operate the Paradise Day Care Center for young children. A few years ago Sparky was convicted of fifteen counts of child molestation and statutory rape.

Aspirin is a drug that relieves pain, and it is appropriately purchased over the counter. Morphine, like aspirin, is a drug that relieves pain. Therefore, it would be appropriate that morphine be available over the counter.

Oak trees are shady. Shady things are not to be trusted. Therefore, oak trees are not to be trusted.