Question 1

Matching
For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement.
-"You can stop eating pork and be healthy or keep eating pork and be unhealthy."
A) Ad Hominem
B) Slippery Slope
C) Faulty Analogy
D) False Dilemma, Either/Or
E) Begging the Question
F) Appeal to pity.
G) Equivocation
H) Ad Populum
I) Post Hoc-False Cause
J) Red Herring
K) Appeal to Tradition
L) Hasty Conclusion
M) Two Wrongs Make a Right
N) Straw Man

Accepted Answer

The statement presents only two options as if they are the only possibilities, which is characteristic of a False Dilemma or Either/Or fallacy.

Question 2

Matching
For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement.
-"That's not fair! All of the other kids are going as Punk Aliens for Halloween."
A) Ad Hominem
B) Slippery Slope
C) Faulty Analogy
D) False Dilemma, Either/Or
E) Begging the Question
F) Appeal to pity.
G) Equivocation
H) Ad Populum
I) Post Hoc-False Cause
J) Red Herring
K) Appeal to Tradition
L) Hasty Conclusion
M) Two Wrongs Make a Right
N) Straw Man

Accepted Answer

The statement "That's not fair! All of the other kids are going as Punk Aliens for Halloween" is an example of the Ad Populum fallacy, which argues that something is true or right because it is popular or because "everyone is doing it."

Question 3

Matching
For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement.
-"Mom, I am not running around the house. I'm practicing for my track meet."
A) Ad Hominem
B) Slippery Slope
C) Faulty Analogy
D) False Dilemma, Either/Or
E) Begging the Question
F) Appeal to pity.
G) Equivocation
H) Ad Populum
I) Post Hoc-False Cause
J) Red Herring
K) Appeal to Tradition
L) Hasty Conclusion
M) Two Wrongs Make a Right
N) Straw Man

Accepted Answer

The answer of Matching
For the following, match the correct fallacy...

Question 4

Matching
For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement.
-"How do you know I didn't get straight A's last semester?"
A) Ad Hominem
B) Slippery Slope
C) Faulty Analogy
D) False Dilemma, Either/Or
E) Begging the Question
F) Appeal to pity.
G) Equivocation
H) Ad Populum
I) Post Hoc-False Cause
J) Red Herring
K) Appeal to Tradition
L) Hasty Conclusion
M) Two Wrongs Make a Right
N) Straw Man

Accepted Answer

The statement "How do you know I didn't get straight A's last semester?" is an example of "Begging the Question" because it assumes the conclusion within the question itself, without providing evidence or reasoning to support the claim.

Question 5

Matching
For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement.
-"She broke up with me because she found a guy with more money."
A) Ad Hominem
B) Slippery Slope
C) Faulty Analogy
D) False Dilemma, Either/Or
E) Begging the Question
F) Appeal to pity.
G) Equivocation
H) Ad Populum
I) Post Hoc-False Cause
J) Red Herring
K) Appeal to Tradition
L) Hasty Conclusion
M) Two Wrongs Make a Right
N) Straw Man

Accepted Answer

The statement assumes a causal relationship between the breakup and the presence of a wealthier guy without sufficient evidence, which is an example of the Post Hoc-False Cause fallacy.

Question 6

Matching
For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement.
-"Of course you're going to be a lawyer. Your mother is a lawyer."
A) Ad Hominem
B) Slippery Slope
C) Faulty Analogy
D) False Dilemma, Either/Or
E) Begging the Question
F) Appeal to pity.
G) Equivocation
H) Ad Populum
I) Post Hoc-False Cause
J) Red Herring
K) Appeal to Tradition
L) Hasty Conclusion
M) Two Wrongs Make a Right
N) Straw Man

Accepted Answer

The statement assumes that because the mother is a lawyer, the child should also be a lawyer, which is an appeal to tradition fallacy.

Question 7

Matching
For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement.
-"If James doesn't come to my candidate's party, then no one will show up and then I'll have wasted all this money and my candidate will lose."
A) Ad Hominem
B) Slippery Slope
C) Faulty Analogy
D) False Dilemma, Either/Or
E) Begging the Question
F) Appeal to pity.
G) Equivocation
H) Ad Populum
I) Post Hoc-False Cause
J) Red Herring
K) Appeal to Tradition
L) Hasty Conclusion
M) Two Wrongs Make a Right
N) Straw Man

Accepted Answer

The statement is an example of a slippery slope fallacy, where it assumes that one event (James not attending) will lead to a series of negative events without sufficient evidence for such a chain reaction.

Question 8

Matching
For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement.
-"Since I'm going to be a billionaire, you should think about marrying me."
A) Ad Hominem
B) Slippery Slope
C) Faulty Analogy
D) False Dilemma, Either/Or
E) Begging the Question
F) Appeal to pity.
G) Equivocation
H) Ad Populum
I) Post Hoc-False Cause
J) Red Herring
K) Appeal to Tradition
L) Hasty Conclusion
M) Two Wrongs Make a Right
N) Straw Man

Accepted Answer

The statement assumes the conclusion (being a billionaire) without providing evidence, which is an example of "Begging the Question."

Question 9

Matching
For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement.
-"Mr. President, I don't want to talk about how I messed up the press conference. What I want to discuss is the fact that you're always criticizing me."
A) Ad Hominem
B) Slippery Slope
C) Faulty Analogy
D) False Dilemma, Either/Or
E) Begging the Question
F) Appeal to pity.
G) Equivocation
H) Ad Populum
I) Post Hoc-False Cause
J) Red Herring
K) Appeal to Tradition
L) Hasty Conclusion
M) Two Wrongs Make a Right
N) Straw Man

Accepted Answer

The statement diverts attention from the original issue (the press conference) to a different topic (the president's criticism), which is characteristic of a Red Herring fallacy.

Question 10

Matching
For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement.
-"If you want to keep your family home for dinner, you must serve chicken with New Oven stuffing."
A) Ad Hominem
B) Slippery Slope
C) Faulty Analogy
D) False Dilemma, Either/Or
E) Begging the Question
F) Appeal to pity.
G) Equivocation
H) Ad Populum
I) Post Hoc-False Cause
J) Red Herring
K) Appeal to Tradition
L) Hasty Conclusion
M) Two Wrongs Make a Right
N) Straw Man

Accepted Answer

The statement presents a false dilemma by suggesting there are only two options: serving chicken with New Oven stuffing to keep your family home for dinner or not doing so and presumably failing to keep them home. It ignores other possibilities for achieving the same goal.

Question 11

Matching
For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement.
-Don't send my husband to jail, he is the breadwinner and this will leave us destitute.
A) Ad Hominem
B) Slippery Slope
C) Faulty Analogy
D) False Dilemma, Either/Or
E) Begging the Question
F) Appeal to pity.
G) Equivocation
H) Ad Populum
I) Post Hoc-False Cause
J) Red Herring
K) Appeal to Tradition
L) Hasty Conclusion
M) Two Wrongs Make a Right
N) Straw Man

Accepted Answer

This statement is an example of an Appeal to Pity fallacy (F), where the argument is made that someone should not face consequences because of the potential hardship it would cause, rather than addressing the legality or morality of the actions in question.

Question 12

Matching
For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement.
-The only reason I stole your computer was that you were cheating on me.
A) Ad Hominem
B) Slippery Slope
C) Faulty Analogy
D) False Dilemma, Either/Or
E) Begging the Question
F) Appeal to pity.
G) Equivocation
H) Ad Populum
I) Post Hoc-False Cause
J) Red Herring
K) Appeal to Tradition
L) Hasty Conclusion
M) Two Wrongs Make a Right
N) Straw Man

Accepted Answer

The statement "The only reason I stole your computer was that you were cheating on me" justifies a wrong action (stealing a computer) with another wrong action (cheating), which is an example of the "Two Wrongs Make a Right" fallacy. This fallacy occurs when it is assumed that if one wrong is committed, another wrong will cancel it out.

Question 13

Matching
For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement.
-The sign said "fine for parking here" and since it was fine, I parked there. (from Stephen's Guide to Fallacies)
A) Ad Hominem
B) Slippery Slope
C) Faulty Analogy
D) False Dilemma, Either/Or
E) Begging the Question
F) Appeal to pity.
G) Equivocation
H) Ad Populum
I) Post Hoc-False Cause
J) Red Herring
K) Appeal to Tradition
L) Hasty Conclusion
M) Two Wrongs Make a Right
N) Straw Man

Accepted Answer

The correct match is Equivocation because the statement plays on the double meaning of the word "fine" (as in "okay to do" and as a monetary charge) to make a misleading argument.

Question 14

Matching
For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement.
-So you don't agree that we should spend taxpayer money on the bullet train? I'm surprised that you are against all transportation innovations.
A) Ad Hominem
B) Slippery Slope
C) Faulty Analogy
D) False Dilemma, Either/Or
E) Begging the Question
F) Appeal to pity.
G) Equivocation
H) Ad Populum
I) Post Hoc-False Cause
J) Red Herring
K) Appeal to Tradition
L) Hasty Conclusion
M) Two Wrongs Make a Right
N) Straw Man

Accepted Answer

The statement misrepresents the opponent's position by suggesting that being against spending taxpayer money on a bullet train means being against all transportation innovations, which is a distortion of their actual stance. This is characteristic of a Straw Man fallacy.

Question 15

List the two general types (categories) of fallacies that are discussed in the textbook.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List the two general types (categories) of...

Question 16

Give two examples of fallacies you've heard, read, or said yourself.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Give two examples of fallacies you've heard,...

Question 17

What is a self-fulfilling prophecy? Give an example.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is a self-fulfilling prophecy? Give an...

Question 18

What is a real problem with false cause? How could this fallacy hurt our problem-solving capabilities as a society? Give an example.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is a real problem with false...

Question 19

How does a faulty analogy differ from an analogy that provides good support for a conclusion?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does a faulty analogy differ from...

Quiz 6: Reasoning Errors

Matching For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement. -"You can stop eating pork and be healthy or keep eating pork and be unhealthy."

Matching For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement. -"That's not fair! All of the other kids are going as Punk Aliens for Halloween."

Matching For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement. -"Mom, I am not running around the house. I'm practicing for my track meet."

Matching For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement. -"How do you know I didn't get straight A's last semester?"

Matching For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement. -"She broke up with me because she found a guy with more money."

Matching For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement. -"Of course you're going to be a lawyer. Your mother is a lawyer."

Matching For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement. -"If James doesn't come to my candidate's party, then no one will show up and then I'll have wasted all this money and my candidate will lose."

Matching For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement. -"Since I'm going to be a billionaire, you should think about marrying me."

Matching For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement. -"Mr. President, I don't want to talk about how I messed up the press conference. What I want to discuss is the fact that you're always criticizing me."

Matching For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement. -"If you want to keep your family home for dinner, you must serve chicken with New Oven stuffing."

Matching For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement. -Don't send my husband to jail, he is the breadwinner and this will leave us destitute.

Matching For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement. -The only reason I stole your computer was that you were cheating on me.

Matching For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement. -The sign said "fine for parking here" and since it was fine, I parked there. (from Stephen's Guide to Fallacies)

Matching For the following, match the correct fallacy to the statement. -So you don't agree that we should spend taxpayer money on the bullet train? I'm surprised that you are against all transportation innovations.

List the two general types (categories) of fallacies that are discussed in the textbook.

Give two examples of fallacies you've heard, read, or said yourself.

What is a self-fulfilling prophecy? Give an example.

What is a real problem with false cause? How could this fallacy hurt our problem-solving capabilities as a society? Give an example.

How does a faulty analogy differ from an analogy that provides good support for a conclusion?