Question: The Contract Clause of the Constitution gives everyone the right to enter into contracts. Therefore, it should be legal to hire a hit man to bump off that guy who’s been pestering you.
Answer Choices:
a. Appeal to force.
b. You, too (tu quoque).
c. Accident.
d. Missing the point.
e. No fallacy.
Answer: c. Accident.
Question: Nobody has ever seen Janice Rogers eat beef, chicken, lamb, pork, or any other kind of meat. We conclude that Janice is not a meat eater.
Answer Choices:
a. No fallacy.
b. False cause.
c. Appeal to ignorance.
d. Hasty generalization.
e. Suppressed evidence.
Answer: a. No fallacy.
Question: Dr. Williams cheated Medicare by exaggerating expenses, and Dr. Fox cheated by submitting fees for nonexistent patients. Dr. Harris defrauded a dozen insurance companies by requiring unneeded lab tests. The apparent conclusion is that all doctors cheat.
Answer Choices:
a. Argument against the person, abusive.
b. No fallacy.
c. Red herring.
d. Hasty generalization.
e. Composition.
Answer: d. Hasty generalization.
Question: In testimony to the court, Harold Geyser, President of the American Accounting Society, said that the CFO of the Abracadabra Corporation falsified the corporation’s financial statements. Therefore, members of the jury, you must conclude that the CFO did indeed falsify these statements.
Answer Choices:
a. Amphiboly.
b. No fallacy.
c. Appeal to unqualified authority.
d. False cause.
Answer: c. Appeal to unqualified authority.
Question: Whatever is bright is intelligent. But the sun is extremely bright. Therefore, the sun is extremely intelligent.
Answer Choices:
a. Division
b. Begging the question
c. Equivocation
d. No fallacy
e. Amphiboly
Answer: c. Equivocation
Question: My dear, you shouldn’t hesitate a minute before buying a new mink coat. Real fur is in right now, and a full mink is the ultimate in fashion. It tells the whole world that you have exquisite taste and the financial means to express it.
Answer Choices:
a. False dichotomy
b. No fallacy
c. Argument against the person, circumstantial
d. Slippery slope
e. Appeal to the people
Answer: e. Appeal to the people
Question: Scientists have identified a “God gene,” which they think is responsible for the widespread belief in a deity. Obviously, God planted that gene in humans to ensure their belief in God.
Answer Choices:
a. False cause
b. Begging the question
c. Appeal to unqualified authority
d. Missing the point
e. No fallacy
Answer: b. Begging the question
Question: Jason’s quartz watch runs about 3 years and 4 months on a fresh battery. Therefore, probably David’s watch, which is the same make and model as Jason’s, runs about 3 years and 4 months on a fresh battery.
Answer Choices:
a. Accident
b. False cause
c. Weak analogy
d. No fallacy
e. Hasty generalization
Answer: d. No fallacy
Question: Jessica has played 8 games of Bingo without winning a single game. Therefore, her chances are much better for winning the next game.
Answer Choices:
a. False cause
b. Missing the point
c. No fallacy
d. Weak analogy
e. Argument against the person, circumstantial
Answer: a. False cause
Question: The sign on the restaurant wall says “No Smoking Rules Enforced.” Therefore, we can probably smoke, since the smoking rules aren’t enforced.
Answer Choices:
a. Missing the point
b. Appeal to ignorance
c. Amphiboly
d. No fallacy
e. Equivocation
Answer: c. Amphiboly
Question: Every ingredient in this new drink concoction is highly alcoholic. Therefore, the drink is highly alcoholic.
Answer Choices:
a. No fallacy
b. Begging the question
c. Composition
d. Hasty generalization
e. Division
Answer: a. No fallacy
Question: Renee Richards argues in favor of reducing the patient load of our nurses. But it’s obvious why she says this. Renee is a nurse herself, so of course, she wants a reduced patient load. Nobody should pay too much attention to her pleas.
Answer Choices:
a. You, too (tu quoque)
b. No fallacy
c. Appeal to unqualified authority
d. Argument against the person, abusive
e. Argument against the person, circumstantial
Answer: e. Argument against the person, circumstantial
Question: I can see that you don’t want to adopt this little kitten. Why are you so heartless?
Answer Choices:
a. Red herring
b. Complex question
c. Appeal to pity
d. Begging the question
e. No fallacy
Answer: b. Complex question
Question: Either the Nile or the Amazon is the longest river. But the Amazon is not the longest river. Therefore, the Nile is the longest river.
Answer Choices:
a. No fallacy
b. Suppressed evidence
c. False dichotomy
d. Composition
e. Straw man
Answer: a. No fallacy
Question: Professor Carson argues in favor of banning skateboards on campus. Apparently, Carson is against anything that has wheels. No bicycles, no roller blades, not even any wheelchairs. But handicapped students need their wheelchairs to get around. From this, it should be clear that Professor Carson’s argument makes no sense.
Answer Choices:
a. No fallacy
b. Missing the point
c. Red herring
d. Straw man
e. Composition
Answer: d. Straw man
Question: It’s appropriate for parents to invade their children’s privacy to protect them from danger. But the role of government is similar to that of parents. Therefore, it’s appropriate for the government to invade the privacy of citizens to protect the country.
Answer Choices:
a. Missing the point
b. No fallacy
c. False cause
d. Composition
e. Weak analogy
Answer: e. Weak analogy
Question: There is a good deal of concern these days about whether eating fast food is unhealthy. But most fast food is really tasty. Just think of those juicy McDonald’s hamburgers dripping with melted cheese, and the wonderful golden fries. And the crispy Chicken McNuggets, the creamy shakes, and the Egg McMuffins. How could anyone complain about today’s fast food?
Answer Choices:
a. No fallacy
b. Appeal to pity
c. Red herring
d. Slippery slope
e. Straw man
Answer: c. Red herring
Question: Sylvia is a wonderful ice skater. But every ice skater is a person. Therefore, Sylvia is a wonderful person.
Answer Choices:
a. Amphiboly
b. Composition
c. Equivocation
d. Division
e. No fallacy
Answer: b. Composition