Question: Karen argues that it’s not right to post the photographs of convicted child molesters on the Internet. Obviously, Karen supports child molestation. But these monsters have completely ruined the lives of thousands of children. They can’t be allowed to wreak their havoc any longer. Clearly, Karen’s argument is misguided.
Answer Choices:
a. Missing the point.
b. No fallacy.
c. Red herring.
d. Straw man.
e. Argument against the person, circumstantial.
Answer: d. Straw man.
Question: Either you spend $200 on a pair of True Religion jeans, or everybody will think you’re out of style. It’s up to you.
Answer Choices:
a. Suppressed evidence.
b. Accident.
c. Appeal to force.
Answer: c. Appeal to force.
Question: Every member of the Viking Society was born in Norway. Therefore, the Viking Society was born in Norway.
Answer Choices:
a. No fallacy.
b. Complex question.
c. Composition.
d. Hasty generalization.
e. Division.
Answer: c. Composition.
Question: The Ionic Blast hairdryer does a great job removing the frizz from Francesca’s hair. Therefore, since Gabriella’s hair is virtually identical to Francesca’s, probably the Ionic Blast would do a good job removing the frizz from Gabriella’s hair.
Answer Choices:
a. Slippery slope.
b. No fallacy.
c. False cause.
d. Appeal to unqualified authority.
e. Weak analogy.
Answer: e. Weak analogy.
Question: The number of alcoholics has risen steadily for the past 20 years, and so has the number of treatment centers. Therefore, to cut down on alcoholism we should eliminate the treatment centers.
Answer Choices:
a. Appeal to ignorance.
b. Equivocation.
c. Weak analogy.
d. False cause.
e. No fallacy.
Answer: d. False cause.
Question: Children should be seen and not heard. Therefore, it was wrong for that drowning child to scream for help.
Answer Choices:
a. Accident.
b. No fallacy.
c. Begging the question.
d. Hasty generalization.
e. False dichotomy.
Answer: a. Accident.
Question: The Northern Express railway train is headed north. Therefore, every car on that train is headed north.
Answer Choices:
a. Composition.
b. Hasty generalization.
c. No fallacy.
d. Missing the point.
e. Division.
Answer: c. No fallacy.
Question: You had better believe in God, because if you don’t, then you’ll suffer the torment of eternal damnation.
Answer Choices:
a. Appeal to force.
b. Missing the point.
c. Appeal to pity.
d. No fallacy.
e. Argument against the person, circumstantial.
Answer: a. Appeal to force.
Question: Eddie, one of your friends was asking about you the other day. He wanted to know if you were still having sex with 14-year-old girls. What should I tell him the next time I see him? Are you still doing it?
Answer Choices:
a. Begging the question.
b. No fallacy.
c. Straw man.
d. Complex question.
e. Appeal to force.
Answer: d. Complex question.
Question: Every squirrel that has ever been observed likes nuts. Therefore, probably every squirrel likes nuts.
Answer Choices:
a. False cause.
b. No fallacy.
c. Composition.
d. Hasty generalization.
e. Weak analogy.
Answer: b. No fallacy.
Question: The government has no right to spy on its citizens because citizens have a right to privacy. And this is true because such a right is guaranteed by the constitution—which follows from the fact that our founding fathers recognized the sanctity of individual privacy against the intrusive power of the government. And of course this is true because the government has no right to spy on its citizens.
Answer Choices:
a. No fallacy.
b. Red herring.
c. Slippery slope.
d. Missing the point.
e. Begging the question.
Answer: e. Begging the question.
Question: Nobody has ever proved that the Big Bang theory of the universe is true. Therefore, we must conclude that the Big Bang theory is false.
Answer Choices:
a. Complex question.
b. Composition.
c. No fallacy.
d. Missing the point.
e. Appeal to ignorance.
Answer: e. Appeal to ignorance.
Question: No spoiled brats are good childhood companions. Therefore, no good childhood companions are spoiled brats.
Answer Choices:
a. No fallacy.
b. Composition.
c. Hasty generalization.
d. False cause.
e. Begging the question.
Answer: a. No fallacy.
Question: Astronomers study stars. Nicole Kidman is a star. Therefore, astronomers study Nicole Kidman.
Answer Choices:
a. Begging the question.
b. Equivocation.
c. Amphiboly.
d. No fallacy.
e. Composition.
Answer: b. Equivocation.
Question: Members of the jury, surely you will not find defendant Carlos guilty of burglary. Carlos is a visitor from our neighbor to the south, where he has eight young brothers and sisters. Those poor kids and their impoverished mother live a desperate hand-to-mouth existence. Carlos was hoping only to send a few more dollars home to ease their suffering. In the name of humanity, you must vote to acquit this caring brother.
Answer Choices:
a. Slippery slope.
b. No fallacy.
c. Missing the point.
d. Appeal to pity.
e. Red herring.
Answer: d. Appeal to pity.
Question: The president of our college has promised to stop drinking on campus. Apparently the president has a drinking problem.
Answer Choices:
a. Equivocation.
b. Appeal to unqualified authority.
c. Amphiboly.
d. No fallacy.
e. Suppressed evidence.
Answer: c. Amphiboly.
Question: Pet owners argue for a law to ensure that pet food is free of lethal contaminants. Apparently they are unaware that half the children of the world eat contaminated food and drink polluted water every day. Thousands of these kids die regularly from cholera. The nations of the world should unite to halt this ongoing tragedy. In the meantime, we can forget about pets.
Answer Choices:
a. Argument against the person, abusive.
b. Complex question.
c. No fallacy.
d. Straw man.
e. Red herring.
Answer: e. Red herring.
Question: Dr. David Sherman of the National Skin Cancer Society reports that tanning salons pose a serious risk for skin cancer. Therefore, we should consider legislation to regulate the tanning industry.
Answer Choices:
a. No fallacy.
b. False cause.
c. Appeal to unqualified authority.
d. False dichotomy.
e. Appeal to the people.
Answer: a. No fallacy.