1. "Give up smoking, or you will die"
cannot be a fallacy, because it is true.
can be explained as a false dilemma (either-or fallacy).
cannot be an appeal to fear (scare tactic) because everyone is going to die anyway.
can be explained as a non sequitur (red herring).
2. Which of the following cannot easily explain the fallacy of the claim, "Of course he is attacking affirmative action. Can't you see he is a white male?"
appeal to prejudice
ad hominem attack (tu quoque)
circular argument (poisoning the well)
appeal to indirect consequences (slippery slope)
3. "I owned a Ford once, and it broke down on me. They are terrible cars, and I will never buy one again." This is best described as a fallacy of:
hasty generalization
appeal to pity (sob story)
appeal of common belief
begging the question
4. "Did you enjoy breaking your grandmother's heart by being late for the ceremony?" is best described as a fallacy of:
loaded question
false dilemma (either-or fallacy)
5. "Margaret says that all blonds are brilliant, but I wouldn't listen to her because, even though her hair looks red, her natural color is blond." This statement is best described as a fallacy of
a sweeping generalization
an ad hominem attack
6. Which of the following is an example of a fallacious appeal to common belief?
That must be a good movie. Look at all the people lined up to get in.
Her new novel is very popular. It's been on the best seller list for weeks.
Violent crime went down in Hollister this year. More than 70% of the people surveyed said there were fewer rapes, robberies, and murders than last year.
Did you see where more people moved out of California last year than moved in? I guess living in California is no longer everyone's dream.
7. Which of the following is not an example of shifting the burden of proof?
You were abducted by Martians last night? Prove it!
I'll continue to believe there was a conspiracy behind the assassination of Dr. King, unless you can prove that James Earl Ray acted alone.
You say I'm missing one assignment, and I tell you I handed in that paper last week. Can you prove I didn't?
The defendant is obviously guilty. Otherwise, he would be able to explain where he was at the time of the crime.
8. "I'm against the new law that sends those convicted of a third felony to prison for 25 years. Wouldn't you prefer that government reward good deeds instead of punishing bad ones?" This claim is not easily explained by which of the following fallacies?
false dilemma
wishful thinking
non sequitur
9. Which of the following is not an example of post hoc reasoning?
The problem with the Giants is the Loma Prieta earthquake. They haven't won a league championship since the earthquake hit during the World Series in 1989.
Bush was responsible for that recession. After all, he was president when it began.
The price of freon has been rising ever since the EPA banned further production of it. So banning freon has made it more valuable.
The city changed its name to San Francisco in 1848, and by the next year it was famous around the world. That just shows you how important a name is!
10. "It's okay to cheat on your taxes. After all, most Americans do that."
bandwagon
appeal to common practice
sweeping generalization
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