Group Seven: Sample Fallacies And Booby Traps

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Understanding Fallacies and Booby Traps in Argument and Persuasive Writing

Questions and Answers

1.

How can you possibly believe in evolution? That would mean that you believe that an elephant evolved from a mouse, and that’s just ridiculous.
- A.
  
  Genetic Fallacy
- B.
  
  Straw Man
- C.
  
  Undistributed Middle
- D.
  
  Appeal to Authority
- E.
  
  Vagueness
Correct Answer
B. Straw Man
2.

Miller Lite is cheap beer, so the Guinness will be cheap, too
- A.
  
  Straw Man
- B.
  
  Appeal to Authority
- C.
  
  Questionable Use of Statistics
- D.
  
  Vagueness
- E.
  
  Genetic Fallacy
Correct Answer
C. Questionable Use of Statistics
3.

The war in Iraq has been a complete success. After all, Saddam Hussein is dead, and the Iraqis had their first free election in years.
- A.
  
  Undistributed Middle
- B.
  
  False Cause
- C.
  
  Equivocation
- D.
  
  Suppressed Evidence
- E.
  
  Straw Man
Correct Answer
D. Suppressed Evidence
4.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, look at the bloody clothes, the murder weapon. Imagine the helpless screams of the victim. Such a crime deserves no verdict except guilty, guilty!
- A.
  
  Vagueness
- B.
  
  Straw Man
- C.
  
  False Cause
- D.
  
  Red Herring
- E.
  
  Suppressed Evidence
Correct Answer
D. Red Herring
5.

I’m not a doctor, but I play a doctor on TV, and I wouldn’t dream of using anything but Tylenol for my toughest headaches.
- A.
  
  Genetic Fallacy
- B.
  
  False Cause
- C.
  
  Undistributed Middle
- D.
  
  Vagueness
- E.
  
  Appeal to Authority
Correct Answer
E. Appeal to Authority
6.

The Soviet Union collapsed after taking up atheism. Therefore, we must avoid atheism for the same reasons.
- A.
  
  Appeal to Authority
- B.
  
  False Cause
- C.
  
  Straw Man
- D.
  
  Equivocation
- E.
  
  Genetic Fallacy
Correct Answer
B. False Cause
7.

Poetry is based on rhythm, and music is based on rhythm, so isn't poetry a kind of music?
- A.
  
  Red Herring
- B.
  
  Vagueness
- C.
  
  Equivocation
- D.
  
  Undistributed Middle
- E.
  
  Appeal to Authority
Correct Answer
D. Undistributed Middle
8.

Jake, Kyle and Rolf are all members of the UNCP Young Republicans, and they are all planning to be Roman Catholic priests. Emma is also a member of the UNCP Young Republicans, so she is probably planning to be a Roman Catholic priest, too.
- A.
  
  False Cause
- B.
  
  Questionable Use of Statistics
- C.
  
  Equivocation
- D.
  
  Genetic Fallacy
- E.
  
  Undistributed Middle
Correct Answer
B. Questionable Use of Statistics
9.

Many people criticize Thomas Jefferson for being an owner of slaves. But Jefferson was one of our greatest presidents, and his Declaration of Independence is one of the most eloquent pleas for freedom and democracy ever written. Clearly these criticisms are unwarranted.
- A.
  
  Red Herring
- B.
  
  Appeal to Authority
- C.
  
  Vagueness
- D.
  
  Genetic Fallacy
- E.
  
  False Cause
Correct Answer
A. Red Herring
10.

Most heroin users started out smoking pot. If you start smoking pot, you’ll end up a heroin user, too.
- A.
  
  Vagueness
- B.
  
  Equivocation
- C.
  
  Undistributed Middle
- D.
  
  Appeal to Authority
- E.
  
  Straw Man
Correct Answer
C. Undistributed Middle

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Oct 31, 2009

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Group Seven: Sample Fallacies And Booby Traps

How can you possibly believe in evolution? That would mean that you believe that an elephant evolved from a mouse, and that’s just ridiculous.

Miller Lite is cheap beer, so the Guinness will be cheap, too

The war in Iraq has been a complete success. After all, Saddam Hussein is dead, and the Iraqis had their first free election in years.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, look at the bloody clothes, the murder weapon. Imagine the helpless screams of the victim. Such a crime deserves no verdict except guilty, guilty!

I’m not a doctor, but I play a doctor on TV, and I wouldn’t dream of using anything but Tylenol for my toughest headaches.

The Soviet Union collapsed after taking up atheism. Therefore, we must avoid atheism for the same reasons.

Poetry is based on rhythm, and music is based on rhythm, so isn't poetry a kind of music?

Jake, Kyle and Rolf are all members of the UNCP Young Republicans, and they are all planning to be Roman Catholic priests. Emma is also a member of the UNCP Young Republicans, so she is probably planning to be a Roman Catholic priest, too.

Many people criticize Thomas Jefferson for being an owner of slaves. But Jefferson was one of our greatest presidents, and his Declaration of Independence is one of the most eloquent pleas for freedom and democracy ever written. Clearly these criticisms are unwarranted.

Most heroin users started out smoking pot. If you start smoking pot, you’ll end up a heroin user, too.