Group Six: Sample Fallacies And Booby Traps

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Understanding Fallacies and Booby Traps in Argument and Persuasive Writing

Questions and Answers

1.

Lewis Carroll, in Through the Looking Glass: “ ‘You couldn’t have [jam] if you did want it,’ the Queen said. ‘The rule is jam tomorrow and jam yesterday — but never jam today.’ ‘It must sometimes come to jam today,’ Alice objected. ‘No it can’t,’ said the Queen. ‘It’s jam every other day: today isn’t any other day, you know.’ ”
- A.
  
  Appeal to Authority
- B.
  
  Suppressed Evidence
- C.
  
  False Cause
- D.
  
  Equivocation
- E.
  
  Red Herring
Correct Answer
D. Equivocation
2.

The nuthatch was discovered by Tilly Turnow in the woods, while hopping from branch to branch of an elm tree, singing happily.
- A.
  
  False Cause
- B.
  
  Red Herring
- C.
  
  Straw Man
- D.
  
  Vagueness
- E.
  
  Appeal to Authority
Correct Answer
D. Vagueness
3.

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.
  
  Vagueness
- B.
  
  Appeal to Authority
- C.
  
  Straw Man
- D.
  
  Red Herring
- E.
  
  False Cause
Correct Answer
D. Red Herring
4.

U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn says that lesbianism is rampant in the Oklahoma schools. This must, indeed, be true, because surely the senator couldn't be mistaken about the schools in his own state.
- A.
  
  False Cause
- B.
  
  Genetic Fallacy
- C.
  
  Suppressed Evidence
- D.
  
  Appeal to Authority
- E.
  
  Vagueness
Correct Answer
D. Appeal to Authority
5.

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.
  
  Straw Man
- B.
  
  Suppressed Evidence
- C.
  
  Appeal to Authority
- D.
  
  Equivocation
- E.
  
  Undistributed Middle
Correct Answer
B. Suppressed Evidence
6.

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.
  
  Appeal to Authority
- B.
  
  Questionable Use of Statistics
- C.
  
  Suppressed Evidence
- D.
  
  Vagueness
- E.
  
  Red Herring
Correct Answer
B. Questionable Use of Statistics
7.

There are more laws on the books than ever before, and more crimes are being committed than ever before. Therefore, to reduce crime, we must eliminate the laws.
- A.
  
  Appeal to Authority
- B.
  
  Suppressed Evidence
- C.
  
  False Cause
- D.
  
  Equivocation
- E.
  
  Red Herring
Correct Answer
C. False Cause
8.

I have a right to speak. What is right ought to be done. So I ought to speak.
- A.
  
  Equivocation
- B.
  
  False Cause
- C.
  
  Straw Man
- D.
  
  Undistributed Middle
- E.
  
  Vagueness
Correct Answer
A. Equivocation
9.

You’re a vegetarian? You do realize that Hitler was a vegetarian, too?
- A.
  
  Straw Man
- B.
  
  Equivocation
- C.
  
  Vagueness
- D.
  
  Genetic Fallacy
- E.
  
  False Cause
Correct Answer
D. Genetic Fallacy
10.

You can hardly blame President Clinton for having extramarital affairs. Many presidents, when faced with similar situations, have yielded to the same temptations.
- A.
  
  Genetic Fallacy
- B.
  
  Red Herring
- C.
  
  Appeal to Authority
- D.
  
  Vagueness
- E.
  
  Straw Man
Correct Answer
B. Red Herring

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Oct 31, 2009

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Group Six: Sample Fallacies And Booby Traps

The nuthatch was discovered by Tilly Turnow in the woods, while hopping from branch to branch of an elm tree, singing happily.

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.

U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn says that lesbianism is rampant in the Oklahoma schools. This must, indeed, be true, because surely the senator couldn't be mistaken about the schools in his own state.

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.

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.

There are more laws on the books than ever before, and more crimes are being committed than ever before. Therefore, to reduce crime, we must eliminate the laws.

I have a right to speak. What is right ought to be done. So I ought to speak.

You’re a vegetarian? You do realize that Hitler was a vegetarian, too?

You can hardly blame President Clinton for having extramarital affairs. Many presidents, when faced with similar situations, have yielded to the same temptations.