Name:
Class:
Date:
Chapter 03 Test E
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero.
Page 1
INSTRUCTIONS: Select the answer that best characterizes each argument.
1. Either you buy me a new Rolex watch, or I’ll be late for all my meetings. I’m sure you don’t want me to be late, so you’ll
buy me the Rolex. How about that one with diamonds on the face?
a. Complex question.
b. Begging the question.
c. No fallacy.
d. Appeal to force.
e. False dichotomy.
2. 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.
a. Appeal to force.
b. You, too (tu quoque).
c. Accident.
d. Missing the point.
e. No fallacy.
3. 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.
a. No fallacy.
b. False cause.
c. Appeal to ignorance.
d. Hasty generalization.
e. Suppressed evidence.
4. 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.
a. Argument against the person, abusive.
b. No fallacy.
c. Red herring.
d. Hasty generalization.
e. Composition.
5. 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.
a. Amphiboly.
b. No fallacy.
c. Appeal to unqualified authority.
d. False cause.
e. Begging the question.
Name:
Class:
Date:
Chapter 03 Test E
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero.
Page 2
6. Whatever is bright is intelligent. But the sun is extremely bright. Therefore, the sun is extremely intelligent.
a. Division.
b. Begging the question.
c. Equivocation.
d. No fallacy.
e. Amphiboly.
7. 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.
a. False dichotomy.
b. No fallacy.
c. Argument against the person, circumstantial.
d. Slippery slope.
e. Appeal to the people.
8. 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.
a. False cause.
b. Begging the question.
c. Appeal to unqualified authority.
d. Missing the point.
e. No fallacy.
9. 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.
a. Accident.
b. False cause.
c. Weak analogy.
d. No fallacy.
e. Hasty generalization.
10. Jessica has played 8 games of Bingo without winning a single game. Therefore, her chances are much better for
winning the next game.
a. False cause.
b. Missing the point.
c. No fallacy.
d. Weak analogy.
e. Argument against the person, circumstantial.
11. The sign on the restaurant wall says “No Smoking Rules Enforced.” Therefore, we can probably smoke, since the
smoking rules aren’t enforced.
a. Missing the point.
Name:
Class:
Date:
Chapter 03 Test E
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero.
Page 3
b. Appeal to ignorance.
c. Amphiboly.
d. No fallacy.
e. Equivocation.
12. Every ingredient in this new drink concoction is highly alcoholic. Therefore, the drink is highly alcoholic.
a. No fallacy.
b. Begging the question.
c. Composition.
d. Hasty generalization.
e. Division.
13. 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.
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.
14. I can see that you don’t want to adopt this little kitten. Why are you so heartless?
a. Red herring.
b. Complex question.
c. Appeal to pity.
d. Begging the question.
e. No fallacy.
15. 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.
a. No fallacy.
b. Suppressed evidence.
c. False dichotomy.
d. Composition.
e. Straw man.
16. 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.
a. No fallacy.
b. Red herring.
c. Appeal to unqualified authority.
d. Straw man.
e. Missing the point.
Name:
Class:
Date:
Chapter 03 Test E
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero.
Page 4
17. 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.
a. Missing the point.
b. No fallacy.
c. False cause.
d. Composition.
e. Weak analogy.
18. 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?
a. No fallacy.
b. Appeal to pity.
c. Red herring.
d. Slippery slope.
e. Straw man.
19. Sylvia is a wonderful ice skater. But every ice skater is a person. Therefore, Sylvia is a wonderful person.
a. Amphiboly.
b. Composition.
c. Equivocation.
d. Division.
e. No fallacy.
20. Witness Clark testified that he saw the defendant emerge from the burgled house with an expensive camera. But,
members of the jury, you should reject this testimony because Clark suffers from brain damage, and he has trouble
remembering things accurately.
a. Appeal to unqualified authority.
b. No fallacy.
c. Argument against the person, circumstantial.
d. Appeal to ignorance.
e. Appeal to pity.
21. The proposal to ban smoking in the workplace is a terrible idea. Consider the plight of the poor smokers. Just to get a
puff, they’ll have to go outside, where they’ll face the icy blasts of winter, torrential rains in the spring, and the blazing sun
in summer. Nobody should ever be subjected to such torture.
a. Missing the point.
b. Appeal to force.
c. False cause.
d. No fallacy.
Name:
Class:
Date:
Chapter 03 Test E
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero.
Page 5
e. Appeal to pity.
22. During the past 100 years the average minimum wage in the U.S. has been less than $3 per hour. Therefore, during the
next 100 years the average minimum wage in the U.S. will be less than $3 per hour.
a. Appeal to ignorance.
b. No fallacy.
c. Accident.
d. Suppressed evidence.
e. Red herring.
23. This one-liter glass vial contains a 3 percent solution of sulfuric acid. Therefore, every cubic centimeter of its contents
is a 3 percent solution of sulfuric acid.
a. No fallacy.
b. Suppressed evidence.
c. Division.
d. Hasty generalization.
e. Composition.
24. Philosopher Peter Singer argues for the right to kill handicapped newborn babies. But Singer is a disgusting irreligious
crypto Nazi who is sometimes described as the most dangerous man in the world today. Obviously his arguments are
nonsense.
a. Missing the point.
b. Argument against the person, abusive.
c. No fallacy.
d. Red herring.
e. Appeal to unqualified authority.
25. Every member of the drill team marches very well. Therefore, the drill team marches very well.
a. Composition.
b. False cause.
c. Hasty generalization.
d. No fallacy.
e. Division.
26. A few days after Margi joined the Democratic Party she broke her foot and lost her job. Therefore, it’s important that
you never join up with the Democrats.
a. No fallacy.
b. Slippery slope.
c. False cause.
d. Appeal to the people.
e. Hasty generalization.
Name:
Class:
Date:
Chapter 03 Test E
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero.
Page 6
27. Some individuals with political aspirations are incompetent bozos. Therefore, some incompetent bozos are individuals
with political aspirations.
a. Amphiboly.
b. Weak analogy.
c. Begging the question.
d. No fallacy.
e. Argument against the person, abusive.
28. Senator Carter, I’m sure you will be happy to cast the deciding vote for our request to drill for oil in the Big Glacier
wilderness area. After all, we know your wife is a double agent for the CIA, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want her identity
made known to certain foreign governments.
a. No fallacy.
b. Appeal to force.
c. Argument against the person, circumstantial.
d. Straw man.
e. Appeal to pity.
29. Yes, I know it’s been made legal, but this idea of same-sex marriage is an abomination! The Holy Bible says that
marriage is between a man and a woman. This sacred rule is engraved in the order of nature by almighty God! Who are
these perverts who would undermine the sanctity of holy wedlock? Down with the gays! Away with the femiNazis!
a. Appeal to unqualified authority.
b. Suppressed evidence.
c. Argument against the person, abusive.
d. No fallacy.
e. Appeal to the people.
30. If media pundits accept bribes, then all credibility will vanish. If media pundits accept bribes, then national cynicism
will grow. Thus, if all credibility vanishes, then national cynicism will grow.
a. This argument contains no fallacy.
b. This argument contains a fallacy of relevance.
c. This argument contains a formal fallacy.
d. This argument contains a fallacy of ambiguity.
e. This argument contains a fallacy of illicit transference.
31. Cynthia, you know a lot about geography. Tell me. Does Zambia share a border with the Congo?
a. No fallacy.
b. Begging the question.
c. Division.
d. Complex question.
e. Missing the point.
Name:
Class:
Date:
Chapter 03 Test E
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero.
Page 7
32. Richard has been doing very poorly in biology this term. Therefore, he should schedule an appointment with the
professor so he can criticize and berate her teaching ability.
a. Appeal to unqualified authority.
b. No fallacy.
c. Straw man.
d. Missing the point.
e. Argument against the person, abusive.
33. Sugar is sweet. Therefore, its chemical components, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, are sweet.
a. Missing the point.
b. False cause.
c. Division.
d. No fallacy.
e. Composition.
34. SureShotJoe, who posts regularly on the Yahoo message boards, says that the stock of Super Tech should triple this
year. Referring to Super Tech, he writes, “there stock shood goe throo the roof!” We can only conclude that Super Tech
offers a great investment opportunity.
a. Appeal to unqualified authority.
b. Straw man.
c. Argument against the person, abusive.
d. Red herring.
e. No fallacy.
35. After returning from a month-long vacation, Robert turned the key in his usually reliable Camry, but nothing
happened. The car must have a dead battery.
a. Accident.
b. No fallacy.
c. False cause.
d. Composition.
e. Appeal to ignorance.
36. The use of marijuana for medical purposes should never be allowed. Before long it will be marijuana for anyone who
wants it. Then it will be hash, cocaine, and crack. In no time they’ll want crystal, ecstasy, and heroin. In the end everyone
will be so drugged out they won’t be able to see straight.
a. Appeal to force.
b. No fallacy.
c. Begging the question.
d. False cause.
e. Slippery slope.
37. Professor Wilson argues that it is absolutely wrong for students to plagiarize their work. But who is she to talk? I have
it on good evidence that Wilson plagiarized her own work when she was a student.
Name:
Class:
Date:
Chapter 03 Test E
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero.
Page 8
a. No fallacy.
b. Appeal to unqualified authority.
c. Straw man.
d. You, too (tu quoque).
e. Argument against the person, abusive.
38. Rachel could not possibly have painted this beautiful landscape scene. Rachel is so inept she doesn’t even know which
end of the brush goes in the paint. And she hasn’t a shred of ability when it comes to color or design.
a. No fallacy.
b. False cause.
c. Argument against the person, abusive.
d. Composition.
e. Argument against the person, circumstantial.
39. The death penalty is clearly immoral. This is so because life is intrinsically valuable. And this follows from the fact
that human beings are ends in themselves. And we know this is true because human beings have a right not to be killed—
which follows from the fact that the state has no right to take human life. And why is this true? Because the death penalty
is clearly immoral.
a. False cause.
b. Slippery slope.
c. Begging the question.
d. No fallacy.
e. Equivocation.
40. Nobody has ever proved that pornography results in increased incidents of rape and child abuse. Thus, we can only
conclude that pornography has no effect on the crime rate.
a. False dichotomy.
b. Appeal to ignorance.
c. No fallacy.
d. Hasty generalization.
e. Appeal to unqualified authority.