week 6 knowledge check study guide

Score: / 23 24Week 6 Knowledge Check Study Guide

Concepts Mastery Questions

Non-emotion-basedfallacies 100%

1 2 3 15 16

Fallacies that appeal toemotion 100%

4 5 6 7 9 10 12 13 17

Two Wrongs Make aRight 100%

8 14

Recognizing When NoFallacy is Present 0%

11

Ad Hominem 100% 18 20

Burden of Proof 100% 19

False Dilemma 100% 21

Slippery Slope 100% 22

Begging the Question 100% 23

Straw Man 100% 24

Concept: Non-emotion-based fallacies

Mastery 100% Questions 1 2 3 15 16

1.

Which of the following terms describes the fallacy of trying to sidetrack someone bybringing up a related but irrelevant topic?

A. Appeal to popularity

B. Bandwagon

C. Smoke screen

Correct:The Correct Answer is: C.

With a smoke screen, one can hide the real issue or true motivation for doingsomething without telling a direct lie.

D. Common practice

2.

Which of the following terms describes a fallacy that encourages the acceptance of aclaim on the grounds that it is already accepted by some substantial number of others?

A. Two wrongs make a right

B. Appeal to popularity

C. Wishful thinking

D. Scapegoating

Correct:The Correct Answer is: B.

Even if all of the 245,000 people that were evacuated from Louisiana after HurricaneKatrina claimed that something like this could never happen to them, they would bewrong. It would be the fallacy of an appeal to popularity.

3.

Which of the following terms is used for a fallacy that tries to justify an action on thegrounds that it is normal behaviorpracticed by a significant number of the population?

A. Peer pressure

B. Apple polishing

C. Appeal to common practice

D. Scapegoating


Common practice is sometimes a cluebut not a proofthat a claim or action is acorrect one. However, it is sometimes the case that everyone is wrong, such as theWhite plantation owner of the early 18th-century American South might haveclaimed that slavery wasn't wrong because it was common practice in his day.

15.

Read the following statement: How can Muslims be opposed to alcoholic beverages?People have been drinking them since before the beginning of history.Which fallacy isthis an example of?

A. No fallacy

B. Appeal to tradition

C. Group think fallacy


Traditions can be wrong or bad.

D. Rationalizing

16.

Read the following statement: Its silly to take a bus to work when most people drive.Which of the following describes this fallacy?

A. No fallacy

B. Rationalizing

C. Appeal to popularity

D. Appeal to tradition


What possible bearing could the fact that most people drive have on mytransportation decisions? This is an appeal to popularity.

Concept: Fallacies that appeal to emotion

Mastery 100% Questions 4 5 6 7 9 10 12 13 17

4.

Which of the following terms describes a fallacy that argues for a course of action on thegrounds that taking this course will win the approval of others, and especially of onesfriends?

A. Appeal to pity

B. Bandwagon

Correct:The Correct Answer is: D.

While approval or disapproval of peers to act against ones better judgment is not avalid argument, it can certainly pressure a person. For a valid argument, you needreasons that are connected to the conclusion in a relevant way.

C. Two wrongs make a right

D. Peer pressure

5.

Which of the following terms describes a fallacy that supports a claim on the grounds thatthe alternative is too awful to deal with?

A. Subjectivist fallacy

B. Common practice

C. Wishful thinking


"Hoping" and "wishful thinking" are two different things. Someone who has hopeusually has good reasons to back up that hope (which makes it rational to behopeful). Wishful thinkers do not. There is no metaphysical efficacy in wishing; youcan't make it happen just by wishing for it.

D. Two wrongs make a right

6.

Which of the following terms is used to describe a fallacy that tries to play on yourcompassion to get you to accept a claim instead of relying on sound reasons?

A. Appeal to anger

B. Appeal to popularity

C. Argument from pity


There is nothing wrong with feeling compassion, but that in itself is not necessarily avalid reason. For example, feeling sorry for the job applicant whose family isstruggling is appropriate. However, your pity is irrelevant to the question "Who is thebest applicant for this job?"

D. Wishful thinking

7.

Which of the following terms refers to the fallacy otherwise known as an appeal to vanity?

A. Appeal to popularity

B. Common practice

C. Apple polishing

D. Two wrongs make a right


Praising a person's admirable qualities and accomplishments is often superfluousand irrelevant to an argument. The reason people do it is often to manipulate thatperson's emotions so that the person will be more amenable to accepting theirconclusion.

9.

Read the following letter to the editor: Dear Editors: When Al Zacharkiw wrote in tocriticize city workers, he didnt mention his occupation. I happen to know hes a millionairewithout a care in the world, and its terrible that he has the time to criticize people workingfor him.Which fallacy is being used in this letter?

A. No fallacy

B. Guilt trip

C. Argument from outrage


There is no actual argument here. There is a series of inflammatory words followedby a "conclusion." Anger is substituted for reasons, and without reasons noconclusion can follow.

D. Argument by force

10.

Read the following statement for an accused mans lawyer: Ladies and gentlemen of thejury: My client stands before you accused of three bank robberies. But the prosecutionhas not told you about three little children in this story, who will have a hard time gettingfood on their table if their daddy goes to prison.Of which fallacy is this an example?

A. No fallacy

B. Argument from pity


As much as we ought to have compassion on the hungry children (unless this is alie), compassion shouldnt be an element of argument.

C. Argument from popularity

D. Rationalizing

12.

Read the following statement: There must be life on other planets. Imagine how lonelywell find the universe if we discover that were the only ones here.Which fallacy doesthis statement represent?

A. No fallacy

B. Argument from force

C. Wishful thinking


While it is true that a universe with only human beings in it would feel lonely, this facthas nothing to do with the objective issue. Whether or not there is life on otherplanets remains unaffected by our feelings on the matter. This is wishful thinking.

D. Apple polishing

13.

Read the following opinion: Judge Cunningham keeps striking down our stategun-control laws. She had better say goodbye to any hopes for a Supreme Courtappointment, as long as we have a Democrat in the White House.Which fallacy is atwork in this opinion statement?

A. No fallacy

B. Apple polishing


The threat to block her chance of getting a Supreme Court appointment if shedoesn't act according to the writers demands shows an argument by force.

C. Guilt trip

D. Argument by force

17.

Read the following statement from a proposal presentation: Ladies and gentlemen, thatconcludes my proposal. You know that I trust and honor your judgment. Even if you do notapprove my request, I am happy just to have had the chance to present this proposal tosuch qualified experts. Thank you.This statement is an example of which fallacy?

A. No fallacy

B. Apple polishing


There was no need to add "to such qualified experts." This is apple polishing.

C. Common practice

D. Argument from outrage

Concept: Two Wrongs Make a Right

Mastery 100% Questions 8 14

8.

Read the following letter to the editor: Your magazine expresses sympathy for AnnieLarson, a putative 'fashion victim' because 'animal rights terrorists' splashed paint on hermink coat. But, when I think of those dozens of animals maimed and anally electrocutedto satisfy someones vanity, I know who the real victims are, and whos the real terrorist!


Two wrongs dont make a right illustrates the tendency of people to justify wrongactions because of others wrong actions.

Which fallacy is at work in this letter?

A. No fallacy

B. Apple polishing


D. Common practice

14.

Read the following opinion: The United States is under no obligation to pay its debts tothe United Nations. Here we are, the biggest contributor to the UN budget, and we onlyget one vote out of 185.Which fallacy is this an example of?


Perhaps it is unfair that the U.S. gets only one vote, but that, by itself, is no reason toaccept the conclusion that the U.S. should be freed of its obligations. Two wrongs donot make a right.

A. No fallacy

B. Common practice


D. Guilt trip

Concept: Recognizing When No Fallacy is Present

Mastery 0% Questions 11

Incorrect:The Correct Answer is: A.

The speaker is pointing out a fact: that there is not sufficient credible evidencebacking up his opponents claim; therefore, there is no fallacy.

11.

Read the following from a political speech: My opponent would like to see TV networkslabel their programming, on the grounds that violent shows make children who watchthem violent. But he has pointed to no scientific study that shows a connection betweenoccasional violence on TV and violent behavior among children.Which fallacy isdemonstrated in this statement?

A. No fallacy

B. Two wrongs make a right

C. Group think fallacy

D. Argument from popularity

Concept: Ad Hominem

Mastery 100% Questions 18 20

18.

Which of the following terms is a rhetorical device which attacks the arguer instead of theargument?

A. Slippery slope

B. Begging the question

C. False dilemma

D. Ad hominem


When analyzing an argument, the internal claims premises are fair game for attack.The qualities of the person making the argument are not fair game because theyaren't pertinent to the argument itself. Doing so is ad hominem.

20.

Poisoning the well and are often versions or types of which of the followinginconsistencyrhetorical devices?

A. Slippery slope

B. Begging the question

C. Ad hominem

D. Burden of proof


This rhetorical device has several sub-categories that are dependent on the focus ofthe attack. An ad hominem is an attack sometimes personal, sometimes based oninconsistencies in the argument and sometimes a pre-attack in the form of poisoningthe well.

Concept: Burden of Proof


19.

Which of the following terms refers to a rhetorical device that unfairly places the onus ofproviding evidence for a position on the wrong side of an issue?

A. False dilemma


There are three main categories that provide reasonable grounds for putting theburden of proof on one side of an issue rather than the other. They are: initialplausibility (the less initial plausibility a claim has, the greater the burden of proofrests on the person who asserts that claim); affirmative/negative (we usually want tohear reasons why something is the case before we want to hear reasons why it isnot); and special circumstances (in order to ensure that we err on the side of cautionor fairness, the burden may be intentionally placed on the person making theaccusation). If these three do not apply, the arguer could be trying to place theburden of proof on the wrong side of the argument.

B. Ad hominem

C. Burden of proof

D. Straw man

Concept: False Dilemma


21.

Read the following statement: "Either join in political life or resign yourself to a lonely andmeaningless existence." This is an example of which rhetorical device?

A. False dilemma

B. Circumstantial ad hominem

C. Appeal to ignorance

D. Poisoning the well

Correct:The Correct Answer is: A.

There are, in fact, other choices for living a meaningful life with company other thanpolitics. This is a false dilemma.

Concept: Slippery Slope


22.

Read the following observations: "Once your kids are watching cartoons, theyre alsowatching those toy commercials. If they see the commercials theyll want the toys; beforeyou know it, theyre obsessed with the toys and youve lost all control over them. So dontlet children watch cartoons."Of which fallacy is this an example?

A. Genetic fallacy


When the reasoning jumps from "they'll want the toys" to "they'll be obsessed withthe toys," red flags should be waving. No support for this leap is present in theargument. Then, when it progresses to "losing all control over them" more red flagsshould alert you to another unsupported jump in reasoning, as well as an unjustifiedexaggeration. From beginning to end, the arguer pulls you from some premises youare likely to accept to those you are not likely to accept if you weren't on a slipperyslope.

B. Slippery slope

C. Burden of proof

D. Begging the question

Concept: Begging the Question


23.

Read the following argument: "The life on other planets must be highly intelligent. After all,weve never documented a single case of aliens landing on Earth, which proves that theyrealize how dangerous it would be to make contact."This contains an example of whichtype of fallacy?

A. Appeal to ignorance

B. Burden of proof

C. Begging the question

D. Perfectionist fallacy


This line of reasoning is begging the question; it is circular to say that aliens areintelligent because they realize how dangerous it would be to make contact, and visaversa. There may be other reasons why aliens haven't landed on Earth: maybe theydon't exist; maybe theyre shy, etc. This pseudo-reason doesn't help the argumentbreak out of the circle.

Concept: Straw Man


24.

Read the following questions: "Do I want the police department to take charge of writingparking tickets? They carry guns! You mean, do I want to get shot if I pull up next to a firehydrant? What do you think?"Which fallacy is at work in these questions?


The possibility of being shot by the police wasn't the topic of discussion, nor would ithave been a reasonable progression to the discussion. The person is using thatargument as a straw man argument (a made-up, weak argument) so it can be easilydismissed.

A. False dilemma

B. Appeal to ignorance

C. Straw man

D. Perfectionist fallacy

week 6 knowledge check study guide

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