Reference no: EM133226667

Assignment:

Identify the fallacy in the passages. Choose what you think is the best answer.

1. Paul, it was great to see you at the party the other night. Everyone there was doing crack. Incidentally, how long have you been dealing that stuff?

a. None of the listed

b. Division

c. Slippery slope

d. Hasty generalization

e. Post hoc

2. A vast majority of Americans believe that there's a supreme being. So, how can you doubt the existence of such a being?

a. Slippery slope

b. Straw man

c. Appeal to ignorance

d. Appeal to popularity (common belief)

e. None of the listed

3. Congressman Murtha says that we should withdraw from Iraq. Why believe him? It is baffling that he is endorsing the policy positions of Michael Moore and the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic party. (Scott McClellan, Bush Administration spokesman)

a. Guilty by association

b. Post hoc

c. Amphiboly

d. Appeal to ignorance

e. Begging the question

4. I hardly think that 85 is the right age at which to talk about a retirement home unless there are some serious health concerns. My 85-year old mother powerwalks two times each day, drives her car safely, climbs stairs, does crosswords, and reads the daily paper. (Letter to the editor, Time Magazine)

a. Appeal to unqualified authorty

b. Amphiboly

c. Hasty generalization

d. Equivocation

e. Pro causa

5. We took the Bible and prayer out of public schools, and now we're having weekly shootings practically. So, we should reinstall prayer in public schools.

a. Pro causa non causa

b. Appeal to emotion

c. Straw man

d. Appeal to tradition

e. Post hoc

6. The Book of Mormon is true because it was written by Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith wrote the truth because he was divinely inspired. We know that Joseph Smith was divinely inspired because the Book of Mormon says that he was, and the Book of Mormon is true.

a. Oversimplified cause

b. Slippery slope

c. Tu quoque

d. Begging the question

e. Red herring

7. Atoms are invisible, and humans are made up of atoms. Therefore, humans are invisible.

a. Weak analogy

b. Oversimplified cause

c. Appeal to emotion

d. Composition

e. Bandwagon

8. Look, either you support the war or you are a traitor to your country. You don't support the war. So you're a traitor.

a. Appeal to tradition

b. Appeal to fear

c. Slippery slope

d. Post hoc

e. false dilemma (dichotomy)

9. If assault rifles are banned in this country, then handguns will be next. Then sporting rifles will be banned. And ultimately all guns will be banned, and our fundamental freedom to own guns will be canceled out altogether. So if assault rifles are banned, we might as well strike the Second Amendment from the Constitution because it will be worthless.

a. Red herring

b. Appeal to emotion

c. None of the listed

d. Tu quoque

e. Slippery slope

10. All people who live in Cincinnati have no idea where Akron is. After all, my friend and I didn't when I lived in Cincinnati.

a. Hasty generalization

b. Straw man

c. Ad hominem circumstantial

d. Red herring

e. Weak analogy