PHIL 170 Fallacies Exercise Test
Questions and Answers
Every sentence in this paragraph is will written. There the paragraph is will written -
Answer-Composition
James said that he saw a picture of a beautiful girl stashed in Stephen's locker. We can
only conclude that Stephen has broken the rules, because girls are not allowed in the
locker room - Answer-Amphiboly
Why is it so difficult for you to reach a decision? - Answer-Complex Question
People who lack humility have no sense of beauty, because everyone who has a sense
of beauty also has humility - Answer-Begging the Question
If Thomas gives Marie a ring, then Thomas and Marie will be engaged. Thomas did give
Marie a ring. In fact, he phoned her just the other night. Therefore, Thomas and Marie
are engaged - Answer-Equivocation
All men are mortal. Therefore, some day man will disappear from the earth. - Answer-
Composition
During the 50 years that Mr. Jones worked, he contributed $90,000 to Social Security,
Now that he is retired he stands to collect $200,000 from the system. Obviously he will
collect a much greater monetary value than he contributed - Answer-Suppressed
evidence
Either you marry me right now or I'll kill myself. You don't want me to kill myself so you'll
marry me right now. - Answer-False dichotomy
Either Meg Ryan or Britney Spears is a popular singer. Meg Ryan is not a popular
singer. Therefore, Britney Spears is a popular singer. - Answer-No fallacy
Switzerland is 48% Protestant. Heidi Gilling is a Swiss. Therefore, Heidi Gilsing is 48%
Protestant - Answer-Division
An atomic bomb causes more damage than a conventional bomb. Therefore, during
WWII more damage was caused by atomic bombs than by conventional bombs -
Answer-Suppressed evidence
The author warns about numerous computational errors in his accounting text.
Therefore he must've written it very carelessly - Answer-Amphiboly
, Of course abortion is permissible. After all, a woman has a right to do as she pleases
with her own body. - Answer-Begging the question
Mr Wilson said that on July 4th he went out on the veranda and watched the fireworks
go up in his pajamas. We conclude that Mr. Wilson must have had an exciting evening -
Answer-Amphiboly
A crust of bread is better than nothing. Nothing is better than true love. Therefore, a
crust of bread is better than true love. - Answer-Equivocation
Every member of the Delta Club is over 70 years old. Therefore, the Delta Club must be
over 70 years old. - Answer-Composition
Of course you should eat Wheaties. Wheaties is the breakfast of champions, yknow. -
Answer-Appeal to People
Surely it is orally permissible to kill animals for food. If God didn't want us to eat animals,
he wouldn't have made them out of meat - Answer-Begging the question
The idea that black people in this country live in poverty is ridiculous. Oprah is rich. So
is Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Jackson - Answer-Hasty
generalization
No one has ever proved that the human fetus is not a person with rights. Therefore,
abortion is morally wrong. - Answer-Appeal to ignorance
When a car breaks down so often that repairs become pointless, the car is thrown in the
junk heap. Similarly, when a person becomes old and diseased, he or she should be
mercifully put to death - Answer-weak analogy
Childhood obesity is a major problem these days. Obvious our public health officials
have no been doing their job. - Answer-False cause
The 20-story Carson Building is constructed of concrete blocks that can each withstand
an earthquake of 9.5 on the Richter scale. Therefore, the building can withstand an
earthquake of 9.5 on the Richter scale - Answer-Composition
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? - Answer-Complex
question
Erica Evans, who takes orders at the local Taco Bell, argues persuasively in favor of
increasing the minimum wage. But this is exactly what you would expect. Erica is paid
minimum wage, and if the minimum wage, then her own salary will go up. Obviously
Erica's arguments are worthless. - Answer-Ad hominem
Questions and Answers
Every sentence in this paragraph is will written. There the paragraph is will written -
Answer-Composition
James said that he saw a picture of a beautiful girl stashed in Stephen's locker. We can
only conclude that Stephen has broken the rules, because girls are not allowed in the
locker room - Answer-Amphiboly
Why is it so difficult for you to reach a decision? - Answer-Complex Question
People who lack humility have no sense of beauty, because everyone who has a sense
of beauty also has humility - Answer-Begging the Question
If Thomas gives Marie a ring, then Thomas and Marie will be engaged. Thomas did give
Marie a ring. In fact, he phoned her just the other night. Therefore, Thomas and Marie
are engaged - Answer-Equivocation
All men are mortal. Therefore, some day man will disappear from the earth. - Answer-
Composition
During the 50 years that Mr. Jones worked, he contributed $90,000 to Social Security,
Now that he is retired he stands to collect $200,000 from the system. Obviously he will
collect a much greater monetary value than he contributed - Answer-Suppressed
evidence
Either you marry me right now or I'll kill myself. You don't want me to kill myself so you'll
marry me right now. - Answer-False dichotomy
Either Meg Ryan or Britney Spears is a popular singer. Meg Ryan is not a popular
singer. Therefore, Britney Spears is a popular singer. - Answer-No fallacy
Switzerland is 48% Protestant. Heidi Gilling is a Swiss. Therefore, Heidi Gilsing is 48%
Protestant - Answer-Division
An atomic bomb causes more damage than a conventional bomb. Therefore, during
WWII more damage was caused by atomic bombs than by conventional bombs -
Answer-Suppressed evidence
The author warns about numerous computational errors in his accounting text.
Therefore he must've written it very carelessly - Answer-Amphiboly
, Of course abortion is permissible. After all, a woman has a right to do as she pleases
with her own body. - Answer-Begging the question
Mr Wilson said that on July 4th he went out on the veranda and watched the fireworks
go up in his pajamas. We conclude that Mr. Wilson must have had an exciting evening -
Answer-Amphiboly
A crust of bread is better than nothing. Nothing is better than true love. Therefore, a
crust of bread is better than true love. - Answer-Equivocation
Every member of the Delta Club is over 70 years old. Therefore, the Delta Club must be
over 70 years old. - Answer-Composition
Of course you should eat Wheaties. Wheaties is the breakfast of champions, yknow. -
Answer-Appeal to People
Surely it is orally permissible to kill animals for food. If God didn't want us to eat animals,
he wouldn't have made them out of meat - Answer-Begging the question
The idea that black people in this country live in poverty is ridiculous. Oprah is rich. So
is Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Jackson - Answer-Hasty
generalization
No one has ever proved that the human fetus is not a person with rights. Therefore,
abortion is morally wrong. - Answer-Appeal to ignorance
When a car breaks down so often that repairs become pointless, the car is thrown in the
junk heap. Similarly, when a person becomes old and diseased, he or she should be
mercifully put to death - Answer-weak analogy
Childhood obesity is a major problem these days. Obvious our public health officials
have no been doing their job. - Answer-False cause
The 20-story Carson Building is constructed of concrete blocks that can each withstand
an earthquake of 9.5 on the Richter scale. Therefore, the building can withstand an
earthquake of 9.5 on the Richter scale - Answer-Composition
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? - Answer-Complex
question
Erica Evans, who takes orders at the local Taco Bell, argues persuasively in favor of
increasing the minimum wage. But this is exactly what you would expect. Erica is paid
minimum wage, and if the minimum wage, then her own salary will go up. Obviously
Erica's arguments are worthless. - Answer-Ad hominem
