Fallacy Quiz for Grade 10

After seeing Ethan and Ava arrive late to class twice, David concludes that all students always arrive late to class. What does this scenario best illustrate?

• Using personal attacks instead of arguing the point

• Assuming that a claim is true for all cases because it is true for some cases

• Arguing that a proposition is true because it has not yet been proven false

• Drawing a conclusion based on insufficient evidence

Answer explanation

A hasty generalization fallacy involves drawing a conclusion based on insufficient evidence.

What fallacy does this represent?

• Ad Hominem
• Circular Reasoning

• Generalization

• False Cause

Which of the following is an example of circular reasoning?

• "You can't give me a C; I'm an A student."

• "I'm right because I say I'm right."

• "If we allow students to redo this test, next they'll want to redo every assignment."

• "People who don't support the new library just don't understand the importance of reading."

Answer explanation

The correct choice, 'I'm right because I say I'm right,' is an example of circular reasoning as it uses the conclusion to support itself without providing any evidence or valid reasoning.

If a city allows Maya to open a lemonade stand without a permit, what is the slippery slope fallacy used by those opposing it?

• They argue that Avery, who disagrees with the stand, is not qualified to speak on the matter.

• They claim that allowing one stand without a permit equates to all businesses operating without any regulations.

• They predict without sufficient evidence that this will lead to a catastrophic chain of unregulated businesses and eventual economic collapse.

• They keep repeating that businesses should be regulated, without providing new arguments.

Answer explanation

The slippery slope fallacy involves predicting without sufficient evidence that one thing will lead to a catastrophic chain of events.

What fallacy does this represent?

• Ad Hominem
• Appeal to Authority
• Generalization

• False Cause

Answer explanation

The claim is based on one week in 2012. This fallacy is committed when one generalizes from a sample that is either too small or too special to be representative of a population. For example, asking ten people on the street what they think of the president's plan to reduce the deficit can in no way be said to represent the sentiment of the entire nation.

During a school debate, Noah criticizes Aria's argument about climate change by pointing out Aria's lack of experience in environmental science rather than addressing the argument itself. Which fallacy is Noah committing?

• Slippery Slope

• Ad Hominem

• Circular Reasoning

• False Equivalence

Answer explanation

The correct fallacy involving attacking the character of the person making an argument is Ad Hominem, where the focus is on the person rather than the argument itself.

Benjamin argues that because his smartphone and Luna's smartphone are both made by the same company, they must have the same performance and features. What does this involve?

• Drawing a conclusion based on too little evidence

• Assuming that because two things share one characteristic, they are the same in all respects

• Predicting a negative outcome without sufficient evidence

• Using the conclusion of an argument as a premise without justification

Answer explanation

False equivalence involves assuming that because two things share one characteristic, they are the same in all respects.

Which of the following is an example of a hasty generalization?

• "All politicians are corrupt because the two I met were dishonest."

• "If we don't stop eating sweets, we'll all end up with diabetes."

• "He's wrong because he's never been right before."

• "These two events are similar, so they must have the same cause."

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'All politicians are corrupt because the two I met were dishonest.' This is a hasty generalization as it draws a broad conclusion based on a limited sample size.

Identify the fallacy: "If we allow students to use calculators on this test, next they'll want to use them on every test, and then they'll never learn basic math skills."

• Hasty Generalization

• Circular Reasoning

• Slippery Slope

• Ad Hominem

Answer explanation

The correct choice is Slippery Slope because it assumes allowing calculators in one test will inevitably lead to them being used in all tests, without sufficient evidence.

Which fallacy is demonstrated by the statement: "You shouldn't listen to Jerry's argument on climate change because he's not a scientist"?

• Slippery Slope

• Ad Hominem

• Circular Reasoning

• False Equivalence

Answer explanation

The correct choice is Ad Hominem because it attacks Jerry's credibility instead of addressing the argument itself.