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Detecting Fallacies

Total questions: 8

Worksheet time: 3mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Louise is running for class president. In her campaign speech she says, "My opponent does not deserve to win. She is a smoker and she cheated on her boyfriend last year." What fallacy has Louise committed?

a)

Red herring

b)

Appeal to authority

c)

Strawman

d)

Ad hominem

2.

Consider the following conversation:

Bill: I think capital punishment is wrong.

Adam: No it isn't. If it was wrong, it wouldn't be legal.

Of which fallacy is this an example?

a)

Two wrongs make a right

b)

Special pleading

c)

Ad hominem

d)

Begging the question

3.

Ricky is watching television when he sees a commercial for foot cream. The commercial announcer says, "This is the best foot cream on the market because no other foot cream makers have been able to prove otherwise!" What fallacy has the announcer committed?

a)

Appeal to ignorance

b)

Straw man

c)

Begging the question

d)

Hasty generalization

4.

Jeff's mom is concerned when she finds out that he skipped class one day. She tells him that she is concerned that since he skipped one class, he will start skipping more frequently. Then he will drop out altogether, never graduate or get into college, and end up unemployed and living at home for the rest of his life. What type of fallacy has Jeff's mom committed?

a)

Slippery slope

b)

Poisoning the well

c)

Begging the question

d)

Ad hominem

5.

Consider the following exchange:

Debbie: I think capital punishment is a necessary component of our justice system and should remain legal.

Dylan: So you are saying that murder should be legal and it is okay for us to go around killing people just because we think they deserve it? That isn't right.

Of what fallacy is Dylan guilty?


a)

Appeal to ignorance

b)

Straw man

c)

Red herring

d)

Hasty generalization

6.

Jeff is preparing to create a commercial for a new energy drink. He visits a local high school and surveys students in an English class about their beverage preferences. The majority of the class says they prefer grape flavoured drinks, so Jeff tells his superiors that grape is the flavour favoured most by high school students. What error in reasoning has Jeff made?

a)

Bandwagon

b)

Straw man

c)

Begging the question

d)

Hasty generalization

7.

Maria has been working at her current job for more than 30 years at the same wage. She desperately wants a raise so she approaches her boss to ask for one. She says, "You are one of the kindest people I know. You are smart and good-looking and I really love your shoes." What type of fallacy is this?

a)

Wishful thinking

b)

Appeal to flattery

c)

Special pleading

d)

Cherry picking

8.

Anthony and Marie have a heated argument. During their fight, Anthony tells Marie that he hates her and wished that she would get hit by a bus. Later, Anthony receives a call that Marie is in the hospital because she was struck by a bus. Anthony immediately blames himself because if he hadn't made that comment during their fight, Marie would not have been hit. What logical fallacy has Anthony committed?

a)

Special pleading

b)

Ad hominem

c)

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

d)

Red Herring