7.7: Logical Fallacy

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Practice 1

"You are saying she was killed because she was immoral, and she was immoral because she was killed!" (from Anne Perry, The Cater Street Hangman, pp. 71-72)
1. hasty generalization
2. circular reasoning
3. false alternatives
4. no error
You will either complete all of your assigned readings for this class, or you will fail this course.
1. hasty generalization
2. circular reasoning
3. false alternatives
4. careless comparison
You should never schedule your child's dentist appointments during school hours. If you do, your child will miss more and more classes. Before you know it, your child will be an elementary school drop out.
1. hasty generalization
2. circular reasoning
3. slippery slope
4. false alternatives
New Yorkers are so rude! I went to New York City last summer, and two taxi-cab drivers almost ran me down.
1. hasty generalization
2. circular reasoning
3. slippery slope
4. false alternatives
5. careless comparison
I do not like writing because I do not like to write.
1. hasty generalization
2. circular reasoning
3. false alternatives
4. careless comparison
Students are just like customers: both groups are paying for a product, and both are always right.
1. hasty generalization
2. circular reasoning
3. false alternatives
4. careless comparison
5. personal attack
We must stop the University System from raising tuition. If we don't, the System will also begin raising technology fees; then the System will increase parking fees. Soon no one will be able to afford college.
1. hasty generalization
2. circular reasoning
3. false alternatives
4. slippery slope
5. personal attack
You can't believe anything Professor Loca says concerning child development. After all, he has no children of his own.
1. hasty generalization
2. circular reasoning
3. personal attack
4. careless comparison
5. slippery slope
Having leadership shows others that you can be a great leader. (student essay)
1. hasty generalization
2. circular reasoning
3. false alternatives
4. careless comparison

Answer: Logical Fallacy - Practice 1 Answer Key

Practice 2

You should reduce your fat intake because eating too many fats is bad for you.
1. hasty generalization
2. circular reasoning
3. false alternatives
4. no error
“We will move forward together or not at all.” President Barack Obama
1. hasty generalization
2. circular reasoning
3. false alternatives
4. careless comparison
We should not pass a bill that bans the sale of alcohol on Sunday. We such a bill were passed, then lawmakers would eventually pass a bill banning the sale of alcohol after midnight. Soon we would be back to Prohibition.
1. hasty generalization
2. circular reasoning
3. slippery slope
4. false alternatives
Florida Gator fans drink too much. When I was at the Florida-Georgia game, I saw at least ten Gator fans who were intoxicated.
1. hasty generalization
2. circular reasoning
3. slippery slope
4. false alternatives
5. careless comparison
We must not pass any more gun control laws or we will all be blown up by terrorists.
1. hasty generalization
2. circular reasoning
3. false alternatives
4. careless comparison
Exercising is just like eating candy. Just as eating a little candy won’t hurt you physically, exercising a little won’t hurt you. But too much exercise, like too much candy, will make you sick to your stomach.
1. hasty generalization
2. circular reasoning
3. false alternatives
4. careless comparison
5. personal attack
We must stop the University System from increasing the requirements to receive the Hope Scholarship. If we don't, the System will make it more and more difficult for students to afford college, and eventually, only the rich will be able to attend the college of their choice.
1. hasty generalization
2. circular reasoning
3. false alternatives
4. slippery slope
5. personal attack
You can't possibly believe Mr. Smith’s testimony in the money laundering trial. Mr. Smith once plagiarized an essay when he was in college.
1. circular reasoning
2. personal attack
3. careless comparison
4. slippery slope
Dieting is useless because everyone knows that diets don’t work.
1. slippery slope
2. circular reasoning
3. false alternatives
4. careless comparison
Either we start making teachers pay into their own pensions or the state government will collapse.
1. hasty generalization
2. circular reasoning
3. false alternatives
4. careless comparison

Answer: Logical Fallacy - Practice 2 Answer Key