Identifying Logical Fallacies Questions and Answers Flashcards
7 cards from real Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
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A manager argues: 'Since our best engineers work long hours, all employees who work long hours must be high performers.' Which fallacy is this?
Answer: Affirming the consequent
Affirming the consequent incorrectly concludes that because the outcome follows from a condition, the condition must be present whenever the outcome is observed.
A coach says: 'If we allow players to skip one practice, they'll start skipping all practices, and the whole team will fall apart.' Which fallacy is illustrated?
Answer: Slippery slope
The slippery slope fallacy assumes that one small step will inevitably lead to extreme consequences without adequate justification.
The word 'critical' means both 'negative/fault-finding' and 'essential/important.' An argument that exploits this double meaning commits:
Answer: Equivocation
Equivocation uses a word with multiple meanings in different senses within the same argument to mislead.
A researcher concludes: 'Countries with more TV sets have higher life expectancy, so watching more TV must extend life.' This is an example of:
Answer: False cause (cum hoc ergo propter hoc)
Cum hoc ergo propter hoc mistakes correlation for causation — both TV ownership and life expectancy correlate with wealth, not each other causally.
An attorney argues: 'Since the jury could not prove my client committed the crime, he must be innocent.' In logical terms, this commits:
Answer: Appeal to ignorance
Appeal to ignorance treats the failure to disprove a claim as sufficient proof of its opposite.
Argument: 'Since atoms are invisible, any table made of atoms must also be invisible.' This commits the:
Answer: Division fallacy
The division fallacy incorrectly assumes that properties of the whole (or its constituents at a micro level) apply to larger structures made from them.
A speaker says: 'You must agree with my proposal to cut funding — unless you want children to starve.' This is best classified as:
Answer: Appeal to fear (scare tactics)
Appeal to fear (scare tactics) manipulates the audience by threatening dire consequences to coerce agreement rather than using evidence.