AWA Identifying Logical Fallacies 2

Question 1

A politician argues: 'My opponent has never run a business, so his economic policies will fail.' Which fallacy does this commit?

Accepted Answer

Ad hominem (circumstantial)

Answer

This is a circumstantial ad hominem — attacking the opponent's background rather than evaluating the policies on their merits.

Question 2

An argument concludes: 'Studies show coffee drinkers are more productive, therefore drinking coffee causes productivity.' What is the error?

Accepted Answer

Correlation-causation fallacy

Answer

Inferring causation from correlation is the correlation-causation fallacy; the link may be explained by confounding variables.

Question 3

'Everyone I know prefers streaming over cable, so most Americans must prefer streaming.' This reasoning is flawed because it commits:

Accepted Answer

Hasty generalization

Answer

Drawing a broad conclusion from a small, unrepresentative sample is a hasty generalization.

Question 4

A debater says: 'If we allow students to retake one exam, soon they'll demand to retake every assignment and grades will become meaningless.' This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Slippery slope

Answer

The slippery slope fallacy assumes that one moderate step will inevitably lead to extreme consequences without evidence.

Question 5

Which of the following best illustrates the 'appeal to ignorance' fallacy?

Accepted Answer

'No one has proven ghosts don't exist, so they must be real.'

Answer

Appeal to ignorance (argumentum ad ignorantiam) treats the absence of disproof as proof of a claim.

(AWA) Analytical Writing Assessment Practice Test

(AWA) Analytical Writing Assessment Practice Test

AWA Identifying Logical Fallacies 2