AWA Identifying Logical Fallacies 4

Question 1

An argument uses the word 'theory' to mean both 'scientific theory' and 'guess' in different parts of the same passage. This fallacy is called:

Accepted Answer

Equivocation

Answer

Equivocation exploits a word's multiple meanings to make a misleading argument appear valid.

Question 2

The argument 'Each part of this machine is lightweight, so the machine itself must be lightweight' is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Composition fallacy

Answer

The composition fallacy wrongly assumes that what is true of individual parts must also be true of the whole.

Question 3

Conversely, the argument 'This team has brilliant players, so each player must be brilliant' commits the:

Accepted Answer

Division fallacy

Answer

The division fallacy incorrectly attributes properties of a whole to its individual parts.

Question 4

An AWA passage argues: 'We should reject the scientific consensus on climate change because scientists have been wrong before.' This commits:

Accepted Answer

Genetic fallacy

Answer

The genetic fallacy judges a claim based on its source's past failures rather than evaluating the claim's current evidence.

Question 5

A business report concludes: 'Sales rose after we launched the new campaign, proving the campaign worked.' Without additional evidence, this is a:

Accepted Answer

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Answer

Post hoc ergo propter hoc assumes that because B followed A, A caused B, ignoring other possible causes.

(AWA) Analytical Writing Assessment Practice Test