CCTST Logical Fallacies 3

Question 1

"Legalizing marijuana will lead to widespread drug addiction and eventually the collapse of society." Which fallacy does this commit?

Accepted Answer

Slippery slope

Answer

Slippery slope assumes that one event will inevitably lead to extreme consequences without sufficient justification.

Question 2

"We've always held graduation ceremonies in person; there's no reason to change that now." This exemplifies:

Accepted Answer

Appeal to tradition

Answer

Appeal to tradition assumes something is correct or better simply because it has been done that way historically.

Question 3

During a debate, a candidate starts discussing the opponent's tax returns when asked about healthcare policy. This is a:

Accepted Answer

Red herring

Answer

A red herring introduces an irrelevant topic to divert attention from the original issue.

Question 4

"The word 'bank' can mean a financial institution or a riverbank. Since banks hold deposits, rivers must hold deposits too." This illustrates:

Accepted Answer

Equivocation

Answer

Equivocation uses a word with multiple meanings in different ways within the same argument to create a misleading conclusion.

Question 5

A study of 15 college students concludes that 'young Americans prefer online learning over in-person classes.' What fallacy is present?

Accepted Answer

Hasty generalization

Answer

Hasty generalization draws a broad conclusion from an unrepresentative or too-small sample.

(CCTST) California Critical Thinking Skills Test Practice Test