Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Identifying Logical Fallacies 3

Question 1

A professor argues: 'Natural herbal remedies are always safer than synthetic drugs because they come from nature.' This is an example of which fallacy?

Accepted Answer

Appeal to nature

Answer

Appeal to nature incorrectly assumes that natural things are inherently good or safe and synthetic things are inferior or harmful.

Question 2

A candidate states: 'Senator Marsh supports reducing military spending, which proves she wants America to be weak and vulnerable to attack.' Which fallacy is present?

Accepted Answer

Straw man

Answer

This straw man misrepresents supporting budget reduction as wanting national weakness, which is a distortion of the original position.

Question 3

An article claims: 'After the city installed new streetlights, crime dropped by 15%. The streetlights caused the crime reduction.' Which fallacy does this illustrate?

Accepted Answer

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Answer

Post hoc ergo propter hoc incorrectly concludes that because B followed A, A must have caused B, ignoring other possible explanations.

Question 4

A nutritionist says: 'Studies funded by the sugar industry show sugar is safe in moderate amounts. But of course, they would say that — they're paid by the industry.' Which fallacy is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

Genetic fallacy

Answer

The genetic fallacy dismisses evidence based solely on its source or origin rather than evaluating the actual validity of the studies themselves.

Question 5

A debater concludes: 'You haven't been able to prove that extraterrestrial life doesn't exist, so it must exist.' Which fallacy is this?

Accepted Answer

Appeal to ignorance

Answer

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

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Identifying Logical Fallacies 3