Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Identifying Logical Fallacies Questions and Answers 3

Question 1

A politician says, 'My opponent has never run a business, so his economic policies will ruin the country.' Which fallacy is this?

Accepted Answer

Ad hominem (circumstantial)

Answer

Circumstantial ad hominem attacks the person's background or circumstances rather than addressing the argument itself.

Question 2

'Either we pass stricter gun control laws or gun violence will destroy society.' What fallacy does this commit?

Accepted Answer

False dilemma

Answer

The false dilemma (or false dichotomy) presents only two options when more alternatives exist.

Question 3

A doctor claims that because she recovered from cancer after eating a special diet, the diet must cure cancer. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Answer

Post hoc ergo propter hoc assumes causation from mere sequence in time — recovery followed the diet, so the diet caused recovery.

Question 4

Someone argues: 'You say we should reduce sugar intake, but I saw you eating cake last week.' Which fallacy is this?

Accepted Answer

Tu quoque (appeal to hypocrisy)

Answer

Tu quoque deflects criticism by pointing to the critic's inconsistent behavior rather than addressing the argument.

Question 5

The argument 'No one has ever proven that aliens don't exist, so aliens must exist' commits which fallacy?

Accepted Answer

Appeal to ignorance (argumentum ad ignorantiam)

Answer

Appeal to ignorance treats the absence of disproof as proof of a claim's truth.

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test