Take home quiz

QUIZ III: INVALIDITY AND FALLACIES PART I. Please answer the questions associated with the following two (2) passages. PASSAGE I. “How do you know that your God exists?” says One. “Because the Bible tells me He does,” says the Other. “Oh, your Bible talks? Isn’t that something? Does it speak in Tongues? In Alto? How do you even know its true, huh? That could be some Haint talking to you!” says One. “Ha. Ha! Make fun if you want to, but you’ll be the one sorry come Judgement Day. For your information, God does not lie! And the Bible is the Word of God. That’s all I need to know. I know my place in His sight,” the Other says. I. The One commits a Straw Man fallacy in his argument II. The One commits Equivocation in his argument III. The One commits no fallacies in his argument IV. The One does not have an argument V. The Other commits Ad Verecundiam and Begging the Question VI. The Other commits Equivocation/False Consolation/Extension VII. The Other commits no fallacies; he presents a valid and true argument VIII. The Other presents no argument 1. The most accurate description of this discussion is A. I, II, III, IV B. V, VI, VII C. III, VIII only D. I, II, V only E. IV, VII 2. The least accurate description of this discussion is A. I, II, III, IV, V B. III, IV, VI, VII, VIII C. I, V, II, IV, VIII D. V, VI, VII, VIII E. I, II, IV, VII, VIII 3. Of the options below, which is most appropriate for the argument(s) presented A. III, II B. I C. V, I D. VII E. IV, VIII 4. Both the One’ argument and the Other’s argument are: A. Valid B. Valid and Sound C. Invalid and Fallacious D. Invalid but not Fallacious E. Examples of Explanatory/Inferential arguments 5. If, in fact, both arguments are fallacious, what would be the impact of the fallacies committed on both arguments (i.e., if you took the fallacies out of the arguments, what impact would that have on the argument(s) or remnants of the arguments left?) A. The overall fallacies would weaken, but not destroy both arguments B. The overall fallacies would utterly destroy the arguments C. The overall fallacies would have no impact whatsoever D. The overall fallacies would be like a “little white lie” and no one would pay any attention to them The fallacies would act like slanters so they could easily be ignored With no harm done to the arguments--arguments still strong. 6 Both principal arguments here are A. Valid only B. Valid and Sound C. Clearly fallacious and invalid D. Arguments dependent for their impact on a series of slanters without any factual evidence. E. Imply that non-believers just don’t get it. 7. Which of the following is the most accurate? A. Once you remove the fallacies from these two arguments, you have no arguments left Once you remove the fallacies from these two arguments, you still have two arguments, just weaker ones. C. There are no fallacies in these two arguments. Once you remove the fallacies, the arguments stay as they were originally—the fallacies have no impact on these arguments--they stay strong. E. None of the above is accurate. PASSAGE II “Being gay is a choice, not a genetic determination. Those who say otherwise are merely looking for an excuse for their sinful ways. They want to claim “God did it! “ “I’m made that way !” What a load of crap!. They are just a bunch of freaks who need to soothe their guilt about boys choosing to be with boys and girls talking about marrying girls. They will surely burn in hellfire for that kind of lifestyle. You watch ! That kind of decadence will be the death of Western Civilization. Remember the Roman Empire? It fell because too many queers found a way of making their sexual orientation the mainstream of life, just like they are trying to do here. Well, it’s not going to happen here, no siree. Not if I and the other good Christian soldiers have anything to say about it. Sex is supposed to be between a man and a woman to procreate, that’s what’s in the Bible. The Good Book says nothing about same sex marriages and doing it with animals and such, so clearly what the freaks say about it is not right. In fact, that’s out and out blasphemy ! People like that should be outcast or just put out of their misery, you know ! Now, I’m not advocating violence here—I’m a good Christian, remember—but the Lord says we should protect our own from the devil, evil and wickedness. And these people certainly fit that description. They have just got to be identified and taken out, that’s all, one way or the other. If they leave peaceably, fine. If not, well, they’ve been warned. We will not allow them to corrupt our children and take down our society. They should go and start their own society of gays, queers, homos and freaks and just leave us alone!! We will not take another day of this filth!!! Get out now, all you homos, or suffer the wrath of the Lord !! I. An excellent, even magnificent argument; no fallacies committed II. Commits a few fallacies, but nothing important-a powerful argument III. Commits False Analogy, Ad Hominem and/or Ad Baculum IV. Commits Ad Ignorantiam, False Dilemma and/or Appeal to Belief V. Commits Ad Verecundiam and/or Non Sequitur VI. Is a valid argument VII. Is a sound argument 8. Which of the following are the most accurate in describing this passage ? A. I, II, III B. IV, V, VI C. III, IV, V only D. VI, VII only E. All seven are accurate 9. Which of the following are the least accurate? A. I, II, VII B. III, V, VI C. II, VII only D. V, VI, VII only E. None of the Above 10. Which of the following best describes the argument? A. VI, VII D. I, VII B. II, V E. None of the Above C. II, I, VI 11. The primary logical issue in this argument is? A. Whether the Bible sanctions being gay B. Whether gay rights is a fundamental issue in America C. Whether being gay is a sin and blasphemous D. Whether gay people should be identified and ‘taken out’ E. There is no issue, because there is no argument, just Slanters. 12. The p.p.o.v. in this argument is A. ‘Being gay is a choice, not a biological condition!’ B. ‘Those who choose to be gay are sinful and wicked’ C. ‘Gays are freaks’ D. ‘ Gays should get out of our society or they’ll be ‘taken out’ E. ‘Sex is supposed to be between a man and a woman!’ 13. What is the effect on this argument of the fallacies committed? A. Destroys the argument about gays. B. Weakens, but still leaves an effective argument on the sinfulness of gays C. Has no impact on the argument—the fallacies committed were cosmetic D. Makes the argument about gays stronger, more effective, and more convincing E. There were two arguments, not one. Fallacies didn’t affect the argument that gays are freaks and a corrupting influence. 14. What is the purpose of this argument regarding gays? A. To explain the proper way to understand the issue of being gay in Western society B. To persuade and convince that being gay is wrong and should be dealt with. C. To clarify the truth of the proposition: Gayness is a sin. Stop it!! To imply (infer) that those who are gay are enemies of society and should be appropriately punished. To persuasively define and articulate those who believe in gayness and to call them out as true freaks 15. This argument clearly shows that: A. Fallacies are just like regular opinions--they merely color an argument B. Fallacies can be very effective when descriptive, emotional words are included C. There are some very illogical people in ths world D. Abortion isn’t a bad thing after all E. Fallacies can be part of a valid informal logical argument PART II: ANSWER THE FOLLOWING TWENTY QUESTIONS BASED ON THE FIVE LISTED CHOICES (15-35). A. Not An Argument (NA) B. An Argument, but Invalid and Fallacious (IN-F) C. A Series of Assertions Only D. Valid, and Non- Fallacious Argument (V-NF) E. Valid and Sound Argument (V&SA) 16. Mary Pippin was a murderer. The police knew it. The grocery clerk knew it. Even her dog knew it. Pure and simple, she was a killer all right. 17. Take left from up, and right from the ground. Take two steps horizontal, then jump way out of the box. Swing your hips from side to side, then flip your derriere down the slide. I read those instructions again and again, but I still couldn’t get the bottle of cherries open. Those instructions had to be the wrong ones. I had gotten gypped. 18. That must be a tight-lipped frosty-berry whatchamacallit. It has to be. Look at it.It’s got the claws, the antlers and the wings, just like the book said. I know what I’m talking about. 19 You know what? You’re a fool, McCloudy. The man just offered you a mint to take his offer and get on out of here, straight to retirement, travel and leisure. You’re always complaining about how you hate this job, how no one appreciates you and all that crap, and here he comes and gives you the perfect out! With plenty of change! How could you not take it, and take it quickly before he changes his mind? 20. To get an A, you answer everything right. To get a B, you answer things tight. To get a C, keep calm, show no fright. But to get a D or F, just lay down and don’t fight. As for me, I cover my bets and tightly write. 21. Anyone who can be drafted into military service and subjected to the risk of death in Iraq, Iran or some other God-forsaken place for his or her country ought to be allowed to come in your club, mister and soak up some brew. Well, I’m eighteen, Bush won the stupid election that I didn’t vote in and I’ve just been drafted to go fight Al Quada, whoever that is. So, you need to just get on outta my way, because I’m a thirsty, depressed soul tonight looking for some love and suds. 22. The deceased was shot with a .357 Magnum from a distance of 90 yards. Of the suspects, only Mrs. Gramley and Cogburn can fire a pistol accurately at that range. The CSI team is just finishing their assessment, and they point the finger straight at Mrs. Gramley, calling her the Dragon Lady. So, clearly, she must be the murderer! 23. Minister Idris Mustapha just gave a rousing speech about the true nature of this country and its legacy of slavery and avariceness. He clearly said that ‘The meek shall inherit the Earth, and that only the Strong Should Survive.’ I’m going to the gym right now and pump some iron. I’ve gotta get my strength up to par for the final conflagration that’s coming. What about you? 24. Men are born free: yet men are everywhere in some form of bondage. So, freedom at birth must not be a guarantee of avoiding slavery later. 25. The mongoose sized up the cobra, saw that the snake was slightly quicker to one side than on the other, and quickly chose a plan. The mongoose feinted one way, then another, and before the cobra could recover, the mongoose had fastened its jaws around the snake and the game was over. The mongoose was the worthiest adversary this day. 26. The Great Bull was puzzled. Whenever he snorted and kicked up the dust, the buzzard knew to get stepping. Here he was agitated as all get out, snorting and kicking up the dust for all he was worth, but the buzzard didn’t move. It just stared at him as if he was not doing anything. The buzzard , the Great One concluded, must be loaded. Too much dead food in his system. 27. Listen, man, I don’t care what you say. O.J. did it !! He killed both of those people, Nicole and Ron. It was all in the papers. Everybody with any sense knows that O.J. and only O.J. killed those people. What’s wrong with you? Don’t you read the papers anymore? Are you a hermit or something? 28. George W. Bush is the best man for the job. He is the president, he wants to keep being the president, and he can spell president most of the time. I say let it be? G. W. for president!! 29. John Kerry is an honorable man. If those swift boat vets hadn’t placed that nasty ad about him on t-v and kept playing it over and over, I would have voted for him as president. I guess we better stay with the fool we have. At least he’s familiar. 30. I’m mean Gene, the ferocious rappin’ machine. Everybody knows I’m the best there is. Admit it, fool ! You’re out of your league here. You can’t beat me! You ain’t got no skills!! 31. People who cheat, get caught. People who get caught go straight to jail, no bail. You’ve been caught redhanded, young lady. You are a cheater. You’ve taken logic, you know the rest of this story. 32. If we had taken Saddam out in 1991, we wouldn’t have to come back and do this now. We had every opportunity to handle this situation then. We were in Baghdad, we had him in our gun sights and we blinked. Well, when you don’t take care of things when it’s time, they always come back and bite you in the butt. 33. Of course we in California are being gouged at the gas pump !! There is no oil shortage. The president’s friends are just greedy, that’s all. They’re stealing Iraqi oil, and they’re stealing our hard-earned money at the same time. 34. I want you, you know. I want you because you are, well, you’re the very best thing to ever happen to me. And clearly I should want anything that is the best thing for me, right? 35. We should just get used to paying more school tuition if we intend to finish college in California. Our elected leaders, like Arnold, know what is good for us, -8- and they’ve already told us that we need to pay more college tuition to help them solve the state’s budget problems. That’s it, then. Enough said !! PART III. Please answer the following Fifteen Multiple Choice Questions 36 “Either you work with me or you are against me; and I don’t tolerate those who can’t work as a team. You can fit in great here, or you can stand out and bring unneeded attention to yourself. What’s it going to be, fella?” A. False Dilemma B. Ad Ignorantiam C. Two Wrongs D. Appeal to Belief E. Post Hoc Ergo Propter 37. Sure, I shot him. So what? I just did what any red-blooded American would have done. I thought he was going to harm that young girl over there. I mean, he grabbed her, didn’t he? I did my civic duty! A. Ad Ignorantiam/Ad hominem B. Ad Verecundiam/Ad Baculum C. Ad Populum/ Genetic D. Two Wrongs/Appeal to Belief E. Begging the Question/Wishful Thinking 38 This is my home, my country and my flag. I’m proud of them. Who do you think you are attacking this great nation??! There is no way that this great nation could have done those terrible things you brought up. You’re making all of it up! You must be a Commie pinko! Or at least a Democrat! I’m going to sic my dog on you!! A. Composition/Non Sequitur B. Genetic/Ad Hominem C. Tu Quoque/Equivocation D. False Dilemma/ False Consolation E. Two Wrongs 39.. Slippery Slope is a fallacy based on building hypothetical linkages to possible activities (’If I had a hammer, then I could have pounded that spike, and if I had, then the train would have stayed on the tracks , and if it had, then my baby would’ve come back to me’; or, ‘If Viet Nam falls, then so will Cambodia, then so will Burma, and so on---The so-called Domino Theory.’). Slippery Slope most closely resembles which other fallacies? A. Tu Quoque/ Non Sequitur B. Appeal to the Consequences of Belief/Verecundiam C. Ad Absurdum/Extension D. False Consolation/ False Dilemma E. Guilt By Association/Appeal to Belief 40. Straw Man is a fallacy based on: A. Distorting an opponent’s position so that it can better be attacked B. Attacking an opponent’s position by analyzing it point-by-point. C. Distorting one’s facial features while attacking one’s opponent D. Weakening an opponent’s argument by making him or her laugh loudly E. Setting fire to the barn in which an argument lays like straw 41. “Sure I’m fair to my employees, I always have been. Look at Blue out there. He’s been working for me as a janitor now for, oh, 20 years or so. I’ve seen his kids grow up. I’m real loyal to all of my folks, though I did have to let Sarah go yesterday. I really hated that, but I gave her a big hug to let her know there were no hard feelings.” A. Guilt by Association/Equivocation B. Appeal to the Consequences of Belief C. False Consolation/Inconsistency D. Begging the Question/Extension E. Tu Quoque/Ad Absurdum 42. I didn’t have a dime, so I couldn’t tip the cabbie; he got mad and took off with my shoe still in the door. I couldn’t get out of the way so I knocked you down as he dragged me down the street. If I had just put some change in my pocket this morning, I guess you wouldn’t be suing me now, huh? A. Ad Ignorantiam B. Tu Quoque C. Straw Man D. Appeal to Pity (Ad Misericordiam) E. Appeal to the Consequences of Belief 43. “If you send troops to Iraq to get Saddam Hussein and other would-be terrorists, they’ll kill a lot of people for sure, but some Americans will get killed too. If Americans get killed, President Bush’s advisors will get mad and probably convince him to just nuke the whole place, or what’s left of it. When he does that, the Arab nations will turn off the oil, and we’ll all be walking or on bicycles. So, if we send troops, get ready for some real exercise everyday!” The primary fallacy in this argument is: A. Division B Equivocation C. Ad Ignorantiam D. Begging the Question E. Slippery Slope 44. Alice: Did you hear about Dre? Harriet: Everybody heard what happened to Dre! He got wacked! So What? Serves him right, the no good bum! What goes around comes around, I always say! He dogged me and now it’s his turn to cry. The dog just got himsef bit, and I ain’t mad at whoever did it either! Alice: Girl, aren’t you somethin’ ! You sure got some larceny in your heart! Don’t you believe in letting bygones be bygones? Harriet’s primary fallacy is? A. Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc B. Genetic C. Equivocation D. Guilt by Association E. Two Wrongs 45. “Bradshaw, you spent a lot of time on three classroom tests, but none of them turned out well. You also didn’t bother about coming to class but two or three times these last seven weeks. You consistently ignored your homework assignments, and have not yet found out the location of the school library. Given all that, I understand very well why you think you should have gotten an A out of my class.” The Speaker here uses euphemism and innuendo to argue that Bradshaw is suffering from: A. An Extension fallacy B. A Composition fallacy C. An Ad Absurdum fallacy D. A classic Non Sequitur fallacy E. An Appeal to Belief fallacy 46. “Listen, I took you out, I paid for dinner, and I brought you back home. Now it’s your turn. You know the score, baby!” This unfortunate soul is most likely committing which of the following fallacies? A. Appeal to Belief/Non Sequitur B. Slippery Slope/Non Sequitur C. Begging the Question/Non Sequitur D. Tu Quoque/Non Sequitur E. Ad Ignorantiam/Non Sequitur 47. “I may not be much to look at, but I’m probably the best your’re ever gonna get. So, you want to get married, or what?” This argument is most likely a A. Genetic Fallacy B. Ad Hominem Fallacy C. False Consolation Fallacy D. Tu Quoque Fallacy E. Appeal to the Consequences of Belief Fallacy 48 “The only thing I want from you are brand names and new things. It don’t mean a thing to me if I can’t brag to my friends about it, and I can’t brag about your used stuff that somebody else discarded. Got that?” Besides having quite some nerve, the speaker is most likely to have committed the fallacy of: A. Ad Baculum B. Ad Novarum C. Ad Absurdum D. Ad Ignorantiam E. Ad Verecundiam 49. “You say I’m not competent in my job, eh? Well, let me tell you a thing or two! If it weren’t for my no-competent self, you wouldn’t even have this office, you jerk! You can’t write! You can’t even turn on a computer, let alone use one! You can’t keep a straight checkbook. You spend, but never account for it. You know, come to think of it, without me, you’re nothing and never will be nothing!” A. Appeal to Belief/Division B. Ad hominem/Extension C. Appeal to the Consequences of Belief D. False Analogy E. False Consolation 50. ‘Perry has his green double-breasted silk and pearl suit on today. Everytime he wears it, he finds money somebody left on a table, on the street, or in the bathroom.. He’s sure he’ll get a little rich today like always.’ This is an example of: A. Post Hoc/Non Sequitur B. Extension/Non Sequitur C. False Analogy/Non Sequitur D. Division/Non Sequitur E. Equivocation PART IV: MATCHING. PLEASE CHOSE THE APPROPRIATE NUMBERED ITEM FROM 1-15 TO MATCH THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS. 51. Everything that interests him is either illegal, immoral, or fattening. You, my dear, are with him all the time. So you must be either a crook, a deviant sinner, or the singing fat lady! This argument is most likely based on a FOR 52.-54. Now, I just read an interesting article that said that ‘The Bible is fiction, not fact. It is an assortment of anecdotal recollections by people who did not witness most of the events they recorded. It also relies on symbolism, allegory, hidden meanings and something called faith to interpret and to understand it. This not what hard scientific facts and truth are based on. This is fanciful imagination, not accurate history.’ If I accept that argument, then I guess I’ll just have to stop going to church. So, this argument is definitely wrong then. It’s the devil’s work! 52. The dominant fallacy in this invalid argument is 53. The p.p.o.v. in the argument is 54. If you take the dominant fallacy out of the argument ABOVE, you will 55. ‘Slavery is a moral wrong and an evil which must be stilled! The law, the Christian tradition and common sense all support this view!. But, no, I don’t subscribe to the view that slaves should become free men equal to whites. That would be an offense against nature and an abomination.’ This argument commits what primary fallacy? FOR 56-58. Your point is well taken, Senator. However, you mentioned in your presentation that America had probably erred in sending Smart Bombs into Iran and Afghanistan. What grounds could you possibly have for that argument, Senator? America is the protector of the free world. It must defend itself and its allies from all aggressors. You should be careful of the logical arguments you present, Senator. I’ve taken logic, and I’ll punish you for making errors of logic and judgement. 56. The principal fallacy committed in this argument is the 57. A secondary, but important fallacy in this argument is 58. Taking those two fallacies out of this argument should FOR 59--61. Anyone who hates children and pets is not right in the head. And look at Johnny! He must be one of them! He can’t stand kids, dogs, snakes or squirrels! 59. This argument most likely commits the fallacies of 60. The implicit conclusion of this argument is 61 If you remove the fallacy(s) from the argument, the argument will be 62. “Listen, the name of the game is to do exactly the same. But the same game of the righteous name is no claim to lasting fame. If you want to avoid blame but still carry the name to the game, then simply follow my flame and remember when I came. Plain? This argument is probably a victim of the 63. An all out nuclear war would certainly destroy the human race, but it clearly won’t come to that since most capable and strong nations would only approve destroying that part of the human race that does not include themselves. The most accurate description of this argument is that it is simply 64. Nobody right-minded and honest would do such a heinous thing. But I’m certainly not surprised that they arrested Hallorin for it. Not at all. This argument can best be described as being based on 65. The surgeon general has stated clearly that smoking is dangerous to human health. So, I guess that means neither you nor I should ever smoke again, right? The dominant fallacy in this argument is ANSWER OPTIONS 1. Weaken, but not destroy the argument 2. Guilt by Association 3. Inconsistency/Double Standard 4. Division/Non Sequitur 5. An inferential conclusion and a genetic fallacy 6. An invalid argument 7. Appeal to the Consequences of Belief 8. Ad Verecundiam (Appeal to Authority) 9. Ad Baculum (Appeal to Force) 10. Straw Man fallacy 11. This argument is definitely wrong 12. Destroy the argument 13. So, he must not be right in the head. 14. Begging the Question/Equivocation 15. Seriously weakened and clearly invalid