Test your basic knowledge |

SAT Essay Logical Fallacies

Subjects : sat, english, writing-skills
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Information that can be objectively proven as true






2. Generalization: Assumes that an individual must have a characteristic because the group to which he or she belongs supposedly has that characteristic






3. Reasoning by Proof: the evidence offered does not really support the claim. Non Sequitur (It does not follow)






4. Statements that are intentionally vague so that the audience may supply its own interpretations






5. False transitive property - you assume that just because two things share a characteristic - all of their characteristics are shared: - 'penguins are black and white - old tv shows are black and white - therefore penguins are old tv shows'






6. 'Against the man' attacking the person or group to which you are opposed rather than addressing the issue






7. 'To the people' appeal to the prejudices of the audience - or claiming that (or a majority) supports your opinion






8. Any diversion intended to distract attention from the main issue






9. Have all reasonable alternatives been considered/eliminated? Does this author attack the other views in a fair way?






10. Information the writer asserts as being the result of an event






11. Reasoning by Proof: A fallacy in which a speaker or writer seeks to persuade not by giving evidence but by appealing to the respect people have for a person or institution.






12. Reasoning by Debate: When a writer argues against a claim that nobody actually holds or is universally considered weak. Setting up a straw man diverts attention from the real issues.






13. Reasoning by Debate: A fallacy that forces listeners to choose between two alternatives when more than two alternatives exist






14. Appeal to the the pity - sympathy or 'misery' of the audience






15. Claiming that one step in the wrong direction will lead to another - potentially disastrous consequence






16. Writer encourages readers to accept a conclusion without any support






17. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






18. A fallacy that assumes that taking a first step will lead to subsequent steps that cannot be prevented






19. Reasoning in which a conclusion is reached by stating a general principle and then applying that principle to a specific case






20. Fallacy that asserts that given two positions - there exists a compromise between them which must be correct.






21. Citing an expert on one subject as expert on another






22. Stating the only two interpretations of actions are alternatives - ignoring any compromise or moderate course






23. Appeal to the reader's emotions






24. How large is the sample size? How representative is the sample?






25. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






26. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






27. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






28. Generalization: Assumes that members of a group must have a characteristic because one or more of its members has that characteristic.






29. The use by a speaker of coded language that appears to mean one thing to the general population but has a different (and negative) meaning for a targeted subgroup of the audience.






30. Does the evidence prove the point being argued? Is this authority an expert on this particular topic?






31. How similar or how different are the cases being compared? How many point of comparison is the arguer using?






32. Logical reasoning that establishes specific facts or contentions leading to a general conclusion






33. Ambiguity or multiplicity of interpretations of a repeated word or phrase






34. Everybody knows fallacy. Asserts that some idea is common knowledge - so it must be true.






35. Condemning an argument because of where it began - how it began - or who began it






36. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






37. Concealing the author's true intent - belief - or attitude towards an issue






38. Cause and Effect: Assuming that an incident that precedes another is the cause of the second incident






39. Prejudging an individual based on ideas one has about the group the individual belongs to






40. Cause and Effect: 'What if' fallacy. Argues that everything would be different if one variable was different. Example: 'If the Nazis had won WWII - we'd all be speaking German!'






41. Generalization: drawing conclusions based on insufficient or unrepresentative evidence






42. Is there a reasonable connection between the cause and the effect? Is that connection explained? Are there other possible causes that have not been considered?






43. Reasoning by Proof: absence of evidence is not evidence; he didn't say that... so it must be false






44. 'To the authority' appeal based on the authority of a source






45. Drawing conclusions based on insufficient or unrepresentative evidence; using all instances when only some apply






46. Reasoning by Proof: an argument that because someone worked hard at something - their conclusions must be right






47. 'it does not follow' drawing a conclusion or making a transition that is not a logical result of the facts






48. Cause and Effect: claim than an event with more than one cause has only one cause






49. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






50. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence







Sorry!:) No result found.

Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?


Let me suggest you:

Browse all subjects

Browse all tests

Most popular tests



Major Subjects

Tests & Exams


AP
CLEP
DSST
GRE
SAT
GMAT

Browse all subjects

Browse all tests

Most popular tests