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Test your basic knowledge |
Common Logical Flaws
Start Test
Study First
Subject
:
logic-and-reasoning
Instructions:
Answer 20 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. Occurs when emotions or emotionally-charged language is used in an attempt to persuade the reader
Appeal to Emotion
Exceptional Case/Overgeneralization
Appeal to Authority
Lack of Relevant Evidence for the Conclusion
2. The author misuses information to such a degree that they fail to provide any information to support their conclusion or present information irrelevant to the conclusion
Lack of Relevant Evidence for the Conclusion
Uncertain Use of a Term or Concept (Equivocation)
Circular Reasoning
Exceptional Case/Overgeneralization
3. The author mistakes a necessary condition for a sufficient condition - or vise-versa
False Analogy
Uncertain Use of a Term or Concept (Equivocation)
Errors of Conditional Reasoning
Numbers and Percentage Errors
4. Occurs when the author attributes a characteristic of the whole to a part of the group
Time-Shift Errors
Error of Division
False Analogy
Lack of Relevant Evidence for the Conclusion
5. The author improperly equates a percentage with a definite quantity or uses quantity information to make a judgment about the percentage represented by that quantity.
Numbers and Percentage Errors
Appeal to Popular Opinion
Uncertain Use of a Term or Concept (Equivocation)
Appeal to Authority
6. Occurs when the author attributes a characteristic of part of the group to the group as a whole or to each member of the group
Appeal to Popular Opinion
Circular Reasoning
Error of Composition
Internal Contradiction
7. 1. Assuming a causal relationship on the basis of the sequence of events 2. Assuming a causal relationship when only a correlation exists 3. Failure to consider an alternative cause for the effect 4. Failure to consider that the events may be reverse
Errors of Conditional Reasoning
Error of Division
Mistaken Cause and Effect
Uncertain Use of a Term or Concept (Equivocation)
8. Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements
Time-Shift Errors
Internal Contradiction
Errors in the Use of Evidence
Source Argument (Ad Hominem Attack)
9. The author assumes as true What is supposed to be proved
Uncertain Use of a Term or Concept (Equivocation)
Numbers and Percentage Errors
False Analogy
Circular Reasoning
10. Assumes that conditions will remain constant over time - and that what was the case in the past will be case in the future.
Appeal to Emotion
Error of Composition
Appeal to Authority
Time-Shift Errors
11. Uses the opinion of an authority in an attempt to persuade the reader
Appeal to Authority
Lack of Relevant Evidence for the Conclusion
Circular Reasoning
Errors in the Use of Evidence
12. This type of flawed argument attacks the person (or source) instead of the argument advanced
Source Argument (Ad Hominem Attack)
Mistaken Cause and Effect
Lack of Relevant Evidence for the Conclusion
Exceptional Case/Overgeneralization
13. Takes a small number of instances and treats those instances as if they support a broad - sweeping conclusion (often appears as an incorrect answer)
False Dilemma
Uncertain Use of a Term or Concept (Equivocation)
Exceptional Case/Overgeneralization
False Analogy
14. Assumes that only two courses of action are available when there may be others
False Dilemma
Source Argument (Ad Hominem Attack)
Exceptional Case/Overgeneralization
Internal Contradiction
15. This error states that a position is true because the majority believes it to be true
Mistaken Cause and Effect
Errors of Conditional Reasoning
Error of Division
Appeal to Popular Opinion
16. The author uses an analogy too dissimilar to the original situation to be applicable
Uncertain Use of a Term or Concept (Equivocation)
Error of Division
Error of Composition
False Analogy
17. Using a term in different ways is inherently confusing and undermines the integrity of the argument
Errors in the Use of Evidence
Source Argument (Ad Hominem Attack)
Uncertain Use of a Term or Concept (Equivocation)
Error of Division
18. 1. Lack of evidence for a position is take to prove that position is false. 2. Lack of evidence against a position is taken to prove that position is true.
Errors in the Use of Evidence
Mistaken Cause and Effect
False Analogy
Lack of Relevant Evidence for the Conclusion
19. The author attempts to attack an opponent's position by ignoring the actual statements made by the opposing speaker and instead distorts the argument - making it weaker in the process
Appeal to Emotion
Straw Man
Appeal to Authority
Errors in the Use of Evidence
20. 1. The survey uses a biased sample. 2. The survey questions are improperly constructed. 3. Respondents to the survey give inaccurate responses.
Source Argument (Ad Hominem Attack)
Survey Errors
Appeal to Emotion
Appeal to Authority