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






2. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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






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






6. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






8. Appeal to the reader's emotions






9. 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'






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






11. 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?






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






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






14. Trying to prove one idea with another idea that is too similar to the first idea






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






16. 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.






17. Appeal to reason






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






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






20. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






21. 'After this therefore because of this' implying that because on event follows another - the first caused the second






22. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






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






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






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






27. Reasoning by Debate: In an argument - this is an attack on the person rather than on the opponent's ideas. It comes from the Latin meaning 'against the man.'






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






29. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






30. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






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






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






35. Introducing an irrelevant point to divert readers' attention from the main issue being discussed






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






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






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






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






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






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






42. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






44. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






46. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






48. When a writer uses the same term in two different senses in an argument. i.e. People choose what laws they obey. The Law of Gravity is a law. I choose to disobey the law of gravity.






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






50. 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.