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






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






3. 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'






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






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






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






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






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






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






10. 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.






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






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






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






14. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






16. Appeal to reason






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






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






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






20. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






21. Cause and Effect: A fallacy that assumes that because two variables are correlated (happen at the same time) that one must have caused the other






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






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






24. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






26. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






27. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






28. 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!'






29. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






31. Two comparable issues or ideas are judged by different criteria






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






42. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






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






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






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






48. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






50. 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?