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. Two comparable issues or ideas are judged by different criteria






2. 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'






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






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






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






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






7. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






9. Appeal to reason






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






23. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






25. 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.






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






27. 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!'






28. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






30. 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.'






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






32. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






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






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






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






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






39. 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.






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






41. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






42. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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






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






46. 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.






47. 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.






48. 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?






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






50. Appeal to the reader's emotions