POP QUIZs

(Fallacies of relevance)
REMINDER: PLEASE ANSWER IN THE QUESTION PAPER!!!!
Name:
Student Id:
Date:
Semester:
A. Choose the best answer
1. The Senator claims that congressional salaries should be raised. He says
business executives doing comparable work make much more and that
congressional salaries haven't kept pace with inflation. But keep in mind what
he does for a living. His self-serving recommendation must be rejected.
A)
Begging the Question.
B)
Equivocation.
C)
Straw Man.
D)
Attacking the Motive
2. How can you tell me I should exercise to lose weight? All you do is sit behind
a desk all day. I've never seen you do a lick of exercise.
A)
Look Who's Talking?
B)
Two Wrongs Make a Right
C)
Appeal to Pity
D)
Bandwagon Argument
3. I know the Professor said that the Bridges of Madison County was smarmy
trash and lacked any artistic worth. But I still think he's wrong. After all, it was
on the best-seller list for over 100 weeks.
A)
Appeal to pity
B)
Red Herring
C)
Bandwagon Argument
D)
Begging the Question
4. Mr. Equalminded's idea for implementing affirmative action in the university's
admission process is complete madness. He says he wants the student body
to represent diversity in the community. But that's ridiculous. I suppose this
means we'll have to throw out our academic standards while were at it. After
all, if we're going to let students into our prestigious institution just because
of their gender or the color of their skin, then what's going to happen to our
reputation?
A)
B)
C)
D)

Appeal to Pity
Bandwagon Argument
Red Herring
Straw Man

5. Look Tom, you could go to the police with your information about our
questionable accounting practices here at Bentron. But remember, you have
a family to feed. Besides, you know how rumors of this kind of disloyalty can

spread through the industry. You'll never work as an accountant in this town
again.
A)
Appeal to Pity
B)
Scare tactic
C)
Bandwagon Argument
D)
Straw Man
6. Capital punishment for repeatedly convicted drug dealers is absolutely
justifiable because people who are found guilty of selling drugs again and
again should be given the death penalty.
A)
Red Herring
B)
Appeal to Pity
C)
Begging the Question
D)
Two Wrongs Make a Right
7. Whatever happens by chance should be punished, because whatever
happens by chance is a departure from law and all departures from law
should be punished.
A)
Equivocation
B)
Attacking the Motive
C)
Two Wrongs Make a Right
D)
Straw Man
8. Hey, I don't see what's wrong with taking a pad of paper or a few computer
disks home from the office. I mean, they'll never be missed by anyone.
Besides, this company has been underpaying me for years.
A)
Look Who's Talking
B)
Attacking the Motive
C)
Two Wrongs Make a Right
D)
Bandwagon Argument
9. Mr. A. Theist has argued that a moment of silence in public schools would
violate the separation of church and state. But have you ever met that jerk.
His attacks on religion obviously stem from the fact that he's a narrow
minded bigot who never had the inclination to pray for the benefit of anyone
else. In fact, just the fact that Mr. Theist opposes the proposal is enough for
me to accept it.
A)
Look Who's Talking
B)
Personal Attack (Ad Hominem)
C)
Appeal to Pity
D)
Equivocation
10.It's ridiculous to talk about more restrictions on handguns. Even if we could
pass such a law, there would always be criminals who are willing to break the
law.
A)
Bandwagon
B)
Straw Man
C)
Appeal to Force
D)
Red Herring

B. Give an example for each categories below (Fallacies of relevance)

1.

Appeal to pity:

2.

Scare tactic:

3.

Bandwagon argument:

4.

Equivocation:

5.

Look whos talking

6.

Personal attack

7.

Attacking the motive

8.

Begging the question