Logical Fallacies and Causal Relationships Quiz

𝖮𝗇𝗅𝗂𝗇𝖾 𝖽𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗈 𝗂𝗆𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗈𝗇𝖺𝗅. 𝖨𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝖾𝗋𝗈𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅-𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖾, 𝗌𝗈𝖼𝗂𝖺𝗅 𝗇𝖺𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗍𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗉 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗋𝖾𝗅𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗉𝗌. 𝖮𝗇𝗅𝗂𝗇𝖾 𝖽𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝖺𝗋𝗋𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾𝖽 𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗋𝗂𝖺𝗀𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺 𝗁𝗂𝗀𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖽𝗂𝗏𝗈𝗋𝖼𝖾 𝗋𝖺𝗍𝖾.

• slippery slope

• Post hoc fallacy or false cause

• Genetic fallacy

• Cherry picking

Answer explanation

It sets forth the premise that because A) online dating is so impersonal, B) it is responsible for the erosion of the real-life, social nature of courtship and relationships, and therefore C) it will lead to arranged marriages and a higher divorce rate.

My nephew always cries after his mother leaves him alone in a room with me. My nephew doesn't like me.

• Cherry picking

• Reversing causal direction

• Correlation proves causation

• Fallacy of the single cause

Answer explanation

It assumes that because A) the nephew cries whenever his mother leaves him alone with the person, B) the nephew doesn't like the person. There are many plausible explanations for this phenomenon. Perhaps the person always visits around lunchtime, and the nephew cries because he is hungry. Or maybe he has anxiety whenever his mother is out of sight.

The newspaper industry is dying out because of the Internet.

• Post hoc fallacy or false cause

• Slippery slope

• Correlation proves causation

• Fallacy of the single cause

Answer explanation

It assumes the collapse of the newspaper industry has only one cause—the Internet. While this likely contributed to many newspapers closing down around the world, there are likely other causes, including cable news shows and an aging audience.

Summer is better than winter because summer sports are more enjoyable than winter sports; plus, it's warm and sunny outside.

Which logical fallacy is shown?

• Fallacy of the single cause

• Cherry picking

• Reversing causal direction

• Slippery slope

Answer explanation

It relies upon choosing only the data or evidence (that summer sports are more fun and that it's sunny and warm) that will lead to a desired outcome (convincing someone that summer is better than winter) rather than revealing the full picture (there are things about the summer that many dislike—increased mosquito population, humidity, greater likelihood of sunburn, and so forth).

There is no way that my cousin values the environment if he chooses to work for a company responsible for a large oil spill.

Which logical fallacy is shown?

• Genetic fallacy

• Post hoc fallacy or false cause

• Cherry picking

• Slippery slope

Answer explanation

It assumes that A) the cousin is the same as B) a company responsible for a large oil spill. Simply because the cousin works for a company that acted irresponsibly in regards to the environment does not mean that he does not care for the environment.

Children who are more outgoing and friendly prefer playing sports over joining math or chess clubs.

Which logical fallacy is shown?

• Correlation proves causation

• Genetic fallacy

• Slippery slope

• Reversing causal direction

Answer explanation

It sets forth the implication that A) outgoing and friendly children B) would rather play sports than join a math or chess club. It does not consider the inverse relationship—that being part of a sports team encourages a more outgoing and friendly nature than math or chess clubs.

My boyfriend always attends my cheerleading competitions. He failed to attend the last competition and we lost. If we are to continue winning competitions, my boyfriend must be in the audience.

Which logical fallacy is shown?

• Slippery slope

• Post hoc fallacy or false cause

• Reversing causal direction

• Genetic fallacy

Answer explanation

It implies that because the person's boyfriend did not attend the cheerleading competition, her team lost. Whether or not her boyfriend is in the audience, there are many factors that contribute to the winning or losing of such a competition. It is highly unlikely that there is any causal relationship between his failure to show up and the team's loss.