INDUCTIVE AND DEDUCTIVE REASONING
Determine whether the following conclusions are the result of inductive or deductive reasoning or just plain faulty reasoning. If the reasoning is faulty, label the fallacy. State your reason for your answers.
1. A robin is a bird. A bird is an animal with wings and feathers. Therefore a robin is an animal with wings and feathers.
2. All the houses I have seen on Martino Street are box-shaped. Therefore I can say, “All houses on Martino Street are box-shaped.
3. The Quintinilla family just moved here from El Salvador. All the Salvadorans I know are really good cooks. Therefore the Quintinilla family must be really good cooks.
4. Every light bulb I tested from the new package was burned out. Therefore the package must have contained faulty light bulbs.
5. I saw on the news that the authorities caught tem illegal aliens crossing the Mexican US border. All Mexicans must have come here illegally.
6. My mother always gets upset over inconsequential issues. Therefore women are over-sensitive and emotional.
7. Many students got sick after the class party. The outbreak of food poisoning was probably caused by the potato salad.
8. My boyfriends have never shown any interest in my feelings. Men are pigs.
9. Every triangle has three sides. The figure I just drew has three sides. The figure is a triangle.
10. My aunt was robbed by a black man and so was my cousin. I think black men are scary and I better stay away from them.
11. Most chemistry students do not get an A. Chemistry is very hard.
12. Our schools are failing us! Half the math students are below average.
13. California residents are citizens of the United States.
14. When I prepare thoroughly for my chemistry exam, I do very well. I have prepared thoroughly. I will do well on my exam.