Question
Dear Editor:
I am submitting this letter to your newspaper, The Plaidport Monitor, to voice my support for the new commuter train. The citizens of Plaidport have been struggling with the economy, and many have had to give up their means of transportation. Therefore, Plaidport needs a public train.
My friends Bob Russell and Dave Terry are on the city council, and I have enjoyed talking with them about the train. They told me that they will try to put this issue to a vote at the next meeting. I have also spoken with most of my neighbors and most everybody I know in this city. I have lived in Plaidport all my life, and I know many people.
Some will argue that the train will cost too much money to construct. This would be a terrible reason to not build the train. If everybody in town wants to build the train, then it is necessary for the city of Plaidport to build it. Please, citizens, join me in supporting the commuter train. Plaidport needs your voice.
Sincerely,
Ron Jackson
Plaidport, TX
Read the following sentence from the passage.
"If everybody in town wants to build the train, then it is necessary for the city of Plaidport to build it."
The sentence above is a logical fallacy. It is an example of
A.
appeal to pity.
B.
personal attack.
C.
appeal to commonly held opinion.
D.
false dilemma.
I am submitting this letter to your newspaper, The Plaidport Monitor, to voice my support for the new commuter train. The citizens of Plaidport have been struggling with the economy, and many have had to give up their means of transportation. Therefore, Plaidport needs a public train.
My friends Bob Russell and Dave Terry are on the city council, and I have enjoyed talking with them about the train. They told me that they will try to put this issue to a vote at the next meeting. I have also spoken with most of my neighbors and most everybody I know in this city. I have lived in Plaidport all my life, and I know many people.
Some will argue that the train will cost too much money to construct. This would be a terrible reason to not build the train. If everybody in town wants to build the train, then it is necessary for the city of Plaidport to build it. Please, citizens, join me in supporting the commuter train. Plaidport needs your voice.
Sincerely,
Ron Jackson
Plaidport, TX
Read the following sentence from the passage.
"If everybody in town wants to build the train, then it is necessary for the city of Plaidport to build it."
The sentence above is a logical fallacy. It is an example of
A.
appeal to pity.
B.
personal attack.
C.
appeal to commonly held opinion.
D.
false dilemma.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The sentence "If everybody in town wants to build the train, then it is necessary for the city of Plaidport to build it." is an example of **C. appeal to commonly held opinion**. This logical fallacy occurs when something is deemed true or necessary simply because it is a popular opinion or widely accepted belief. In this case, the argument suggests that because there is a general desire for the train among the citizens, it should be built, without addressing other potential factors like cost, feasibility, or different opinions.