Question

Which statement from the excerpt uses fallacious reasoning? "The young sovereign should first learn to obey, that he may be the better fitted to command in his turn," because although this statement sounds reasonable, the author provides no support for it. "The young sovereign should first learn to obey, that he may be the better fitted to command in his turn," because the author is applying the behavior of one to the behavior of all. "American children (we are sorry to be obliged to say it) are not, as a general rule, well behaved," because it is an argument based purely on emotion. "American children (we are sorry to be obliged to say it) are not, as a general rule, well behaved," because if the author must apologize for a statement, it should not be included.

Answer 1

Answer:

B."American children (we are sorry to be obliged to say it) are not, as a general rule, well behaved," because it is an argument based purely on emotion is the correct.

Explanation:

The question refers to the next excerpt:

"American children (we are sorry to be obliged to say it) are not, as a general rule, well behaved. They are rude and disrespectful, if not disobedient. . . . Through whose fault comes this state of things? American boys and girls have naturally as much good sense and good-nature as those of any other nation, and, when well trained, no children are more courteous and agreeable. The fault lies in their education. In the days of our grandfathers, children were taught manners at school; a rather rude, backwoods sort of manners, it is true, but better than the no manners at all of the present day. We must blame parents in this matter rather than their children. If you would have your children grow up beloved and respected by their elders as well as their contemporaries, teach them good manners in their childhood. The young sovereign should first learn to obey, that he may be the better fitted to command in his turn." - How to Behave: A Pocket Manual of Republican Etiquette Samuel R. Wells.

Fallacious reasoning is the use of faulty reasoning when expressing an argument; this type of arguments are more deceptive than they really seem to be. As stated in option B, the argument is based on pure emotion and it is not difficult to prove it wrong, so it is the correct answer.