Trusted by 10M+ learners worldwide — free lessons, tools & games
Forums Download App Go ad-free ⚡ Go Pro ★ Become a Tutor
Login Sign up free

Red Herring Fallacy Quiz (Level C1-C2) - Writing Practice

15questions
7:30minutes
+22XP on pass

Just finished studying Red Herring Fallacy? Lock in what you learned with 15 practice exercises. This Level C1-C2 quiz is designed as a revision companion — quick to complete, easy to retake, and packed with explanations to solidify your understanding.

Review the lesson first

⏱ You have 07:30 to answer 15 questions. The timer only starts when you click Begin.

Ads paying for your free English lessons. Prefer a quiet page? Go ad-free

Questions 15
Q1  15
Q1 15

Question 1: A politician is asked about rising unemployment rates and responds: 'What we should really be focusing on is the tremendous success of our national sports teams this year. The pride they bring to our country is immeasurable.' Which logical fallacy does this response exemplify?

Question 1 options
This is a red herring fallacy because the politician deliberately introduces an irrelevant topic (national sports success) to divert attention from the original question about unemployment. The new topic has no bearing on the issue at hand.
Q2 15

Question 2: In a formal essay on logical reasoning, which sentence correctly deploys a red herring fallacy as an illustrative example? 'The CEO deflected questions about environmental violations by ___ the company's recent charitable donations to local schools.'

Question 2 options
The correct word is 'emphasising' because it accurately describes the rhetorical action of drawing attention to an irrelevant positive topic to distract from the original issue. 'Conceding' implies admission, 'refuting' implies counter-argument, and 'corroborating' implies supporting the original claim.
Q3 15

Question 3: A red herring fallacy always involves a direct personal attack on the opponent rather than addressing the original argument.

Question 3 options
This is false. A direct personal attack on the opponent is an ad hominem fallacy, not a red herring. A red herring introduces an irrelevant topic to divert attention from the original argument, but it does not necessarily involve attacking the other person.
Q4 15

Question 4: Which of the following passages correctly demonstrates a red herring fallacy?

Question 4 options
The correct example introduces an entirely unrelated topic (the school's athletic achievements) to deflect from the original issue of academic funding cuts. The other options demonstrate different fallacies: false dilemma (option 1), straw man (option 3), and appeal to authority (option 4)—none of which are red herrings.
Q5 15

Question 5: Match each logical fallacy to its correct definition.

Question 5 options
Red herring
Straw man
Ad hominem
Tu quoque
Attacks the person instead of addressing the argument
Misrepresents an argument to make it easier to attack
Introduces an irrelevant topic to divert attention
Deflects criticism by accusing the accuser of the same

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

A red herring introduces an irrelevant topic to divert attention. A straw man misrepresents someone's argument to make it easier to attack. An ad hominem attacks the person rather than the argument. A tu quoque deflects criticism by pointing to the accuser's behaviour.
Q6 15

Question 6: Which of the following sentences contains an error in identifying a logical fallacy?A) 'When the journalist asked about the data breach, the spokesperson discussed the company's new wellness programme—a classic red herring.' B) 'The debater attacked her opponent's credentials rather than his argument, committing an ad hominem fallacy.' C) 'He claimed that allowing flexible work hours would inevitably lead to total corporate collapse—a red herring fallacy.' D) 'The mystery novelist planted misleading clues about the butler to function as a red herring for the reader.'

Question 6 options
Sentence C incorrectly labels the fallacy. Claiming that one action will inevitably lead to an extreme consequence is a slippery slope fallacy, not a red herring. A red herring introduces an entirely unrelated topic, whereas a slippery slope exaggerates the consequences of a related action.
Q7 15

Question 7: Read the following exchange: 'Interviewer: Your department has exceeded its budget by 40% this quarter. How do you account for this? Manager: I think what's truly remarkable is the dedication our team has shown throughout the pandemic.' The manager's response is best described as a ___ because it introduces a tangential topic to avoid addressing the original question.

Question 7 options
The term 'red herring' best completes this sentence because the manager introduces the team's pandemic dedication—an emotionally compelling but entirely irrelevant topic—to sidestep the question about budget overruns. A non sequitur is a broader category; a false equivalence compares unequal things; a circular argument restates its own premise.
Q8 15

Question 8: The following sentence contains an error in fallacy identification: 'When the student changed the subject from her missing homework to the unfairness of the grading system, she committed a straw man fallacy.' Which option correctly fixes the error?

Question 8 options
Changing the subject to an unrelated issue is a red herring fallacy, not a straw man. A straw man involves distorting someone else's argument to make it easier to refute. The student did not distort any argument; she simply introduced a different topic to avoid the original one.
Q9 15

Question 9: Arrange the parts in the correct order to form a well-structured analytical paragraph identifying a red herring fallacy in a debate transcript.

Question 9 options
  • Present the original question or argument being discussed
  • Explain why the response is irrelevant to the original issue
  • Describe the speaker's diversionary response
  • Identify the response as a red herring fallacy

Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.

An analytical paragraph on a fallacy should begin by presenting the context (the original argument), then quote or describe the diversionary response, next identify the fallacy by name, and finally explain why the response constitutes that particular fallacy.
Q10 15

Question 10: You are writing a critical analysis essay examining rhetorical strategies in political speeches. You need to describe a moment when a candidate, asked about healthcare policy, pivoted to discussing national security threats. Which of the following is the most appropriate way to frame this in an academic essay?

Question 10 options
The correct option uses formal academic register, precisely names the fallacy, and explains its rhetorical function in context. The other options are either too informal, use imprecise terminology, or fail to explain the fallacy's mechanism.
Q11 15

Question 11: Which of the following best distinguishes a red herring fallacy from a straw man fallacy?

Question 11 options
A red herring diverts attention by introducing an entirely unrelated topic, whereas a straw man distorts or misrepresents the opponent's actual argument to make it easier to attack. The key distinction is that the red herring changes the subject, while the straw man stays on the subject but mischaracterises it.
Q12 15

Question 12: A colleague writes in an informal email: 'The boss totally pulled a red herring on us in that meeting—classic deflection!' You need to convey the same idea in a formal report to the board of directors. Which version is most appropriate?

Question 12 options
The correct option maintains professional register, uses precise analytical language ('diversionary tactic,' 'substantive engagement'), and avoids both colloquialisms and unnecessarily complex jargon. It conveys the same meaning as the informal email while being appropriate for a board-level audience.
Q13 15

Question 13: In literary fiction, a red herring is always a logical fallacy committed by a character in dialogue; it cannot refer to a narrative device used by the author to mislead the reader.

Question 13 options
This is false. In literary fiction, the term 'red herring' commonly refers to a narrative device used by the author—particularly in mystery and detective genres—to plant misleading clues that divert the reader's attention from the true solution. It is not limited to fallacious reasoning in character dialogue.
Q14 15

Question 14: In a mystery novel, the author devotes an entire chapter to a suspicious-looking gardener who is later revealed to be entirely innocent. What effect does this red herring create for the reader?

Question 14 options
A red herring in fiction is designed to misdirect the reader's suspicion toward an innocent character, thereby creating suspense and making the eventual revelation of the true culprit more surprising. It does not resolve the plot, simplify the narrative, or establish the theme—its primary function is to mislead and sustain tension.
Q15 15

Question 15: Consider this weak sentence from a student's critical thinking essay: 'The speaker used a red herring when he talked about other stuff instead of the real topic, which was bad.' Which of the following is the best improved version?

Question 15 options
The best version replaces vague language ('other stuff,' 'the real topic,' 'bad') with precise, academic terminology, specifies what the diversionary and original topics were, and explains the rhetorical consequence. It maintains formal register while being clear and analytical.

Related Writing Tests

See all →
C1
Hasty Generalization Practice (C1-C2) – English Writing Quiz
+22 XP →B2
Ad Hominem Writing Exercises: Level B2-C1 (with Answers)
+19 XP →C1
Circular Reasoning Writing Exercises: Level C1-C2 (with Answers)
+22 XP →

More Tests at C1, C2 Level

See all →
C1 Writing
Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc Exercises (C1-C2)
+22 XP →C1 Writing
Begging The Question Writing Exercises: Level C1-C2 (with Answers)
+22 XP →C1 Writing
Circular Reasoning Writing Exercises: Level C1-C2 (with Answers)
+22 XP →
← Back to lesson: Red Herring Fallacy: Definition and Useful Examples