🧠 GRE Exam Prep

An argument states: "Since most residents of Oakwood now own high-definition televisions, clearly the city's new fiber optic internet service, designed to support streaming, is directly responsible for the increase in HD TV purchases." This argument primarily suffers from which logical flaw?

A Ad hominem attack.
B Appeal to emotion.
C Post hoc ergo propter hoc (false cause).
D Hasty generalization.

✓ Correct Answer: Option C

The argument assumes that because the increase in HD TV purchases happened after the fiber optic service was introduced, the service caused the increase. This is a classic 'post hoc ergo propter hoc' fallacy, mistaking temporal sequence for causation.

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