Which term best describes an argument that seems plausible but is actually false?

Which term best describes an argument that seems plausible but is actually false?

• A. garrulous
• B. fundament
• C. scion
• D. specious

Answer: (D)

A specious argument is one that looks convincing on the surface but is actually flawed. It draws you in with appealing numbers, anecdotes, or Authority without solid reasoning or solid evidence, so it seems legitimate at first glance but falters under closer scrutiny. For example, a claim that a policy works purely because a few dramatic success stories were highlighted—and without considering broader data or method—feels persuasive, yet the underlying logic is faulty. The other words don’t describe this deceptive sense of plausibility: one means talkative, another a base or foundation, and the last a descendant. So the idea that fits best is specious, capturing that surface-level persuasiveness that hides a false conclusion.

A specious argument is one that looks convincing on the surface but is actually flawed. It draws you in with appealing numbers, anecdotes, or Authority without solid reasoning or solid evidence, so it seems legitimate at first glance but falters under closer scrutiny. For example, a claim that a policy works purely because a few dramatic success stories were highlighted—and without considering broader data or method—feels persuasive, yet the underlying logic is faulty. The other words don’t describe this deceptive sense of plausibility: one means talkative, another a base or foundation, and the last a descendant. So the idea that fits best is specious, capturing that surface-level persuasiveness that hides a false conclusion.