Mary Kom's coaches say she has a real gift for boxing; so because her skill is a gift, she doesn't deserve any credit for it. Which informal logical fallacy is committed in the above statement?
AAppeal to authority
BRed herring
CEquivocation ✓ Correct
DBegging the question
Correct answer: (C) Equivocation
Explanation
The argument trades on two different meanings of the word gift.
In the coaches' remark gift means a natural talent for boxing.
In the conclusion gift shifts to mean a present received without earning it.
Sliding between these senses makes the inference that she deserves no credit seem to follow.
Exploiting a shift in a term's meaning within one argument is the fallacy of equivocation.
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