Faulty reasoning occurs when conclusions are

• A. Conclusions that are supported by facts
• B. Conclusions based on personal opinions but supported by data
• C. Conclusions drawn from hearsay
• D. Conclusions not supported by facts or evidence

Answer: (D)

In reasoning, conclusions should be backed by facts or evidence drawn from the information you have. When a conclusion isn’t supported by any facts or evidence, it’s essentially a guess that doesn’t follow from what’s been provided, which is what faulty reasoning looks like. That’s why this choice is the best answer: it captures the idea that the conclusion has no solid grounding in the data or text.

If a conclusion is supported by facts, it’s justified by what’s stated or shown. If it’s based on personal opinions but there’s data that supports it, it can still be reasonable, though it may require careful weighing of how the data supports the claim. Conclusions drawn from hearsay are less reliable because they rely on information that isn’t verified or directly connected to the text.

So, faulty reasoning centers on drawing conclusions without facts or evidence to back them up.