Critical Thinking and Logic - C168:
Question Set #1 Latest Update
Which of the following problems is a question of judgment that requires critical thinking? Select
one.
a) What is the fastest speed at which a car can
...
Critical Thinking and Logic - C168:
Question Set #1 Latest Update
Which of the following problems is a question of judgment that requires critical thinking? Select
one.
a) What is the fastest speed at which a car can travel between two distances?
b) What is the most scenic route one might travel between two locations?
c) What is the most efficient speed at which one might travel between two locations?
d) What is the most effective and safest way to design a roadway system to achieve efficiency?
Correct Answer- d) What is the most effective and safest way to design a roadway system to
achieve efficiency?
The federal government is considering setting aside land for a new national monument. An
employee in the governor's office of the state where the monument may be designated is
asked to research the possible economic impact of the designation. What critical thinking
strategy should the employee employ to clarify the issue?
a) Discuss the issue with other employees in the governor's office to see how they feel about it.
b) Determine whether the governor supports or opposes the monument designation.
c) Determine the main sources of potential information and begin research.
d) Research the economic impact of every national monument in every state.
e) Write out all arguments that both favor and oppose the monument for the governor's
review. Correct Answer- c) Determine the main sources of potential information and begin
research.
Through a bond issue, a city council has the funding to create bike lanes in the city; however,
they cannot agree upon the routes and upon which streets should contain the bike lanes.
Expert A has presented evidence about traffic flow and bicycle safety, concluding that bike
lanes should be put on residential streets where possible and kept off the busier main corridors.
Expert A's evidence shows that this increases safety for the bikers even though it may meanthey will ride longer distances. Expert B has presented evidence about traffic flow and bicycle
safety that concludes that the main corridors are the better and safer choice for bike lanes
because they are wider and more easily accessible. The city decides to go with Expert A's
evidence and installs the bike lanes on residential streets. Shortly after the bike lanes open, a
biker is seriously injured when hit by a car backing out of a driveway.
Which of the following statements are true?
a) Expert A's evidence was accurate, and expert B's evidence was inaccurate.
b) Expert B's evidence was accurate, and expert A's evidence was inaccurate.
c) The evidence of both expert A and expert B was accurate.
d) The evidence of both expert A and expert B was inaccurate.
e) It is not possible to know the accuracy of either expert's evidence from the information
given.
f) Expert A's evidence was relevant, and expert B's evidence was irrelevant.
g) Expert B's evidence was relevant, and expert A's evidence was irrelevant.
h) The evidence of both experts was relevant.
i) The evidence of both experts was irrelevant.
j) It is not possible to determine relevancy of either expert's evidence from the information
given. Correct Answer- e) It is not possible to know the accuracy of either expert's evidence
from the information given.
AND
h) The evidence of both experts was relevant.
A city has recently built a new sports arena in a downtown urban area that already has parking
problems. The residents of the downtown area where the sports arena has been built have
proposed that the city issue the residents parking permits and designate the majority of the
parking spaces in the area of the arena as "permit-parking only," so residents are not
inconvenienced by the arena.
What primary questions would the city want to ask to measure the implications of this
solution?a) Have we identified the negative implications of the proposed solution?
b) Have we identified the positive implications of the proposed solutions?
c) Have we considered all possible implications that could ever arise in the future?
d) Have we considered all significant implications known at this time?
e) Have we identified the parties who could be affected by this solution and considered the
implications to them?
f) Have we adequately communicated the implications to all interested parties? Correct
Answer- a) Have we identified the negative implications of the proposed solution?
b) Have we identified the positive implications of the proposed solutions?
d) Have we considered all significant implications known at this time?
e) Have we identified the parties who could be affected by this solution and considered the
implications to them?
A recent study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that people who spend
most of their days in a job that requires sitting have a higher mortality rate than those whose
jobs require more movement. The study found that even for people who exercise regularly,
spending long stretches of time sitting at a desk is still harmful. The study found that within four
hours of sitting, the body begins to send harmful signals and the genes that regulate glucose
and fat begin to shut down. The researchers suggest that even small movements such as
standing to watch a child's soccer game or pacing while talking on the phone can make a big
difference. While most consider this an individual problem, the obesity-related illnesses caused
by too much sitting have a social impact in terms of health care availability and health care
costs for all citizens.
Which of the following are plausible solutions to the social problems that result from having a
population that sits too much? Choose two answers.
a) Require people to move more and sit less.
b) Raise the cost of health insurance for those people who have office jobs.
c) Create government incentives to encourage the creation of academic and work
environments that promote movement and discourage sitting for long periods.
d) Enact national, state, and local educational campaigns to encourage people to sit less.e) Take out the bleachers at all children's sporting events.
f) Require employees to stand while talking on the phone. Correct Answer- c) Create
government incentives to encourage the creation of academic and work environments that
promote movement and discourage sitting for long periods.
d) Enact national, state, and local educational campaigns to encourage people to sit less.
In which of the following situations would it be most appropriate to apply critical thinking?
Select one:
a) Choosing a college for a son or daughter.
b) Buying a safe car for a teenager.
c) Deciding how much to set aside in a college fund for a child.
d) Determining the best way to design a college campus. Correct Answer- d) Determining the
best way to design a college campus.
A local school board is trying to decide whether to fund a new after-school reading program for
struggling students. Which of the following sources would likely be relevant to the decision
being made? Choose two answers.
a) The website of an educational company that sells reading curriculum products to schools and
teachers.
b) A complaint from a parent who claims his child is falling behind in reading.
c) A study done by the National Education Association showing American reading levels are
above those of seven other comparable countries.
d) A study done by the U.S. Department of Education showing the effectiveness of after-school
reading programs in 30 different school districts.
e) A recent editorial in the newspaper claiming the city doesn't have enough after school
programs to keep kids "off the streets." Correct Answer- a) The website of an educational
company that sells reading curriculum products to schools and teachers.
d) A study done by the U.S. Department of Education showing the effectiveness of after-school
reading programs in 30 different school districts.As an aide to a state senator, you are asked to provide research on the controversial topic of
the medical use of marijuana for an upcoming vote. The senator has not yet decided which way
she will vote, so she is relying on your research to make a decision. The vote is only two days
away, so you will not be able to read everything available on the topic, but before you pass the
information along to the senator, you want to be sure you have sufficient information on the
topic.
Which of the following questions would help you determine if your research meets the
standard of sufficiency?
a) Have I identified all significant implications of the arguments?
b) Are my assumptions about the senator's leanings justifiable?
c) Have I clarified the main concepts of the arguments?
d) Have I included my personal experience with my cousin who has cancer?
e) Have I considered multiple, diverse points of view?
f) Have I checked with fellow senatorial aides in the same political party? Correct Answer- a)
Have I identified all significant implications of the arguments?
c) Have I clarified the main concepts of the arguments?
e) Have I considered multiple, diverse points of view?
The following represents the testimony of a mayor of a small town who appeared in front of a
congressional committee meeting to discuss the process of designating national parks and
monuments:
"The establishment of the Greatest Ever National Monument has had a devastating impact on
the economy and people of my city and county. It has come to our attention that a non-profit
group has issued a report titled Greatest Ever National Monument: A Summary of Economic
Performance in the Surrounding Communities, which indicates that there has been a strong,
positive economic impact to our county from the establishment of the Greatest Ever National
Monument. This is completely contrary to our own observation and analysis.
"The report indicates significant increases in real personal income and real per capita income.
This is completely false with regards to our county. In summary, the establishment of theGreatest Ever National Monument has hurt the local economy, driven our residents to find
work elsewhere, and burdened local government to provide uncompensated services.
"Based on our knowledge of our county, the report is false and misleading and strains the
bounds of credibility. Our statistics show the opposite is true."
Which of the following fallacies are present in the testimony?
a) Hasty generalizations
b) Appeal to authority
c) Oversimplify the issue
d) Search for the perfect solution
e) Create a false dilemma Correct Answer- a) Hasty generalizations
c) Oversimplify the issue
e) Create a false dilemma
The population in a suburban elementary school has decreased over a ten-year period from 360
students to 175 students prompting the school board to question whether they should keep it
open or bus students to another neighborhood. The parents of the remaining students are
fighting to keep it open, but to make a good argument, they first need to understand the cause
of the decreasing population. Some of them think it is due to the aging population of the
neighborhood, some believe it is due to the declining quality of the school, others believe it is
due to an influx of "home-teaching" parents into the neighborhood.
Which one of the following activities would best help clarify the causes of the problem? Select
one answer.
a) Compare the demographic of this neighborhood with nearby neighborhoods.
b) Analyze the demographic changes of the neighborhood over the last ten years.
c) Talk to home-schooling parents to find out why they don't send their children to the public
school.d) Talk to the teachers in the school to get their expert opinions.
e) Emphasize to the school board the "no child left behind" philosophy. Correct Answer- b)
Analyze the demographic changes of the neighborhood over the last ten years.
A recent article in the New York Times stated that more than 1,200 deaths—1 in every 6—of
the developmentally disabled in state and privately run group homes were due to unnatural or
unknown causes. Investigators for the paper have been looking for causes for such a high death
rate.
What approaches might the investigators take if they were using the common factor method?
a) They might look for shared characteristics in the types of disabilities of the deceased.
b) They might isolate those who died in the presence of a staff member from the rest.
c) They might look for shared characteristics among the staff members caring for the deceased
such as hours worked, years of experience, etc.
d) They might look for an increase in the number of deaths associated with an increase in the
number of consecutive work hours of the responsible staff. Correct Answer- a) They might look
for shared characteristics in the types of disabilities of the deceased.
c) They might look for shared characteristics among the staff members caring for the deceased
such as hours worked, years of experience, etc.
For many years, scientists have been trying to explain why Kenyans often win marathons. Some
believe it is because many Kenyan runners come from regions with high altitudes. Others
believe it is because the Kenyan culture values running. Still other theories say genetics is the
major factor, although the runners themselves claim it is only training and hard work that
matters.
What unstated assumptions can be found in the reasoning above?
a) Anyone who trains properly and works hard can win a marathon.
b) A person genetically built for long-distance running is more likely to win a marathon.c) The Nepalese, who come from a higher altitude than Kenyans, would win marathons if they
entered them.
d) People from the United States are unlikely to win marathons.
e) It is unlikely that someone who comes from a culture where running is not valued will ever
win a marathon. Correct Answer- a) Anyone who trains properly and works hard can win a
marathon.
b) A person genetically built for long-distance running is more likely to win a marathon.
William F. Buckley, a prominent conservative, surprised many of his fellow conservatives by
supporting the legalization of drugs to be treated in much the same manner as alcohol—
"regulate it, control it, tax it, and make it illegal only for children." In what way is Buckley's
point of view on this issue consistent with his conservative views?
a) He believed in the practicality of legal restrictions and fiscal responsibility of government.
b) He believed in tradition and stability above all else.
c) He believed there had to be an alignment between what behavior was "legal" in society and
what behavior was "approved" by society.
d) He believed that the country's moral decline is largely due to illegal drug use. Correct
Answer- a) He believed in the practicality of legal restrictions and fiscal responsibility of
government.
How might one go about reading a daily newspaper with as little influence from biased
reporting as possible?
a) Choose a newspaper that you know to be free of bias.
b) Choose a newspaper that matches your values and political views.
c) Deconstruct news stories and reconstruct them with alternative biases and slants.
d) Read carefully, deeply, and slowly. Correct Answer- c) Deconstruct news stories and
reconstruct them with alternative biases and slants.Which of the following statements about the influence of assumptions within reasoning is
correct?
a) All reasoning begins with assumptions because reasoning must take some things for granted.
b) One should rid oneself of all assumptions before beginning the reasoning process.
c) A defective assumption can lead to defective reasoning.
d) Some assumptions are justifiable.
e) One does not need to be aware of his/her own assumptions as long as the reasoning is solid.
Correct Answer- a) All reasoning begins with assumptions because reasoning must take some
things for granted.
c) A defective assumption can lead to defective reasoning.
d) Some assumptions are justifiable.
A 55-year-old man went to see his doctor for a routine physical. The man's father had died from
a heart attack at the age of 62, the man's older brother had died from a heart attack at age 63,
and the man's grandfather had died from a heart attack at the age of 60. Therefore, the man
inferred that he too could possibly die of a heart attack at a relatively young age based upon
the assumption that genetic heart problems run in his family.
Which one of the following statements would help evaluate the validity of this assumption?
Select one.
a) There is a good reason to believe that this man will have a heart attack.
b) A recent magazine article states that heart attacks are the number one killer of men over 60.
c) The man's deceased relatives were heavy smokers; he does not smoke.
d) Recent medical advances and technology have decreased the early death by heart failure.
Correct Answer- c) The man's deceased relatives were heavy smokers; he does not smoke.
Which of the following represent an application of the standards of critical thinking?
a) A person follows the reasoning to determine the significant implications.
b) A person clarifies the question at issue.c) A person begins reasoning with a purpose.
d) A person chooses a topic with many concepts and ideas.
e) A person understands that every resolution has consequences. Correct Answer- a) A person
follows the reasoning to determine the significant implications.
b) A person clarifies the question at issue.
Which of the following are elements of reasoning?
Un-checked a) Opinions
Correct Answer Checked b) Evidence
Un-checked c) Culture
Correct Answer Checked d) Point of View
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