Critical Thinking and Reason
Question 1
Which of the following best defines critical thinking?
A. Memorizing facts and figures for recall
B. Evaluating information and arguments systematically to make reasoned judgments
C. Accepting information at face value without questioning
D. Relying solely on intuition to make decisions
- Evaluating information and arguments systematically to make reasoned judgments
Critical thinking involves analyzing and assessing information objectively, considering evidence, and making logical decisions, rather than relying on memorization, intuition, or unexamined acceptance.
Question 2
If all cats are mammals, and all mammals have hair, what can you conclude about cats?
A. Cats are not mammals
B. Cats have hair
C. Cats do not have hair
D. Cats are reptiles
- Cats have hair
The premises state that all cats are mammals and all mammals have hair. By logical deduction, all cats must have hair.
Question 3
Which of the following is a logical fallacy?
A. Providing evidence to support a claim
B. Attacking a person’s character instead of their argument
C. Using data to draw a conclusion
D. Citing a credible source
- Attacking a person’s character instead of their argument
This describes an ad hominem fallacy, where the focus is on discrediting the person rather than addressing the substance of their argument.
Question 4
A study claims that drinking coffee improves memory. What would weaken this claim?
A. Evidence showing coffee drinkers have better memory than non-drinkers
B. A study showing no difference in memory between coffee drinkers and non-drinkers
C. A survey showing coffee is popular among students
D. Testimonials from coffee drinkers who feel more alert
- A study showing no difference in memory between coffee drinkers and non-drinkers
This directly contradicts the claim by providing evidence that coffee has no effect on memory, thus weakening the original assertion.
Question 5
If the day after tomorrow is Wednesday, what day is today?
A. Monday
B. Tuesday
C. Sunday
D. Monday
- Monday
If the day after tomorrow is Wednesday, tomorrow must be Tuesday. Therefore, today is Monday.
Question 6
Which statement is an example of a strawman fallacy?
A. “She supports reducing taxes, which could benefit the economy.”
B. “He wants to ban all cars, which would destroy transportation.”
C. “The policy has both advantages and disadvantages.”
D. “We need more data to make an informed decision.”
- He wants to ban all cars, which would destroy transportation.
A strawman fallacy misrepresents an opponent’s position to make it easier to attack. This statement exaggerates a position to an extreme, unlikely stance.
Question 7
A car travels 60 miles in 1 hour. How far will it travel in 3 hours at the same speed?
A. 120 miles
B. 180 miles
C. 60 miles
D. 200 miles
- 180 miles
The car’s speed is 60 miles per hour. In 3 hours, it travels 60 × 3 = 180 miles.
Question 8
What is the primary flaw in this argument: “Everyone I know loves this movie, so it must be good”?
A. It relies on expert opinion
B. It uses a small, biased sample
C. It is based on objective evidence
D. It avoids emotional appeals
- It uses a small, biased sample
The argument generalizes based on the opinions of a limited, potentially unrepresentative group, which is a sampling bias.
Question 9
Which of the following best indicates a correlation, not causation?
A. Smoking causes lung cancer.
B. Ice cream sales and drowning incidents both increase in summer.
C. Exercise leads to weight loss.
D. Studying improves test scores.
- Ice cream sales and drowning incidents both increase in summer.
Both events occur together in summer, but one does not cause the other; they are correlated due to a third factor (seasonal weather).
Question 10
If A implies B, and B implies C, what can you conclude?
A. A implies C
B. C implies A
C. B implies A
D. No conclusion is possible
- A implies C
This is an example of the transitive property of implication: if A implies B and B implies C, then A implies C.
Question 11
What is the best way to evaluate the credibility of a source?
A. Check if it aligns with your beliefs
B. Verify the author’s qualifications and evidence provided
C. Ensure it is the most recent source available
D. Confirm it is widely shared on social media
- Verify the author’s qualifications and evidence provided
Credibility depends on the expertise of the author and the quality of evidence, not popularity, recency, or alignment with personal views.
Question 12
Which of the following is an example of deductive reasoning?
A. I observed that it rained every Monday last month, so it will rain next Monday.
B. All birds have wings, and a sparrow is a bird, so a sparrow has wings.
C. Most dogs bark, so this dog probably barks.
D. The sky is cloudy, so it might rain soon.
- All birds have wings, and a sparrow is a bird, so a sparrow has wings.
Deductive reasoning applies a general rule to a specific case to reach a certain conclusion, as shown here.
Question 13
What weakens the argument: “This diet works because a celebrity endorses it”?
A. The celebrity is a trained nutritionist
B. Scientific studies show the diet is ineffective
C. Many people follow the diet
D. The diet is affordable
- Scientific studies show the diet is ineffective
Scientific evidence directly contradicts the claim, undermining the argument’s validity, regardless of the celebrity’s endorsement.
Question 14
If 3 pens cost $6, how much do 9 pens cost?
A. $12
B. $18
C. $15
D. $9
- $18
Each pen costs $6 ÷ 3 = $2. For 9 pens, the cost is 9 × $2 = $18.
Question 15
Which is an example of a false dilemma fallacy?
A. “You can either study hard or fail the exam.”
B. “Exercise and diet both contribute to health.”
C. “Some people prefer tea over coffee.”
D. “The policy needs more research to be effective.”
- You can either study hard or fail the exam.
A false dilemma presents only two options when other possibilities exist, such as passing the exam with moderate study or other factors.
Question 16
A survey shows 80% of people prefer brand A over brand B. What can you conclude?
A. Brand A is objectively better than brand B
B. Most surveyed people prefer brand A
C. Brand B is unpopular everywhere
D. Brand A will outsell brand B
- Most surveyed people prefer brand A
The survey only indicates the preferences of the sample, not objective quality, universal popularity, or sales outcomes.
Question 17
What is the next number in the sequence: 2, 4, 8, 16?
A. 24
B. 32
C. 18
D. 30
- 32
Each number is doubled to get the next: 2 × 2 = 4, 4 × 2 = 8, 8 × 2 = 16, 16 × 2 = 32.
Question 18
Which statement is an example of circular reasoning?
A. “Exercise improves health because it makes you healthier.”
B. “This book is popular because many people bought it.”
C. “The policy failed due to lack of funding.”
D. “She is a good leader because she is confident.”
- Exercise improves health because it makes you healthier.
Circular reasoning restates the conclusion as the premise without providing new evidence, as seen here.
Question 19
Which of the following best tests a hypothesis?
A. Repeating the same experiment multiple times with consistent results
B. Conducting a single experiment without controls
C. Asking people for their opinions on the hypothesis
D. Ignoring contradictory evidence
- Repeating the same experiment multiple times with consistent results
Testing a hypothesis requires controlled, repeatable experiments to confirm or refute it reliably.
Question 20
If all roses are flowers, and some flowers are red, what can you conclude?
A. All roses are red
B. Some roses are red
C. No roses are red
D. No conclusion is possible
- No conclusion is possible
The premises don’t provide enough information to determine whether roses are red, as “some flowers” may or may not include roses.
Question 21
What is the primary flaw in this argument: “It hasn’t rained all week, so it won’t rain today”?
A. It relies on expert weather forecasts
B. It assumes past patterns predict future outcomes
C. It uses scientific evidence
D. It avoids emotional language
- It assumes past patterns predict future outcomes
This is a hasty generalization, assuming that a short-term trend (no rain this week) will continue without considering other factors.
Question 22
A store offers a 20% discount on a $50 item. What is the sale price?
A. $40
B. $45
C. $30
D. $10
- $40
A 20% discount on $50 is 0.20 × $50 = $10. The sale price is $50 − $10 = $40.
Question 23
Which of the following is an example of inductive reasoning?
A. All swans are white because every swan I’ve seen is white.
B. All swans have feathers, so this swan has feathers.
C. This swan is white, so it must be a swan.
D. Swans are birds because they fly.
- All swans are white because every swan I’ve seen is white.
Inductive reasoning generalizes from specific observations to a broader conclusion, as shown here, though it may not always be true.
Question 24
What strengthens the argument: “This medication is safe because it was tested”?
A. The tests were conducted on a small, non-diverse group
B. The tests were rigorous, peer-reviewed, and involved thousands of participants
C. The medication is widely advertised
D. The medication is expensive
- The tests were rigorous, peer-reviewed, and involved thousands of participants
Rigorous, large-scale, peer-reviewed testing provides strong evidence of safety, strengthening the argument.
Question 25
If 2x + 3 = 11, what is the value of x?
A. 4
B. 3
C. 5
D. 2
- 4
Solving the equation: 2x + 3 = 11 → 2x = 11 − 3 → 2x = 8 → x = 8 ÷ 2 = 4.
Question 26
Which of the following is an example of a slippery slope fallacy?
A. “If we allow one exception, soon everyone will break the rules.”
B. “The rule is fair because it applies to everyone.”
C. “Breaking the rule once won’t cause harm.”
D. “We need to enforce the rule consistently.”
- If we allow one exception, soon everyone will break the rules.
A slippery slope fallacy assumes one action will inevitably lead to extreme consequences without evidence.
Question 27
A bag contains 3 red and 2 blue marbles. What is the probability of drawing a red marble?
A. 2/5
B. 3/5
C. 1/3
D. 1/2
- 3/5
There are 5 marbles total (3 red + 2 blue). The probability of drawing a red marble is 3 red ÷ 5 total = 3/5.
Question 28
What is the best way to identify bias in a news article?
A. Check if the article is popular online
B. Look for emotionally charged language or one-sided evidence
C. Confirm the article is written by a journalist
D. Ensure the article is short and easy to read
- Look for emotionally charged language or one-sided evidence
Bias often appears in selective evidence or emotionally manipulative language, which distorts objective reporting.
Question 29
If it is raining, then the ground is wet. The ground is wet. What can you conclude?
A. It is raining
B. It might be raining
C. It is not raining
D. The ground is always wet
- It might be raining
The premise states that rain causes a wet ground, but a wet ground could have other causes (e.g., a sprinkler), so rain is only a possibility.
Question 30
Which of the following best demonstrates analytical reasoning?
A. Accepting a claim because it feels right
B. Breaking down a problem into parts and evaluating each systematically
C. Making a decision based on a single example
D. Following a friend’s advice without question
- Breaking down a problem into parts and evaluating each systematically
Analytical reasoning involves dissecting a problem into components and assessing each logically to reach a conclusion.
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