Critical Thinking

Question 1

Slippery Slope

Answer 1

arguing that one small action will lead to a chain of events ending in disaster, without good reason to believe that chain will actually happen.

Question 2

Post Hoc

Answer 2

assuming that because one thing happened after another thing, the first thing must have caused the second thing.

Question 3

Hasty Generalization

Answer 3

jumping to a conclusion about a large group based on too small or unrepresentative a sample.

Question 4

Proposition

Answer 4

A declarative statement that can be either true or false but not both simultaneously.

Question 5

Premises

Answer 5

statements that provide support or evidence

Question 6

Conclusions

Answer 6

the statement that follows from or is claimed to follow from those premises.

Question 7

Arguments

Answer 7

try to prove something using reasons

Question 8

Non-arguments

Answer 8

simply state things without trying to prove anything.

Question 9

Validity

Answer 9

means if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true.

Question 10

Strong

Answer 10

means if the premises are true, the conclusion is probably true.

Question 11

Formal Fallacies

Answer 11

mistakes in the logical structure or form of an argument, regardless of the content.

Question 12

Informal Fallacies

Answer 12

mistakes in reasoning that occur because of problems with the content or context of the argument, not its logical form.

Question 13

Conformation Bias

Answer 13

when people search for, interpret, and remember information that supports what they already believe.

Question 14

Cognitive Bias

Answer 14

mental shortcuts or errors in thinking that lead people to make irrational judgments and decisions.

Question 15

Anchoring

Answer 15

people rely too heavily on the first piece of information they receive

Question 16

Mental heuristics

Answer 16

quick mental shortcuts or rules of thumb that people use to make decisions and solve problems.

Question 17

Ad hominem

Answer 17

attacking the person making the argument instead of addressing their actual argument.

Question 18

Genetic Fallacy

Answer 18

dismissing an argument solely based on where it came from or its origins.

Question 19

Straw Figure

Answer 19

when you misrepresent someone’s argument to make it easier to attack.

Question 20

Red Herring

Answer 20

bringing up an unrelated topic to distract from the main argument.

Question 21

Irrelevant Appeals

Answer 21

try to win an argument by playing on emotions, authority, or popularity instead of using valid reasoning.

Question 22

Equivocation

Answer 22

using the same word in two different ways in an argument to create confusion or mislead.

Question 23

Appeal to Ignorance

Answer 23

claiming something must be true just because it hasn’t been proven false, or false because it hasn’t been proven true.

Question 24

Texas Sharpshooter

Answer 24

when someone cherry-picks data to find a pattern while ignoring data that doesn’t fit that pattern.

Question 25

"Our restaurant serves the finest food in town because we use local ingredients," stated Chef Martinez. Which two descriptors best characterize Chef Martinez's comments?

Answer 25

C. A weak argument D. An inference

Question 26

Which two sentences are propositions? A. Exercise improves heart health. B. How often do you work out? C. Let's go to the gym! D. Regular physical activity extends lifespan.

Answer 26

A. Exercise improves heart health. D. Regular physical activity extends lifespan.

Question 27

"I have felt more energetic since starting a new exercise routine." Which descriptor accurately characterizes this sentence?

Answer 27

C. Inference D. Proposition

Question 28

"Whenever it rains, the streets get wet. Today, the streets are wet. Therefore, I concluded that it rained." Which term describes this argument?

Answer 28

A. Inductive

Question 29

A scientific journal retracts a study after discovering errors in the research methodology. In the absence of further information, what does this journal's action suggest about its credibility?

Answer 29

The journal appears credible because it values transparency

Question 30

Which statement represents a logical reaction to a source claiming to be completely objective? A. "This may be true because objectivity depends on the context and perspective." B. "This is most likely true because all sources are completely objective." C. "This can't be true because all sources have some level of subjectivity." D. "This can't be true because all sources

Answer 30

(The correct answer is C: "This can't be true because all sources have some level of subjectivity.")

Question 31

Which factor is most important when assessing the credibility of an online article? A. The accuracy and reliability of the content. B. The visual appeal of the website design. C. The ease of readability of the text. D. The number of external links provided

Answer 31

(The correct answer is A: The accuracy and reliability of the content.)

Question 32

For which two reasons do critical thinkers strive to understand opposing viewpoints? A. To strengthen their own arguments. B. To confuse those who disagree with them. C. To minimize misunderstandings. D. To avoid engaging in debates.

Answer 32

(The correct answers are A: "To strengthen their own arguments" and C: "To minimize misunderstandings.")

Question 33

A study finds that elite musicians practice their instruments for an average of six hours per day. Based on this study, someone concludes that all people who play musical instruments practice for six hours per day. Which concept does this conclusion illustrate? A. Selection bias B. Representativeness C. Anchoring D. The principle of charity

Answer 33

(The correct answer is A: Selection bias.)

Question 34

A shopper sees a jacket priced at $200 but marked down to $120. The shopper decides to buy it, believing it to be a great deal, even though the jacket's quality may not justify the $120 price. Which cognitive bias is the shopper exhibiting? A. Anchoring and adjustment B. Representativeness C. Affirming the consequent D. Denying the antecedent

Answer 34

Anchoring and adjustment

Question 35

Jordan frequently encounters social media posts, videos, and articles that align with his belief that a specific diet is the healthiest option. He concludes that this diet must be universally accepted as the best choice. Which conclusion can Jordan reasonably draw from this situation? A. His belief is accurate because the majority agrees with him. B. His belief is inaccurate because it is based on biased sources. C. He cannot conclude anything because the information he sees may be influenced by algorithms. D. His belief is correct because he has seen a lot of supporting evidence.

Answer 35

(The correct answer is C: He cannot conclude anything because the information he sees may be influenced by algorithms.)

Question 36

90% of students at a particular university own a laptop. Sarah is a student at this university. Therefore, Sarah owns a laptop. Which set of terms classify this argument? A. Valid and sound B. Valid and unsound C. Strong and cogent D. Strong and uncogent

Answer 36

(The correct answer is D: Strong and uncogent.)

Question 37

A person is deciding whether to swim at the beach. The first thing that comes to mind is a recent news story about a shark attack. They decide that swimming at the beach is too dangerous. What kind of bias are they exhibiting? A. Confirmation bias B. Anchoring bias C. Availability bias D. Selection bias

Answer 37

(The correct answer is C: Availability bias.)

Question 38

Which argument contains the general-specific pattern? A. Birds are warm-blooded animals, so penguins are warm-blooded. B. Birds have feathers, and parrots are birds, so parrots have feathers. C. Birds are capable of flight, so ostriches can fly. D. Birds are intelligent creatures, so birds make great pets.

Answer 38

(The correct answer is B: Luna purrs like a cat.)

Question 39

"Either you fully support this policy, or you are completely against it." Which two statements accurately describe this proposition? Choose 2 answers. A. The proposition includes a false dichotomy. B. The proposition assumes the truth of the conclusion in the premise. C. The proposition contains black and white thinking. D. The proposition mistakes causation for correlation.

Answer 39

(The correct answers are A: The proposition includes a false dichotomy, and C: The proposition contains black and white thinking.)

Question 40

"I visited one park in this town, and it was poorly maintained. Therefore, all parks in this town are poorly maintained."Which fallacy of weak induction best describes this example? A. Slippery slope B. Hasty generalization C. Appeal to ignorance D. Equivocation

Answer 40

(The correct answer is B: Hasty generalization.)