Deck 1: The Power of Critical Thinking

Question 1

Kelly is in a hurry as she drives home for the holidays. She sees the signs warning that the bridge might be icy but does not reduce her speed because she is confident in her driving skills. But, sure enough, the ice on the bridge is nearly invisible and her car spins out and slams into the side of the bridge. Luckily, she was wearing her seatbelt and the airbag worked. Which of the following contributed to the accident?
(a) a failure to think critically
(b) confusion about the meaning of the warning sign
(c) defective front or back wheel breaks
(d) too much eagerness to see family

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following comparisons of the descriptions "unacceptable" and "weak" in the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric is correct?
(a) They both apply to attempts at critical thinking that fair-mindedly follow where evidence and reasons lead.
(b) They both apply to attempts at critical thinking that thoughtfully analyze and evaluate major alternative points of view.
(c) They both apply to attempts at critical thinking that fail to identify strong, relevant counterarguments.
(d) They both apply to attempts at critical thinking that do justify results but do not explain reasons.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following is the purpose of critical thinking?
(a) to form well-reasoned and fair-minded judgments regarding what to believe or what to do
(b) to promote an uncritical method of reaching firm conclusions about what is or is not true
(c) to make decisions about a situation based on quick and reactive judgments
(d) to arrive at decisions without wasting time analyzing every option

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric does not apply unless the work being evaluated includes an attempt to do which of the following?
(a) Express desires.
(b) Give reasons.
(c) Accept responsibility.
(d) Make promises.

Question 5

What is the purpose of using the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric (HCTSR) tool in critical thinking?
(a) to know the consequence of every available option while making a decision
(b) to evaluate the quality of the critical thinking process used in deciding what to do or what to believe
(c) to learn the strategies of using critical thinking
(d) to predict the number of times a critical thinking process will have to repeated

Question 6

Which of the following statements best describes the critical thinking process?
(a) Critical thinking is about being stubborn and judgmental in decision making.
(b) Critical thinking is about making decisions based on reasons that speak for themselves.
(c) Critical thinking is about cynically showing why other people are always wrong.
(d) Critical thinking is about using one's skills to defend bad decisions.

Question 7

Which of the following tools can be used to evaluate the quality of the critical thinking displayed by a group engaged in problem solving?
(a) the Rubric for Evaluating Written Argumentation
(b) Lafley and Martin's Five-Step Strategy Model
(c) the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric
(d) the STRATUS Model of Strategic Planning
(e) the CDC Protocol for the Evaluation of Dangerous Diseases

Question 8

A person who believes that critical thinking is similar to other skills-based activities is most likely to suggest that it ________.
(a) can be improved by guided practice
(b) is something that groups of people cannot do together
(c) requires sticking to one's beliefs and opinions
(d) can be employed only when there are contradicting ideas

Question 9

Which of the following is not compatible with strong critical thinking?
(a) challenging cherished beliefs
(b) disagreeing with established norms
(c) being skeptical about ideas
(d) ignoring reasons and evidence

Question 10

Why are critical thinking skills important in today's global high-tech world?

Question 11

Which of the following is most likely to occur in societies where people are educated and free to think for themselves?
(a) Old ways of thinking are appreciated and followed.
(b) Decision making takes less time.
(c) People are more apt to disagree about important decisions.
(d) Policy issues become less complicated to resolve.

Question 12

Which of the following measures should be taken by corporations hoping to succeed in a global high-tech world?
(a) restrict the free flow of accurate information
(b) exercise control over employees' minds
(c) cultivate workplace cultures that foster strong critical thinking
(d) emphasize leadership decision making based on gut feelings

Question 13

Al reads a blog about a new policy on student loans that is being proposed. Using the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric, he determines that the blogger's use of critical thinking was "acceptable." Which of the following would explain that rating?
(a) The blog contained the writer's biased opinion on the policies.
(b) The blog justified every one of its assumptions and questions.
(c) The blog superficially evaluated alternative points of view.
(d) The blog drew warranted and non-fallacious conclusions.

Question 14

If a professor is grading student work for the quality of the critical thinking displayed, which of these considerations would be the most important?
(a) whether the professor agrees or disagrees with the conclusions presented
(b) the vocabulary and writing style displayed by the student
(c) the quality and fair-mindedness of reasoning displayed in the work
(d) the originality of the point of view expressed in the student's work

Question 15

Which of the following pair of terms best describes critical thinking?
(a) cynical and wishy-washy
(b) stubborn and nitpicky
(c) analytical and evaluative
(d) judgmental and opinionated
(e) democratic and virtuous

Question 16

Which of the following scenarios best exemplifies positive critical thinking?
(a) John prefers following instructions of his manager to thinking for himself.
(b) Susan anticipates the expenses of attending college and seeks a part-time job.
(c) Eli, caught up in the excitement and emotions of the moment, joins in the looting.
(d) Jude, determined to act now on his decision, refuses to listen to his friend's reasons to delay.

Question 17

Applicants in a job interview are asked to participate in a friendly debate to evaluate their reasoning skills. One of the interviewees, Lara, consistently ignores others' opinions, states arguments that are factually incorrect, misinterprets what others are saying, offers a biased information, and exhibits close-mindedness to reasoning. According to the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric, Lara's skills are ________.
(a) weak
(b) unacceptable
(c) strong
(d) acceptable

Question 18

Which of the following evaluative descriptions are used by the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric tool to aid us in evaluating real-life examples of critical thinking?
(a) excellent, strong, average, poor
(b) predictable, acceptable, unacceptable, unpredictable
(c) highly reliable, predictable, unpredictable, highly unreliable
(d) strong, acceptable, unacceptable, weak

Question 19

Strong critical thinking requires being ________.
(a) cynical
(b) skeptical
(c) opinionated
(d) passive
(e) judgmental

Question 20

The stronger our critical thinking skills and habits of mind, ________.
(a) the weaker our democracy will become
(b) the more likely we are to be influenced by others
(c) the more likely we are to live in a closed society
(d) the greater our prospects of success

Question 21

A group of friends decide to go for a movie. As the theater was not very far, they decide to start only half an hour before the movie was supposed to begin. But they get stuck in rush hour traffic, have trouble finding parking, and end up arriving after the film has already started. Does this scenario illustrate a failure of critical thinking? Justify your answer.

Question 22

Explain the steps to be followed while using the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric (HCTSR) to evaluate a presentation.

Question 23

What are the benefits enjoyed by a society that promotes and teaches critical thinking?

Question 24

Under what conditions would a report or document be considered "strong" based on the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric, and under which category do Simon's arguments most closely fall? Justify your answer.

Question 25

Discuss an example of how failures of critical thinking often contribute to unfortunate accidents.

Question 26

Why is critical thinking important for people?

Question 27

List the similarities between the criteria of both strong and acceptable demonstrations of critical thinking as evaluated by the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric.

Question 28

Many people interpret the word critical as meaning "negative." Explain why critical thinking is not the same as negative thinking.

Question 29

Why is it difficult to apply the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric to tweets, slogans, gestures, or signs?

Question 30

List four characteristics of a strong critical thinking process as specified in the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric tool.

Question 31

A consulting firm that provides environmental impact reports is asked to assess the impact of a proposed project for a large-scale open pit coal mining operation. Using the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric, the agency receiving that report evaluates the critical thinking used by the consulting firm as "unacceptable." Describe that category and list the weaknesses that the report probably contained for it to be evaluated as unacceptable.

Question 32

Explain education and the role of critical thinking in promoting a free and open society.

Question 33

Why is critical thinking considered a pervasive human phenomenon?

Question 34

Assume that Global High-tech Solutions Corp. (GHSC) is a business solutions firm. Assume that historically GHSC employees had been trained to follow rules and not question authority. This has lowered the quality of services offered by GHSC as employees have stopped asking questions and offering innovative suggestions. Realizing that it is in trouble, GHSC has decided to hire a trainer who can help its employees improve their critical thinking skills and habits of mind. What qualities should the trainer possess?

Question 35

What is the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric tool?

Question 36

How does the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric help people in improving their critical thinking skills?

Question 37

List examples of scenarios where the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric (HCTSR) can be used to evaluate the quality of critical thinking.

Question 38

What is the key difference between the evaluations "unacceptable" and "weak" as per the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric?

Question 39

Although critical thinking helps people make purposeful and well-reasoned judgments, asking questions can be disturbing to others. Why do questions often have such an effect?

Question 40

Critical thinking is not synonymous with good thinking.

Question 41

Some people might believe that critical thinking requires one to be cynical and judgmental about others. Based on your understanding of critical thinking explain why that would be a mistaken interpretation.

Question 42

The evaluative category of Holistic Critical Thinking Rubric that includes thoughtfully analyzing and evaluating major alternative points of view is _______.

Question 43

Critical thinking is analytical and destructive.

Question 44

Jacob lives in a closed society that restricts the free flow of information, but he believes that questioning the pros and cons of the government's decisions is essential for the society's progress. How is the society likely to react to Jacob's beliefs? Give reasons to support your answer.

Question 45

In the definition of critical thinking, the term ________ refers to a person's capacity to reflect on his own thinking process.

Question 46

A professor intent on teaching for critical thinking uses exercises that require students to consider the possible merits of ideas or points of view that they may find unsettling or jarring. The professor argues that such teaching practices are essential to develop one's ability to think critically. Based on your understanding on ways to improve one's critical thinking, explain why the professor is correct.

Question 47

A strong critical thinker does not have to monitor his or her use of critical thinking.

Question 48

The evaluative category of the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric that includes displaying close-mindedness and hostility to reason is ________.

Question 49

One has to be an expert in critical thinking to be able to recognize qualitative improvements in critical thinking with practice.

Question 50

A trainer working with business professionals urges that everyone should consciously try to apply their critical thinking skills to workplace problems. The trainer focuses on teaching how to analyze information, present well-reasoned arguments, and evaluate what others have to say in a fair-minded and respectful way. The trainer motivates the business professionals by telling them that they are not beginning from scratch and that they need strong critical thinking not only at work but in all the other aspects of their lives, whenever they need to decide in a reasoned and reflective way what to believe or what to do. Explain the trainer is correct.