Question 1

Philip was given a world problem to solve and he immediately began to create an algebraic expression from the facts stated in the problem.He was engaged in:

Accepted Answer

Philip was engaged in translating because he was converting the facts from the word problem into an algebraic expression, which involves translating words into mathematical symbols and expressions.

Question 2

Kara is a creative person.Her goal is to be a website designer, so she has enrolled a computer science major.Looking through the textbook for her required Calculus I course, she is overwhelmed by the amount of content that will be covered in the semester.She now wonders if she should switch to a less math-intensive major.Given what you have learned about critical thinking, what is the best advice for this student?

Accepted Answer

The problem-solving steps involve defining the problem, gathering information, generating solutions, evaluating solutions, and implementing the solution. This process can help Kara weigh the pros and cons of switching majors and make an informed decision.

Question 3

Arnie has been paired with Jacob to work on project due in a few weeks.Jacob is very quiet in class and has a sloppy appearance; thus Arnie's impression is that Jacob has little to contribute to class and is rather disorganized.Jacob perceives Arnie to be bossy and uptight.Each has gone to their instructor to change partners with no success.To work well together, these men must:

Accepted Answer

Changing their mindsets would allow them to see each other's strengths and weaknesses more clearly and work together more effectively.

Question 4

Karl is faced with a plumbing problem he must solve.It would be helpful to begin to solve the problem by:

Accepted Answer

Defining the known and unknown helps Karl understand the problem clearly and identify what information he has and what he needs to find out, which is a crucial first step in problem-solving.

Question 5

To overcome math or science anxiety, it is important to:

Accepted Answer

The answer of To overcome math or science anxiety, it...

Question 6

"All men are mortal.Harold is a man.Therefore Harold is mortal." This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

This is an example of deductive reasoning, where a general statement is applied to a specific case to reach a conclusion.

Question 7

Zach's team has been working toward solving the same technical problem for over an hour and have been unable to arrive at a solution.They would benefit most by:

Accepted Answer

Creative problem-solving would help Zach's team think outside the box and explore new approaches to the problem, which could lead to a solution after traditional methods have failed.

Question 8

Jaqueline has worked on solving the same statistics problem for an hour and is frustrated she cannot solve it.Right now what she needs most is:

Accepted Answer

Taking a break can help refresh her mind and reduce frustration, potentially leading to a new perspective on the problem.

Question 9

Muriel is working on a survey design project for her internship with a school district.Her objective is measure the ease of implementation and learning impacts for a new nutrition program in the district.She has not designed a survey before and is brainstorming her first steps to complete the project.Who would be the best person to ask for assistance on where to begin, and what type of question should she ask?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Muriel is working on a survey design...

Question 10

When looking for various viewpoints on a particular question you have, it is best to ask a/an:

Accepted Answer

An open-ended question allows for a variety of responses and encourages the expression of different viewpoints.

Question 11

"Mr.Walsh has the reputation of being an easy instructor who seems to hand out A's in class.Therefore, I can count on getting at least an A in his class this semester." This statement is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The statement makes an unwarranted assumption that because Mr. Walsh has a reputation for giving A's, the speaker will definitely receive an A, without considering other factors that might affect their grade.

Question 12

Kelsey is a film editor and loves what she does for a living.Often she will run into glitches or changes that require her to rework scenes and layers of soundtracks several times.Her greatest strength contributing to her successful career is most likely:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Kelsey is a film editor and loves...

Question 13

The ability to clearly define a set of criteria for analyzing ideas is a quality of a:

Accepted Answer

A critical thinker is skilled at analyzing ideas by clearly defining criteria and systematically evaluating information.

Question 14

Yardise is acting as her group's mediator in a discussion they are having about dividing the work for a paper and project they must complete.As mediator, which critical thinking skill will be most helpful?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Yardise is acting as her group's mediator...

Question 15

In Art History, Sharon was asked to compare and contrast the Surrealist and Dadaist movements to early music video work of the 1980's.Her instructor is asking her to apply which level of Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives?

Accepted Answer

Analysis involves examining and breaking information into parts by identifying motives or causes, making inferences, and finding evidence to support generalizations. Sharon is required to compare and contrast, which is an analytical task.

Question 16

Javier has been enjoying "Einstein's Riddle" and shared a possible solution with his roommate Jess.Jess made fun of him for wasting time on the activity, labeling him a 'nerd'.Jess likely used negative labeling because:

Accepted Answer

There is not enough information provided to determine Jess's motivations or feelings accurately.

Question 17

Pat and his group are discussing a political problem in class and must offer possible solutions.He has his ideas on how to approach the problem but listens intently to what his group members have to say before he offers his approach.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Pat is demonstrating the ability to listen to all sides of an issue by considering his group members' ideas before presenting his own.

Question 18

Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation are levels associated with:

Accepted Answer

These levels are part of Bloom's Taxonomy, which is a framework for categorizing educational goals and objectives.

Question 19

The statement "All instructors are absent-minded intellectuals" is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The statement is an example of stereotyping because it generalizes a group of people (instructors) by attributing a specific characteristic (absent-minded intellectuals) to all members of that group.

Question 20

In the first week of class Ed impressed his classmates with his critical and creative thinking on the discussion topics.Since then, Ed has been asked to be involved in several unrelated projects.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The halo effect occurs when an initial positive impression in one area influences perceptions in other areas, leading to assumptions of overall competence.

Quiz 10: Become a Critical Thinker and Creative Problem Solver