Critical Thinking Quiz

1. Do they have a 4th of July in England?

Yes
No
Maybe
I don't know

2. How many birthdays does the average man have?

78
65.5
one per year
None

3. Some months have 31 days, how many have 28?

One month and that is February
February, every 4 years.
All months have (at least) 28 days
None of the above

4. A woman gives a beggar 50 cents, the woman is the beggar's sister, but the beggar is not
the woman's brother. How come?
The beggar is the woman's sister!
Not possible.
The beggar is an in-law.
The woman is the beggar.

5. Why can't a man living in the USA be buried in Canada?

The Canadian Government does not allow Americans to be buried in Canada.
The man is not dead yet!
It is a trick question and the man is a Canadian living in America.
The man is living between the border.

6. How many outs are there in an inning?

There are 3 outs.
There are 6 outs.
There are 4 outs.
None of the above

7. Is it legal for a man in California to marry his widow's sister?

Yes, as long as she is alive.
Yes, if the man is from California.
You can't marry like this in California.
No, the man would be dead.
8. Two women play five games of checkers. Each woman wins the same number of games.
There are no ties. Explain this.
Because they aren't wearing ties!
The women are not playing each other.
These two women are playing men.
Women don't wear ties.

9. Divide 30 by 1/2 and add 10. What is the answer?

25
50
65
70

10. A man builds a house rectangular in shape. All sides have southern exposure. A bear
walks by the house. What color is the bear? Why?
(This one could drive you nuts and should only be attempted by those with high self-
esteem. If you are seeing a therapist, DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS QUESTION!)
...black...bears are black
...white...
...brown...the house is on a steep slope
There is no answer and this is a stupid question.

11. There are 3 apples and you take away 2. How many do you have?
One...
Two...
...Three...
...Four

12. I have two U.S. coins totaling 55 cents. One is not a nickel. What are the coins?
I have no idea.
A fifty cent piece and a nickel
No answer
100 Yen

13. If you have only one match and you walked into a room where there was an oil burner,
a kerosene lamp, and a wood burning stove, what would you light first?
..the kerosene lamp because it is easier
..the oil burner...
the wood burning stove...
the thing in my hand

14. How far can a forester run into the woods? (Most foresters don't run, but if they did
run...)
all the way into the woods
half way into the woods...
You don't actually run "into" woods.
I don't know

15. What was the president's name in the 1950?

Harry Truman
John Kennedy
President Eisenhower
Bill Clinton

16. A forester has 17 trees, and all but 9 die. How many are left?
8 trees
9 trees
the first 8
I don't know

17. How many animals of each sex did Moses take on the ark?
None
Two
I'm not sure.
I don't know

18. How many 2 cent stamps are in a dozen?

Six
Twelve
Eighteen
Twenty-four

19. Here is an interesting question. Which might be the major factor responsible for the rise
in carbon dioxide ("greenhouse gases") in our atmosphere??
(There is not likely to be much consensus as to the 'correct' answer. Think critically and
objectively about this issue.)
A hole in the ozone layer.
Excess carbon dioxide due to the loss of tropical forests.
The carbon dioxide from utility power plants.
The major source of carbon dioxide is likely coming from volcanoes, vents in our earth's crust,
the oceans, and weathering of the earth's crust.

20. A young monk goes fishing with two other much older and experienced monks. While
out in the boat one of the older monks realizes he has forgotten his favorite hook, gets out
of the boat, walks across the water, and returns shortly with his hook. The young monk is
stunned at this sight. A short while later the other monk needs to recover a fishing cork he
has dropped into the lake. He gets out of the boat, walks across the water about 15 feet,
picks up the cork, and returns to the boat. The young monk is wide eyed at this miracle,
knowing full well that what he thought impossible can be done. Time passes and the young
monk makes up an excuse to go ashore so he steps out of the boat, sinks over his head in the
very cold water, and comes bobbing and sputtering to the surface. While tredding water
and feeling quite humiliated he asks the two old monks, "How did you do that? The
walking on the water."
The first monk replied, "you are not holy enough".
The second monk replied, "it is easy if you know where the rocks are."
The first monk chuckled, "...that first step is a killer isn't it?"
Neither monk had an explanation for their skill. You can walk on water or you can't. That is the
way it is.

21. A 4 x 4 planting density per acre is twice as many trees as an 8 x 8 spacing.

True
False
True or False
I don't know

22. You die and The Devil (the one of Biblical proportions) comes to you with the expressed
purpose of making your after-life an infinite visit to Dante's Inferno. The Devil enjoys your
fear so much he decides to give you one chance to save yourself. What two words could you
say to him to save yourself for eternity?
God, help!
Jesus, help!
Spirit, help!
get lost!

23. Name the greatest of all inventors.

Accident
Gertrude Stein
Einsten
Alexander Graham Bell

24. How many ways is it possible to color the faces of a six sided black cube white?
( This is a neat "critical thinking" problem because it makes you re-think how you might
'normally' think of a cube.)
Seven
Nine
Eleven
Thirteen

25. Prove that the tangent lines of any three circles a,b,and c will converge along a straight
line.
This has never been done! It can not be done.
The vanishing points of any three spheres will converge at the horizon.
Tangent lines can not converge in a three dimensional world.
None of the above

26. When do you think this passage was written?

"The reason for your complaint lies, it seems to me, in the constraint which your intellect
imposes upon your imagination...Apparently it is not good - and indeed it hinders the
creative work of the mind - if the intellect examines too closely the ideas already pouring in,
as it were a gates...In the case of the creative mind, it seems to me, the intellect has
withdrawn its waiters from the gates, and the ideas rush in pell-mell, and only then does it
review and inspect the multitude. Your worthy critics, or whatever you may call yourselves,
are ashamed or afraid of the momentary and passing madness which is found in all real
creators...Hence your complaints of unfruitfulness, for you reject too soon and discriminate
too severly."
Bill Gates said this to Apple executives in 1996.
Einstein in the 1930s.
Thomas Jefferson in 1812 to the British.
Freidrich Schiller in 1788.

1. a
2. c
3. c
4. a
5. b
6. b
7. d
8. b
9. d
10. b
11. b
12. b
13. d
14. b
15. d
16. b
17. a
18. b
19. d
20. b
21. b
22. d
23. a
24. c
25. b
26. d

Take this 10 Question Critical Thinking Quiz

Contributed by: KevinC
4,617 Views: since Sunday, March 09 2003 @ 10:16 PM MST
Quiz: Critical Thinking Skills

Click Read More to see the rest..

1. What kind of fallacy is the following:

"I wore this exact same baseball cap when I got an "A" last week and the week before. If I wear
my lucky baseball cap, I will get "A"s on all my tests."

a) Circular Reasoning
b) False Analogy
c) Ad Hominem Argument
d) Faulty Cause-Effect Relationship
e) None of the above

2. What, if any, logical fallacy is illustrated by the following:

"Dr. McCoy insists that all cats should be given their shots, but anyone who has as many
speeding tickets as he does doesn't deserve to be listened to. "

a) Argument by example
b) Circular reasoning
c) Ad hominem (to the person) attack
d) Argument from data
e) None of these

3. What kind of argument is the following:

"Four out of five dentists who recommend chewing gum, favor Trident sugarless gum."

a) Argument from example

b) Circular reasoning
c) Argument from authority
d) Logical argument

4. What, if any, logical fallacy is illustrated by the following:

"It is unnecessary for America to support that government because we have no reason for
offering it support."

a) Flawed syllogism
b) Circular reasoning
c) Ad hominem attack
d) Argument from data
e) None of these

5. When you argue for or against a policy or point of view basing your argument on similar
situations, problems or actions you are:

a) reasoning from consequences

b) reasoning from examples and statistics
c) reasoning from comparisons or precedent
d) reasoning from authority and testimony

6. What kind of argument is the following:

"While it is true that large-screen televisions are expensive, 8 out of 10 families are buying them,
so you should consider the purchase more seriously."

a) Argument from example

b) Circular reasoning
c) Argument from authority
d) The "bandwagon" fallacy

7. Which is an example of the logical fallacy of "either/or" reasoning?

a) Most of the people who read the novel said it was terrible, so we should read something else.
b) We must renew favored trading status with China or we alienate the country completely and
make human rights reform impossible.
c) You shouldn’t vote for Bill Jameson because he has only 20% of the vote in the most
recent poll.
d) None of these

8. What kind of argument is the following:

"Raising the speed limit is like giving beer to an alcoholic."

a) Faulty Cause-Effect Relationship

b) False Analogy
c) Ad Populum (Join the bandwagon) Argument
d) Circular Reasoning
e) None of the above

9. What kind of reasoning is demonstrated in the lines that follow?

"People with illnesses suffer.
God punishes sinful people with suffering.
Therefore, people who are suffering have been sinful."

a) Flawed syllogism
b) Pure Logic
c) Argument from data
d) None of these

10. The following statement is an example of what kind of logical fallacy?

"The university should increase funding of intramural sports because it has a responsibility to
back its sports programs financially."

a) Faulty Cause-Effect Relationship

b) Circular Reasoning
c) Ad Populum (Bandwagon) Argument
d) False Analogy
e) None of the above

Answers:
1.d;2.c;3.c;4.b;5.c;6.d;7.b;8.b;9.a;10.b

Progress Quiz

You have 4 out of 4 correct! 100%

1. A belief that is worth maintaining is a belief that

a. can withstand critical scrutiny.

b. doesn't need critical scrutiny.
c. should not be challenged.
d. cannot be doubted.

You have entered a. The answer is a) A belief that can't withstand scrutiny will show itself to be
false.

2. A critical thinker pays attention in order to identify and understand the:

a. argument.
b. main theme.
c. plan.
d. opinion.

You have entered a. The answer is a) Critical thinking supplies criteria that help us to resolve
disagreements rationally.

3. Evaluating an argument involves

 a. assessing the reasons given and their relationship to the conclusion.
b. dismissing the reasons given and their relationship to the conclusion.
c. assessing the reasons given, but ignoring their relationship to the conclusion.
d. assessing the conclusion, and reformulating the reasons given for the conclusion.

You have entered a. The answer is a) In evaluating an argument, we should assess whether the
reasons give adequate support for the conclusion.

4. What is the study of the methods and principles used to distinguish good reasoning from bad?

a. Logic
b. Science
c. Mathematics
d. Literary criticism

You have entered a. The answer is a) The word 'logic' derives from the Greek word 'logos',
which means a reasoned account of why one should believe a view to be true.

Back | HOME

Sunday, March 09 2003 @ 10:16 PM MST

Contributed by: KevinC

Quiz: Critical Thinking Skills

Click Read More to see the rest..

1. What kind of fallacy is the following:

"I wore this exact same baseball cap when I got an "A" last week and the week before. If I wear
my lucky baseball cap, I will get "A"s on all my tests."

a) Circular Reasoning
b) False Analogy
c) Ad Hominem Argument
d) Faulty Cause-Effect Relationship
e) None of the above

2. What, if any, logical fallacy is illustrated by the following:

"Dr. McCoy insists that all cats should be given their shots, but anyone who has as many
speeding tickets as he does doesn't deserve to be listened to. "

a) Argument by example
b) Circular reasoning
c) Ad hominem (to the person) attack
d) Argument from data
e) None of these

3. What kind of argument is the following:

"Four out of five dentists who recommend chewing gum, favor Trident sugarless gum."

a) Argument from example

b) Circular reasoning
c) Argument from authority
d) Logical argument

4. What, if any, logical fallacy is illustrated by the following:

"It is unnecessary for America to support that government because we have no reason for
offering it support."

a) Flawed syllogism
b) Circular reasoning
c) Ad hominem attack
d) Argument from data
e) None of these

5. When you argue for or against a policy or point of view basing your argument on similar
situations, problems or actions you are:

a) reasoning from consequences

b) reasoning from examples and statistics
c) reasoning from comparisons or precedent
d) reasoning from authority and testimony

6. What kind of argument is the following:

"While it is true that large-screen televisions are expensive, 8 out of 10 families are buying them,
so you should consider the purchase more seriously."

a) Argument from example

b) Circular reasoning
c) Argument from authority
d) The "bandwagon" fallacy

7. Which is an example of the logical fallacy of "either/or" reasoning?

a) Most of the people who read the novel said it was terrible, so we should read something else.
b) We must renew favored trading status with China or we alienate the country completely and
make human rights reform impossible.
c) You shouldn’t vote for Bill Jameson because he has only 20% of the vote in the most
recent poll.
d) None of these

8. What kind of argument is the following:

"Raising the speed limit is like giving beer to an alcoholic."

a) Faulty Cause-Effect Relationship

b) False Analogy
c) Ad Populum (Join the bandwagon) Argument
d) Circular Reasoning
e) None of the above

9. What kind of reasoning is demonstrated in the lines that follow?

"People with illnesses suffer.
God punishes sinful people with suffering.
Therefore, people who are suffering have been sinful."

a) Flawed syllogism
b) Pure Logic
c) Argument from data
d) None of these

10. The following statement is an example of what kind of logical fallacy?

"The university should increase funding of intramural sports because it has a responsibility to
back its sports programs financially."

a) Faulty Cause-Effect Relationship

b) Circular Reasoning
c) Ad Populum (Bandwagon) Argument
d) False Analogy
e) None of the above

Answers:
1.d;2.c;3.c;4.b;5.c;6.d;7.b;8.b;9.a;10.b

Argumentation is a form of communication in which at least one person explicitly or

implicitly puts forth a claim and provides support for that claim with evidence and
reasoning.
True
False
status: correct (1.0)
correct: true
your answer: true
feedback: Correct.
2
What we call the form of communication in which at least one person explicitly or
implicitly puts forth a claim and provides support for that claim with evidence and
reasoning. dfg
status: incorrect (0.0)
correct: Argumentation
your answer:
feedback: Incorrect
3 When we refer to the term "argument" we may mean it in the sense of having in argument
or in the sense of ________ an argument.

a. none of these choices

b. making

c. engaging in

d. responding to

e. delivering
status: incorrect (0.0)
correct: b
your answer: c
feedback: Incorrect.
4 "Logos" refers to rhetorical appeals that use the personal characteristics of the
communicator to influence others.

True

False
status: correct (1.0)
correct: false
your answer: false
feedback: Correct.
5 An explanation is a form of communication in which statements are presented to clarify
ideas and improve understanding rather than to support a claim.

True

False
status: correct (1.0)
correct: true
your answer: true
feedback: Correct.
6
When someone makes a claim and supports it with evidence and reasoning s/he has made
a(n) asdf.
status: incorrect (0.0)
correct: Argument
your answer:
feedback: Incorrect
7 Informal logic is the study of the way arguments should be structured and how premises
should lead to conclusions.

True

False
status: correct (1.0)
correct: false
your answer: false
feedback: Correct.
8
The study of the way arguments should be structured and how premises should lead to
conclusions is known as sdf logic.
status: incorrect (0.0)
correct: Formal
your answer:
feedback: Incorrect
9 An opinion is a message that presents an individual's personal position on a subject.

True

False
status: correct (1.0)
correct: true
your answer: true
feedback: Correct.
10
The rhetorical appeal known as sd use the personal characteristics of the communicator
to influence others.
status: incorrect (0.0)
correct: Ethos
your answer:
feedback: Incorrect
11 Informal logic studies reasoning to conclusions and focuses on elements of reasoning
other than the structure of the arguments.

True
False
status: incorrect (0.0)
correct: true
your answer: false
feedback: Incorrect.
12
Name the three classical appeals of rhetoric in alphabetical order. df, sdf, sdf.
status: incorrect (0.0)
correct: Ethos
Logos
Pathos
your answer:

feedback: Incorrect
13
A message that presents an individual's personal position on a subject is known as an
sdf.
status: incorrect (0.0)
correct: Opinion
your answer:
feedback: Incorrect
14 Pathos is no longer used to try to influence people.

True

False
status: correct (1.0)
correct: false
your answer: false
feedback: Correct.
15 The study of the means of persuasion is known as ________.

a. argumentation

b. rhetoric

c. ethos

d. reasoning

e. formal logic
status: correct (1.0)
correct: b
your answer: b
feedback: Correct.