Deck 3: Solving Problems

Question 1

"Examine the potential advantages and/or disadvantages in order to determine how helpful each course of action would be." This statement from the text describes a priority in doing what?

A)Identifying the problem
B)Identifying alternatives
C)Identifying a course of action
D)Selecting a solution

Answer 1

B

Question 2

When considering how well a particular alternative has worked, the critical thinker is someone who is to new ideas and experiences and enough to change or modify new beliefs.

A)called, open
B)open, positive
C)receptive, flexible
D)open, eager

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Large problems are like puzzles in that they are a compilation of many pieces that do not always come together in a fashion that meets our needs.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The author identifies the following issues as complex problems, except

A)playing the lottery.
B)procrastination.
C)loss of financial aid.
D)smoking.

Question 5

Take a look at the photo on page 117 of the text, which depicts a young man at his home in a village in Africa.This is an example of

A)creative personality.
B)changing location.
C)an idea that is greater than the sum of those involved.
D)creative problem solving that is innovative and practical.

Question 6

Some problems persist because you are able to ignore their possible implications.When you use this strategy, you remind yourself of the potential disastrous consequences of your actions.What strategy does this exemplify?

A)brainstorming
B)the nagging best friend
C)"worst-case" scenario
D)retroactive inhibition

Question 7

The quality of your life can be traced in large measure to your competency as a problem solver.The fact that some people are consistently superior problem-solvers is largely due to

A)mental telepathy.
B)the ability to approach problems in an organized manner.
C)living with adversity.
D)the ability to anticipate future events.

Question 8

In a typical brainstorming session, a group of people work together to generate as many ideas as possible in a specific period of time.

Question 9

To solve a problem, you must first be willing to accept the problem by acknowledging that the problem exists.One strategy to help accept a problem is

A)identifying your strengths.
B)getting professional help.
C)asking loved ones for their input.
D)listing the benefits.

Question 10

Becoming an effective problem solver does not merely involve applying

A)a hard look at the issue.
B)a fresh perspective.
C)a problem-solving method in a mechanical fashion.
D)more pressure on the people involved.

Question 11

Once you have decided on the correct alternative(s) to pursue, your next move is to take action by planning specific steps.

Question 12

In the article "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" by Nicholas Carr, the author states that the more he uses the Internet,

A)the more he feels drained of energy.
B)the more he eats.
C)the more he wants to live on his computer.
D)the more he has to fight to stay focused on a long piece of writing.

Question 13

According to the text, when people fail to understand a difficult problem, out of frustration they may

A)act impulsively without thought.
B)do whatever is most convenient.
C)search the Internet for advice.
D)turn to drinking for immediate gratification.

Question 14

When you list the benefits of solving a problem, you are "going on the record," either by preparing a signed declaration or by signing a "contract" with someone else.

Question 15

The quality of your life can be traced in large measure to your competency as a problem solver.

Question 16

The famous newspaperman H.L.Mencken once said, "To every complex question there is a simple answer-and it's wrong!" What was Mr.Mencken referring to?

A)People usually do a poor job of decision-making.
B)Complex questions require complex answers.
C)People seldom take the time to identify the problem.
D)Most people are not critical thinkers.

Question 17

Whenever I have something important to do, especially if it is difficult or unpleasant, I tend to put it off.Though this chronic delaying bothers me, I work on more trivial things.What is my problem?

A)procrastination
B)too much stress
C)fear of failure
D)lack of motivation

Question 18

The author tells us that brainstorming builds on the strengths of working with other people to

A)have a conversation.
B)create a community.
C)generate ideas and solve problems.
D)discourage ideas that have little significance.

Question 19

When deciding what you know about a problem situation, you can identify and organize what you know with some key questions.Which of the following is not a key question?

A)Who are the people involved in the situation?
B)Who can help me solve this problem?
C)What if I choose this alternative?
D)When did the problem begin?

Question 20

One of the greatest barriers to problem solving is accurately defining the problem.To help get a grip on the situation, the author suggests three strategies that the critical thinker would use to identify the problem.What is one of those strategies?

A)View the problem from different perspectives.
B)Find an expert in the problem in order to ask their input.
C)Do more research to determine the accuracy of your information.
D)Have others who are involved help determine the breadth of the problem.

Question 21

Google has declared that its mission is to "organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful."

Question 22

The decisions we make usually depend on what we believe to be most important to us.These beliefs regarding what is most important to us are known as .

Question 23

Any analysis of a problem situation, no matter how and , is ultimately limited.

Question 24

We know that procrastination is usually a habitual compulsion to put off until another time those tasks that are, for some reason, uncomfortable to do.What do you think is the cause of procrastination? How would you advise someone to overcome the effects of procrastination?

Question 25

To solve a problem, you must first be willing to the problem by that the problem exists.

Question 26

There are basically five steps in the problem solving process.a.What is the problem?
b.What are the alternatives?
c.What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of each alternative?
d.What is the solution?
e.?

Question 27

Why is it important in problem solving to compare results with goals? Why don't people take this action more often?

Question 28

The author tells us that, "to solve a problem, you must first be willing to accept the problem by acknowledging that it exists, identifying it, and committing yourself to solving it." Why do you think people have to begin the problem-solving process by acknowledging that a problem exists? Why is this an important first step?

Question 29

Once you have accepted the problem, the first step in solving the problem begins with determining the importance of the problem.If a situation is of little importance, you can table the problem until such time as you can go back and solve it.

Question 30

Describe a time when you or someone you know created something that illustrated the saying
"Necessity is the mother of invention."

Question 31

The fact that some people are consistently superior problem solvers is largely due to their ability to approach problems in an informed and way.

Question 32

To solve a problem, you must first be willing to accept the problem by acknowledging the problem exists, identifying the problem, and finding others who will share responsibility for solving the problem.

Question 33

Solving problems, like critical thinking, reflects a total approach to making sense of the experience.
When we think like problem-solvers, we find ways to project the problem onto others for their input into the process.

Question 34

The author of the textbook tells us that people who are faced with solving complex problems will often act impulsively, do what someone else suggests, and/or do nothing in hopes that the problem will simply go away.Naturally, none of these reactions is acceptable.However, why do you think people react to complex problems with such predictable behaviors?

Question 35

Solving problems, like thinking critically, reflects a total approach to making sense of experiences.
When we think like , we have the courage to meet difficult problems head-on and the determination to work through them.

Question 36

Throughout the problem-solving process, getting the opinions of others is a productive strategy at virtually every stage, and this is especially true for .

Question 37

In the section "Step 4: What Is the Solution?", the point is made that although each alternative may have certain advantages and , not all advantages are equally desirable or potentially effective.

Question 38

Larger problems are often composed of component problems.To define the larger problem, it is often necessary to identify and describe the that comprise it.

Question 39

Your perspective on a problem is often tied into its location.Sometimes you need a fresh perspective;
getting away from the location of the problem situation lets you view it with more clarity.

Question 40

Critical thinking is not a to find the right answer.