Question 1

When presented with a claim, Earl tends to ask a lot of probing questions about the basis for the claim. One could say that Earl displays __________.

Accepted Answer

Earl's behavior of asking probing questions about the basis for a claim shows that he has a healthy sense of skepticism, which is a valuable trait when evaluating information and making informed decisions. He is not necessarily displaying unwarranted expertise, mistrust of authority, or a conflict of interests.

Question 2

Glenn goes on a job interview and is asked "How are your critical thinking and communication skills?" Glenn answers "Excellent." Should the interviewer trust Glenn's answer?

Accepted Answer

Glenn's self-assessment of his critical thinking and communication skills cannot be trusted as he is not an expert on their evaluation. It is important for interviewers to use objective measures and assessments to evaluate an applicant's skills rather than relying solely on their self-assessment.

Question 3

When evaluating the plausibility of claims, a strong critical thinker approaches the challenge __________.

Accepted Answer

Approaching the challenge open-mindedly allows for the consideration of multiple perspectives and evidence to reach a well-reasoned conclusion. Authoritatively and half-heartedly suggest a lack of thorough evaluation, while cynically implies a negative bias towards the claim.

Question 4

When we describe a claim as "self-contradictory" we mean that because of its grammatical construction and the meanings of the words used to express the claim, the claim should be regarded as __________.

Accepted Answer

A self-contradictory claim cannot be true by definition, as it contradicts itself. Therefore, it must be necessarily false.

Question 5

When we describe a claim as "tautology" we mean that because of its grammatical construction and the meanings of the words used to express the claim, the claim should be regarded as __________.

Accepted Answer

A tautology is a statement that is true by definition and is always true, regardless of the situation or context in which it is considered. Therefore, it should be regarded as necessarily true.

Question 6

Charles is a mentally stable individual who has many years of professional experience as a licensed nurse. He reads medical journals and keeps up with the latest healthcare practice recommendations. Charles can always back up the health advice he gives with good reasons and evidence. Knowing this much about Charles, we can regard him as potentially a (an) __________.

Accepted Answer

Charles is described as a mentally stable individual with many years of professional experience as a licensed nurse, who reads medical journals and keeps up with the latest healthcare practice recommendations. This description indicates that Charles is an expert nurse, with the qualifications and knowledge necessary to give trustworthy health advice.

Question 7

Which of the following is not necessarily a characteristic of a trustworthy expert on topic X?

Accepted Answer

Majored in X does not necessarily make someone a trustworthy expert on the topic, as expertise often requires continuous learning, experience, and staying up-to-date beyond formal education.

Question 8

Which of the following is not necessarily a characteristic of a trustworthy expert on topic X?

Accepted Answer

A spokesperson for moneyed interests may be biased and prioritize financial gain over providing objective and truthful information, thus making them potentially untrustworthy as an expert. The other characteristics listed, such as acting in accord with the client's interests, being informed about specifics of the case, and being mentally stable, are all important traits of a trustworthy expert. Being unconstrained can also be a positive trait, as it allows the expert to provide unbiased opinions and insights.

Question 9

The TV commercial claimed that the Dodge brothers over a century ago believed that driving was a holy endeavor. The Dodge brothers started an automobile manufacturing company that eventually merged with others to become part of what we know today as General Motors. The claim the TV commercial makes about the brothers' belief that driving is a holy endeavor should be regarded as __________.

Accepted Answer

The claim that driving is a holy endeavor is likely a metaphorical or figurative statement that is intended to create an emotional connection between the viewer and the Dodge brand. It is not a factual claim that can be verified or proven true or false. Therefore, option D, which implies that the statement is a form of figurative marketing, is the most appropriate.

Question 10

Todd, who graduated with a degree in History, has prolonged, relevant experience and significant on- the-job training as a real estate agent. You want to buy a condo and so you consider asking Todd to be your agent. This will be the first time you ever bought real estate. Todd agrees to represent you and then shows you three condos in your price range. Although he does not tell you this, Todd owns two of the three himself. In this situation is Todd an expert whom you would be wise to trust to give you advice and information about buying a condo?

Accepted Answer

Todd's ownership of two of the condos creates a conflict of interest, as he may be biased towards selling those condos to you. Therefore, you cannot fully trust his advice and information, as they may be influenced by his own financial interests.

Question 11

Which of the following is not necessarily a characteristic of a trustworthy expert on topic X?

Accepted Answer

Age is not necessarily a factor in determining someone's expertise on a topic. It is possible for a trustworthy expert to be young or old. The other characteristics listed, such as the ability to explain claims, being unbiased, truthful, and free of conflicts of interest, are all important qualities that a trustworthy expert should have.

Question 12

In the weeks leading up to an election the media are filled with campaign ads, some of which are emotionally charged and some of which make highly negative claims about candidates for office or propositions on the ballot. A strong critical thinker would be wise to treat all campaign ads as __________.

Accepted Answer

Campaign ads, especially those that are emotionally charged or highly negative, should be approached with skepticism and a critical mindset. A strong critical thinker would recognize the importance of fact-checking these ads rather than accepting them at face value, acknowledging them as influential manifestations of free speech that require scrutiny.

Question 13

Based on the "Levels of Thinking and Knowing," which of these people is most likely to be trusting of people in positions of authority?

Accepted Answer

Sue, age 6, is most likely to be trusting of people in positions of authority due to her young age and developmental stage. Children at this age tend to view the world in more black and white terms and are more likely to trust adults and authority figures without the skepticism that can develop with age and experience.

Question 14

How do most experts become learned and experienced with regard to a given topic?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How do most experts become learned and...

Question 15

Why do we say "trusted expert" instead of "trusted authority"?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why do we say "trusted expert" instead...

Question 16

An alternative to trying to confirm that the claim is true, a strong critical thinker may set about trying to.__________.

Accepted Answer

In order to test the validity of a claim, it is important to try to disconfirm it through critical analysis and evaluation of evidence. This approach helps to avoid confirmation bias and supports the development of more accurate beliefs and perspectives.

Question 17

Our healthy sense of skepticism tells us that if we can neither confirm nor disconfirm a claim through independent investigation, then we would be wise to __________.

Accepted Answer

If we cannot confirm or disconfirm a claim through independent investigation, it means that we lack objective evidence to support the claim. Therefore, it would be unwise to confirm or have faith in it. Similarly, it would also be unwise to disconfirm or reject it without clear evidence. Ignoring the claim can also be unwise as it may lead to missed opportunities or potential harm. The best option in this case is to suspend judgment until sufficient evidence is available to either confirm or disconfirm the claim.

Question 18

A claim that is consistent with the facts as we know them should be regarded as __________.

Accepted Answer

A claim that is consistent with the facts as we know them is likely to be true, but it is not necessarily true because our knowledge of the facts is always subject to revision or correction. Therefore, the most appropriate choice is C, which acknowledges the probability of truth but also admits the possibility of error. Neither A nor B is justified by the evidence, because absolute certainty is rarely attainable in matters of empirical inquiry. Choice D is also unsatisfactory, because a claim that is consistent with the facts as we know them cannot be said to be probably false, since it would contradict the evidence.

Question 19

Sheila has an exam tomorrow, but wants to go out with her friends. Her roommate tells her that she probably should plan on getting back before midnight, but the roommate does not give any reasons to support her statement. Should Sheila regard the roommate's advice as trustworthy?

Accepted Answer

The roommate's advice is likely based on concern for Sheila's well-being and preparation for her exam, indicating she has Sheila's best interests in mind.

Question 20

Waldo insists that immunization vaccines cause autism, even though he knows that there is no credible scientific evidence to support that claim. This is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

Waldo's insistence on a link between immunization vaccines and autism despite the lack of scientific evidence suggests that he is stubbornly refusing to abandon a discredited position.

Quiz 6: Evaluate the Credibility of Claims and Sources

When presented with a claim, Earl tends to ask a lot of probing questions about the basis for the claim. One could say that Earl displays __________.

Glenn goes on a job interview and is asked "How are your critical thinking and communication skills?" Glenn answers "Excellent." Should the interviewer trust Glenn's answer?

When evaluating the plausibility of claims, a strong critical thinker approaches the challenge __________.

When we describe a claim as "self-contradictory" we mean that because of its grammatical construction and the meanings of the words used to express the claim, the claim should be regarded as __________.

When we describe a claim as "tautology" we mean that because of its grammatical construction and the meanings of the words used to express the claim, the claim should be regarded as __________.

Which of the following is not necessarily a characteristic of a trustworthy expert on topic X?

Which of the following is not necessarily a characteristic of a trustworthy expert on topic X?

Which of the following is not necessarily a characteristic of a trustworthy expert on topic X?

Based on the "Levels of Thinking and Knowing," which of these people is most likely to be trusting of people in positions of authority?

How do most experts become learned and experienced with regard to a given topic?

Why do we say "trusted expert" instead of "trusted authority"?

An alternative to trying to confirm that the claim is true, a strong critical thinker may set about trying to.__________.

Our healthy sense of skepticism tells us that if we can neither confirm nor disconfirm a claim through independent investigation, then we would be wise to __________.

A claim that is consistent with the facts as we know them should be regarded as __________.

Sheila has an exam tomorrow, but wants to go out with her friends. Her roommate tells her that she probably should plan on getting back before midnight, but the roommate does not give any reasons to support her statement. Should Sheila regard the roommate's advice as trustworthy?

Waldo insists that immunization vaccines cause autism, even though he knows that there is no credible scientific evidence to support that claim. This is an example of __________.