Question 1

You are studying for your exam when the electricity goes out.In order to have enough light to read your textbook,you put your cell phone in front of the page and use the light from the screen to read the book.You are able to successfully study for your exam because you avoid

Accepted Answer

By using their cell phone screen in a new way, the person is able to overcome functional fixedness, which is the tendency to only see objects in their intended use and not think outside the box for other potential uses. Restructuring the problem, working backward, and using analogies are not particularly relevant to this scenario.

Question 2

Steve is trying to determine whether it will rain this Saturday.He quickly remembers that it has rained the past three Saturdays.If he uses this information to make his decision,he will be using

Accepted Answer

Steve is using the availability heuristic, which is a mental shortcut where people rely on immediate examples that come to mind when making a decision, rather than considering all possible alternatives. In this case, Steve is relying on the easily accessible information of the past three Saturdays to make his decision about rain on the upcoming Saturday.

Question 3

Marco wants to get an A on his exam.To do this,he divides up the material into small sections and focuses on learning a different section every day until he knows all of the material for the exam.Marco is ________ to achieve his goal of getting an A on his exam.

Accepted Answer

Marco's approach of dividing the material into small sections and focusing on learning a different section every day is an example of using subgoals to achieve his overall goal of getting an A on the exam.

Question 4

You get to your car and realize you have lost your keys.So you think of the last time you saw your keys and retrace your steps from that point.You are using the problem-solving technique of ________ to help find your keys.

Accepted Answer

The problem-solving technique being used in this scenario is working backward, as the individual is retracing their steps from the last time they saw their keys to try and find them. Subgoals involve breaking down a larger problem into smaller, more manageable steps. Analogy involves using a comparison to another situation to help solve a problem. Sudden insight involves a sudden understanding or solution to a problem without necessarily going through a step-by-step process.

Question 5

Josie has decided that she wants to become a doctor,but she feels overwhelmed when she thinks about how many years of school it will take to become a doctor.She could manage this feeling by breaking the process into smaller pieces.If she did this,she would be using

Accepted Answer

Subgoals involve breaking a larger goal into smaller, more manageable pieces. Therefore, if Josie were to break the process of becoming a doctor into smaller steps, she would be using subgoals.

Question 6

When we encounter a difficult problem,thinking about the problem in a new way can help solve it.This technique is known as

Accepted Answer

Restructuring is the technique of problem-solving in which an individual changes the way they think about the problem. This allows for new perspectives and potential solutions to arise. Option A, using a mental set, refers to a rigid way of thinking, which can hinder problem-solving. Option B, functional fixedness, refers to the tendency to see objects only in their traditional or typical use, which can also hinder problem-solving. Option D, using an analogy, can be helpful in problem-solving but is not the specific technique described in the question.

Question 7

Josh is having trouble deciding which of two pairs of shoes to buy.Donna tells him that when she could not decide which of two sweaters to buy,she decided to buy both sweaters.Josh realizes that buying both pairs of shoes will solve his problem as well.Josh ________ to solve his problem.

Accepted Answer

Josh used an analogy by recalling how Donna solved her dilemma with two items and applying it to his own situation with two pairs of shoes.

Question 8

Annie needs to take her cat to the vet but she does not have a carrier.She remembers that once she took her guinea pig to the vet in a pot.But she knows the cat will not fit in a pot,so she cannot use this strategy.Annie is having a hard time solving the problem because of

Accepted Answer

Annie's difficulty in solving the problem is due to a mental set, or a preconceived notion that a pot could serve as a carrier for any small animal. This limits her problem-solving ability and her ability to think creatively about finding a solution.

Question 9

Terry is making a multilayer wedding cake.While trying to make sure it does not collapse,he remembers a bridge he saw that had an interesting support system.He applies that support system to the cake structure to make sure it does not collapse.Terry ________ to solve his problem.

Accepted Answer

Terry used an analogy by comparing the support system of a bridge to the support system needed for his cake. He took inspiration from the bridge and applied it to his cake to solve his problem.

Question 10

When solving a problem using insight,the solution is reached

Accepted Answer

Insight involves sudden realization, where the solution pops into one's head without the conscious and deliberate application of problem-solving strategies or working through the problem methodically. It is a moment of intuitive understanding that is often described as an "aha!" moment.

Question 11

Using an analogy to help solve a problem is most likely to occur when the problem

Accepted Answer

Using an analogy involves comparing one problem to another similar problem in order to find a solution. Therefore, the best choice for when this technique is most likely to occur is when the problem is similar to another problem.

Question 12

When you meet Joe,he tells you that he loves math and building computers and robots.You decide that Joe must be an engineering student and not a liberal arts student,even though there are more liberal arts students at your school.In making this decision,you have just used

Accepted Answer

This decision is based on the representativeness heuristic, which is the tendency to make judgments based on a prototype or stereotype of a particular group or category. In this case, you have a stereotype of what an engineering student is like (i.e. someone who loves math and building computers and robots), and so you assume that Joe must be an engineering student rather than a liberal arts student.

Question 13

Fred wants to be a lawyer.To achieve this goal,Fred realizes he will have to graduate from law school.He also knows that to go to law school,he will have to graduate from college.So,he decides that his first step toward his goal of being a lawyer is to apply to college.To solve his problem Fred is using

Accepted Answer

Fred is using subgoals by breaking down his ultimate goal of becoming a lawyer into smaller, manageable steps, starting with applying to college.

Question 14

While moving into a new apartment,Cole needed to hold the door open but he did not have a doorstop.Instead,he used his heavy potted plant to prop open the door.Cole solved this problem by

Accepted Answer

Cole overcame functional fixedness by using the potted plant in a way that is different from its typical function, demonstrating creativity in problem-solving.

Question 15

After struggling to solve a physics problem,you take a break for lunch.When you go back to work on the problem,the solution suddenly pops into your head.In this case you used ________ to solve the problem.

Accepted Answer

The sudden appearance of the solution indicates that insight was used to solve the problem. An analogy involves comparing two things that are similar but not necessarily related to the problem at hand. Restructuring involves looking at the problem from a different perspective, but it does not necessarily lead to a sudden solution. A mental set is a fixed way of approaching a problem that can actually hinder problem-solving abilities.

Question 16

When a friend asks for a restaurant recommendation,you quickly remember the place where you ate last night and suggest that restaurant to her.You most likely thought of that restaurant due to

Accepted Answer

The availability heuristic refers to our tendency to rely on information that is easily accessible or readily available in our memory. In this case, the restaurant you went to last night was easily accessible in your memory and therefore came to mind as a recommendation for your friend.

Question 17

Karl is posting signs on campus and he ran out of tape to put up the last sign.He could not figure out another way to put up the sign even though he was chewing gum and could have used the gum to put up the sign.Karl most likely does not come up with this solution because of

Accepted Answer

Functional fixedness is the tendency to perceive objects or ideas as only serving their traditional or obvious functions, which can prevent creative problem-solving. In this scenario, Karl only sees the gum as something to chew and does not consider using it as a substitute for tape.

Question 18

Cara is a mechanic.She fixes three cars that will not start by replacing their batteries.When a fourth car is brought in and will not start,she assumes the problem is the battery.Cara's assumption is based on

Accepted Answer

Cara's assumption is based on a mental set, or a tendency to approach a problem in a certain way based on past experience or knowledge. In this case, her past experience with cars that wouldn't start led her to assume that the problem with the fourth car was also the battery, even though it may have been caused by a different issue. This is a common cognitive bias that can hinder problem-solving and decision-making.

Question 19

Sam always buys one specific brand of cell phones because she believes that brand is the most reliable.Sam is using ________ to decide what cell phone to buy,which may help her save time picking out her next cell phone.

Accepted Answer

Sam is using a heuristic, which is a mental shortcut or rule of thumb that allows individuals to make quick decisions based on limited information. In this case, she is using her belief that a specific brand is the most reliable to quickly decide which phone to buy, without considering other options. This may save her time in the short run, but it may also lead to missed opportunities or a lack of consideration for other reliable brands.

Question 20

To buy cheese,Kumiko goes to a large store with a big selection of cheeses.Nima goes to a much smaller store with only a few choices of cheeses.Who is more likely to buy cheese,and why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of To buy cheese,Kumiko goes to a large...

Quiz 8: Thinking and Intelligence