Question 1

You would need to use college-level thinking to answer which question?
A) Which of the nations that make up the European Union has the largest population?
B) What are the primary functions of the European Union?
C) Who is the current president of the European Union?
D) Under what circumstances might it be wise for the European Union to expand?

Accepted Answer

Question D requires college-level thinking because it involves analyzing complex political, economic, and social factors to evaluate the circumstances under which EU expansion might be beneficial or detrimental. This requires a deep understanding of the EU's goals, challenges, and the implications of expansion, which goes beyond simple factual knowledge or current events.

Question 2

Fast thinking is
A) logical.
B) subconscious.
C) deep.
D) rational.

Accepted Answer

Fast thinking, often referred to as System 1 thinking, operates automatically and quickly with little or no effort and no sense of voluntary control. It is largely subconscious, contrasting with the slower, more deliberate, and more logical System 2 thinking.

Question 3

Decisions made through fast thinking are MOST likely to
A) require more attention.
B) improve problem-solving skills.
C) conform to existing personal beliefs.
D) lead to creative solutions.

Accepted Answer

Fast thinking, often referred to as System 1 thinking in psychology, tends to be automatic and is influenced by existing biases and heuristics. Therefore, decisions made through fast thinking are more likely to conform to existing personal beliefs because they rely on immediate, intuitive reactions rather than critical analysis.

Question 4

Compared to fast thinking, slow thinking
A) requires more careful attention.
B) takes less time.
C) is more emotional.
D) requires less effort.

Accepted Answer

Slow thinking requires more careful attention and effort, as it involves deliberate, analytical, and methodical thinking processes, unlike fast thinking which is automatic, quick, and often emotional.

Question 5

Which is a characteristic of many slow thinkers?
A) They are easily convinced.
B) They examine problems.
C) They act on their emotions.
D) They make quick decisions.

Accepted Answer

Slow thinkers tend to examine problems more thoroughly before making decisions, as opposed to making quick, impulsive choices.

Question 6

When faced with a problem, a slow thinker is MOST likely to
A) go along with a fast thinker's judgment.
B) accept the existing situation.
C) develop a creative solution.
D) offer a solution based on traditional beliefs.

Accepted Answer

Slow thinkers tend to deliberate more on problems, which can lead to more creative solutions as they take the time to consider various angles and possibilities.

Question 7

People who have good thinking skills tend to
A) be successful in their careers.
B) rely on others to think for them.
C) make decisions based on misleading information.
D) believe something is true because they want it to be true.

Accepted Answer

People with good thinking skills are often successful in their careers because they can analyze situations, make informed decisions, and solve problems effectively.

Question 8

When she was younger, Emily was primarily a fast thinker. She went along with the crowd, made decisions based on what she thought was popular, and avoided challenging her own beliefs. Now that she is in college, Emily is making an effort to develop stronger critical-thinking skills. The more time Emily spends thinking critically, the more likely she is to
A) accept an idea at face value.
B) make voting decisions based on campaign slogans.
C) purchase a product based on a cool commercial.
D) come up with fresh solutions to problems.

Accepted Answer

Critical thinking involves analyzing and evaluating an issue or situation with depth and open-mindedness. As Emily develops her critical-thinking skills, she's more likely to assess situations thoroughly and creatively, leading to innovative or fresh solutions to problems, rather than making decisions based on superficial criteria or external influences.

Question 9

Making decisions and solving problems involves
A) consulting one information source.
B) asking questions.
C) thinking quickly.
D) acting on emotions.

Accepted Answer

Making decisions and solving problems effectively often involves asking questions to gather relevant information and understand the situation better. Consulting only one information source, thinking quickly, and acting on emotions may not always lead to the best outcomes.

Question 10

When you come across a statement that you consider confusing, what should you ask yourself first?
A) Do I agree with the statement?
B) Can I trust the person making the statement?
C) What does the statement mean?
D) Who might agree or disagree with the statement, and why?

Accepted Answer

Understanding the meaning of a statement is fundamental before forming an opinion about it, assessing its trustworthiness, or considering who might agree or disagree with it.

Question 11

When considering the effects of accepting a new idea as truth, which question is it MOST important to ask?
A) Who might agree or disagree with this statement?
B) Will I have to change what I have believed for a long time?
C) Do I fully understand what is being said?
D) What does this idea mean?

Accepted Answer

The answer of When considering the effects of accepting a...

Question 12

Considering multiple points of view means
A) identifying similar opinions and theories.
B) gathering information from one source.
C) using fast thinking.
D) synthesizing material.

Accepted Answer

Synthesizing material involves integrating different perspectives and information to form a comprehensive understanding, which aligns with considering multiple points of view.

Question 13

The process you go through to collect and analyze information that offers multiple points of view on a topic is known as
A) appealing to false authority.
B) synthesizing.
C) jumping on a bandwagon.
D) selling.

Accepted Answer

Synthesizing involves collecting and analyzing information from multiple sources or viewpoints to understand a topic more comprehensively. It's a critical thinking and research skill.

Question 14

To make an effective argument, you must
A) provide evidence to support your claim.
B) focus on appealing to the audience's emotions.
C) intimidate the audience by speaking loudly.
D) base your position on an appeal to traditional values.

Accepted Answer

Providing evidence to support your claim is essential for making an effective argument, as it lends credibility and substantiates your position.

Question 15

Before accepting any opinion on any issue as "the truth," you should look for evidence that
A) is attributed to a false authority.
B) is based on fast thinking.
C) contains one or more logical fallacies.
D) supports different positions on the issue.

Accepted Answer

You should look for evidence that supports different positions on the issue to ensure a comprehensive understanding and avoid bias.

Question 16

While attending a convention, Noah spoke with Amy, a sales representative from an alternative energy company, who insisted that fuel cell technology is the solution to the world's energy problems. At home, Noah read through the literature she gave him and acknowledged that the material was interesting. However, he still wasn't certain that she was right about fuel cells. What should Noah do to decide whether he agrees with Amy's argument?
A) go with his gut feeling
B) accept that Amy knows more about the topic than he does
C) keep looking for more evidence
D) dismiss Amy's argument because she is trying to sell something

Accepted Answer

To make an informed decision, Noah should seek out additional information and evidence on the topic of fuel cells and their potential as a solution to the world's energy problems, rather than relying solely on the material provided by a sales representative.

Question 17

It is considered a logical fallacy to attack a person's
A) argument.
B) evidence.
C) position.
D) character.

Accepted Answer

Attacking a person's character instead of addressing the argument they are making is known as an ad hominem fallacy. This type of fallacy diverts attention from the argument's merits to the individual's character.

Question 18

At the start of Lilly's Friday afternoon biology class, the instructor, Dr. Forrester, asked everyone to pass their lab reports to the front of the room. She suddenly realized that she had forgotten all about the assignment. After class, she approached Dr. Forrester and asked if she could hand her lab report in on Monday instead. He explained that he was obligated to hold her to the same deadline as everyone else unless there was a valid reason to make an exception. Lilly said, "Please, you have to let me finish it this weekend and hand it in on Monday! If you don't, I may not pass the course, and if that happens, I'll lose my financial aid and have to drop out of college!" Which type of flawed logic did Lilly use?
A) begging
B) falling victim to a false cause
C) making a hasty generalization
D) jumping on a bandwagon

Accepted Answer

Lilly's argument is an example of begging because she is pleading for an exception to be made without providing a logical reason, instead relying on an emotional appeal related to the consequences of not submitting her lab report on time.

Question 19

Which type of logical fallacy involves an argument based on the opinion of someone who is not an expert on the topic?
A) assuming something is true because it hasn't been proven false
B) appealing to false authority
C) attacking the person
D) slippery slope

Accepted Answer

B) Appealing to false authority is a logical fallacy that occurs when someone uses the opinion of someone who is not an expert in the field as evidence for their argument. This fallacy assumes that the opinion of a non-expert is valid for making a claim about a specific topic, which is not logically sound.

Question 20

"Everybody is doing it, so you should too!" is an example of which logical fallacy?
A) falling victim to false cause
B) slippery slope
C) jumping on a bandwagon
D) begging

Accepted Answer

This statement is an example of the "jumping on a bandwagon" fallacy, which suggests that one should do something simply because everyone else is doing it, not because of any logical reasoning or evidence supporting the action.

Quiz 10: Thinking in College

You would need to use college-level thinking to answer which question?

Fast thinking is

Decisions made through fast thinking are MOST likely to

Compared to fast thinking, slow thinking

Which is a characteristic of many slow thinkers?

When faced with a problem, a slow thinker is MOST likely to

People who have good thinking skills tend to

Making decisions and solving problems involves

When you come across a statement that you consider confusing, what should you ask yourself first?

When considering the effects of accepting a new idea as truth, which question is it MOST important to ask?

Considering multiple points of view means

The process you go through to collect and analyze information that offers multiple points of view on a topic is known as

To make an effective argument, you must

Before accepting any opinion on any issue as "the truth," you should look for evidence that

It is considered a logical fallacy to attack a person's

Which type of logical fallacy involves an argument based on the opinion of someone who is not an expert on the topic?

"Everybody is doing it, so you should too!" is an example of which logical fallacy?