Mixed Deck — All AQL Topics Flashcards

What is the absolute value of -15?

Answer: 15

Absolute value measures a number's distance from zero on the number line, so |-15| = 15.

What does it mean to 'evaluate the credibility' of a source?

Answer: Assess the expertise, objectivity, and evidence quality of the source

Evaluating credibility involves examining the author's qualifications, the objectivity of the content, and the strength of the evidence provided.

What is deductive reasoning?

Answer: Starting with a general principle and applying it to reach a specific conclusion

Deductive reasoning begins with a general premise and applies it to a specific case to reach a logically certain conclusion.

The extent to which it is possible to make an inference that the independent variable is truly influencing the dependent variable and relationship is not spurious, refers to:

Answer: Internal Validity

Internal validity refers to the extent to which a study can confidently attribute the observed effects to the independent variable, rather than to confounding factors or chance. It ensures that the relationship between the independent and dependent variables is not due to any other extraneous variables. In other words, internal validity ensures that the observed effects are genuine and not a result of random or spurious relationships.

X and Y can do a piece of work in 20 days and 12 days respectively. X started the work alone and then after 4 days, Y joined him till the completion of the work. How long did the work last?

Answer: 10 days

X can do 1/20th of the work in one day, and Y can do 1/12th of the work in one day. After 4 days, X has completed 4/20th or 1/5th of the work. So, the remaining work is 4/5th. When X and Y work together, their combined rate is 1/20 + 1/12 = 8/60 = 2/15th of the work per day. To complete the remaining 4/5th of the work, it will take 4/5 ÷ (2/15) = 6 days. Therefore, the total duration of work is 4 days + 6 days = 10 days.

What is a 'counterargument' in academic writing?

Answer: An opposing viewpoint that challenges the main argument

A counterargument is an opposing viewpoint that challenges the writer's main claim; addressing it strengthens the overall argument.

What is a 'random sample' and why is it important?

Answer: Every member of the population has an equal chance of selection, which reduces bias and improves generalizability

Random sampling ensures every individual has an equal chance of being included, which minimizes selection bias and allows results to be generalized to the broader population.

What is plagiarism in academic contexts?

Answer: Presenting another person's words, ideas, or work as your own without proper attribution

Plagiarism is the unethical act of using someone else's intellectual property—words, ideas, or data—without giving proper credit to the original source.

What is a 'DOI' and why is it important for academic sources?

Answer: A Digital Object Identifier that provides a permanent link to an article online

A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a unique alphanumeric string assigned to a document that provides a permanent, stable URL for accessing it online.

Find a positive number which when increased by 17 is equal to 60 times the reciprocal of the number.

Answer: 3

The correct answer is 3. To find the number, let's assume it as x. According to the given information, when the number is increased by 17, it becomes equal to 60 times the reciprocal of the number. Mathematically, this can be represented as x + 17 = 60 * (1/x). Simplifying this equation, we get x^2 + 17x - 60 = 0. Factoring this quadratic equation, we get (x + 20)(x - 3) = 0. Therefore, the possible values for x are -20 and 3. Since we are looking for a positive number, the correct answer is 3.

Which measure of central tendency is most affected by extreme values (outliers)?

Answer: Mean

The mean is calculated using all data values, so a single extreme outlier can pull it significantly up or down, making it sensitive to outliers.

Which of the following best describes a 'supporting detail' in an academic passage?

Answer: Specific evidence or examples that back up the main idea

Supporting details are the specific facts, examples, or reasons the author provides to develop and back up the main idea.

What is an 'annotated bibliography'?

Answer: A list of sources where each citation is followed by a brief summary and evaluation of the source

An annotated bibliography includes each citation followed by a short paragraph (annotation) that describes and evaluates the source's content, credibility, and relevance.

A bar graph shows that City A has 40,000 residents and City B has 25,000 residents. How many more residents does City A have than City B?

Answer: 15,000

40,000 − 25,000 = 15,000 more residents in City A than City B.

Which critical thinking skill involves breaking an argument into its component parts to understand how it works?

Answer: Analysis

Analysis is the critical thinking skill of breaking down a complex argument or concept into its parts to examine how they function and relate to each other.

Which of the following is the best example of a strong, specific thesis statement?

Answer: Remote work increases employee productivity by reducing commute stress and enabling flexible scheduling.

A strong thesis statement is specific, arguable, and previews the main supporting points, as in the first option.

The 'slippery slope' fallacy claims that:

Answer: One event will inevitably lead to a chain of negative consequences without sufficient evidence

The slippery slope fallacy assumes that a small first step will inevitably lead to extreme consequences, without adequate justification for that chain of events.

What is 'unity' in a paragraph?

Answer: Every sentence in the paragraph relates directly to and supports the topic sentence

A unified paragraph stays focused on a single idea stated in the topic sentence—every sentence must relate back to that central point.

If f(x) = 2x² - 3x + 1, what is f(2)?

Answer: 3

Substituting x = 2: f(2) = 2(4) - 3(2) + 1 = 8 - 6 + 1 = 3.

One pipe can fill a tank three times as fast as another pipe. If together the two pipes can fill the tank in 36 minutes, then the slower pipe alone will be able to fill the tank in:

Answer: 144 min

The faster pipe fills the tank three times faster than the slower pipe. So, if the slower pipe takes x minutes to fill the tank, the faster pipe will take x/3 minutes. Together, they can fill the tank in 36 minutes. Therefore, the equation becomes x + x/3 = 36. Solving this equation, we find that x = 27. Hence, the slower pipe alone will be able to fill the tank in 27 minutes, which is equal to 144 minutes.