Caliper Assessment Problem Solving and Cognition 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Find the missing number: 2, 5, 10, 17, 26, ___
- 35
- 37 (Correct answer)
- 36
- 33
Correct answer: 37
The differences are 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 — odd numbers increasing by 2 — so 26 + 11 = 37.
Question 2: Which of these problems is best suited for a systematic elimination approach?
- Writing a creative short story
- Choosing which of 5 candidates meets all job criteria (Correct answer)
- Brainstorming new product names
- Building team morale
Correct answer: Choosing which of 5 candidates meets all job criteria
Elimination works best when there are defined criteria; ruling out candidates who fail criteria systematically narrows the field to the correct answer.
Question 3: A train travels 120 miles in 2 hours. At the same speed, how long will it take to travel 300 miles?
- 4 hours
- 5 hours (Correct answer)
- 4.5 hours
- 6 hours
Correct answer: 5 hours
Speed = 60 mph; 300 ÷ 60 = 5 hours.
Question 4: When evaluating the strength of an argument, which factor is MOST important?
- The confidence with which the argument is presented
- The credibility of the evidence supporting the claim (Correct answer)
- The length and detail of the argument
- Whether the conclusion feels intuitively right
Correct answer: The credibility of the evidence supporting the claim
The quality and credibility of supporting evidence determines an argument's strength, not its length or delivery.
Question 5: A box contains red, blue, and green balls in a 2:3:5 ratio. If there are 40 balls total, how many are green?
- 8
- 12
- 20 (Correct answer)
- 16
Correct answer: 20
Green represents 5 out of 10 ratio parts; 5/10 × 40 = 20 green balls.
Question 6: Which thinking approach is most appropriate when a well-defined correct answer is known to exist?
- Divergent thinking
- Lateral thinking
- Convergent thinking (Correct answer)
- Analogical thinking
Correct answer: Convergent thinking
Convergent thinking focuses and narrows options toward a single correct solution, ideal when one right answer exists.
Question 7: Tom is three times as old as his daughter. In 12 years, he will be twice her age. How old is Tom now?
- 36 (Correct answer)
- 24
- 30
- 48
Correct answer: 36
Let daughter = d; Tom = 3d; 3d+12 = 2(d+12) → d=12, Tom=36.
Caliper Assessment Problem Solving and Cognition 4
Find the missing number: 2, 5, 10, 17, 26, ___