CCTST Explanation Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A researcher concludes that a new drug reduces anxiety. To justify this conclusion, which element of an explanation is most critical to present?
- The cost of the drug compared to alternatives
- The mechanism by which the drug affects neurotransmitters (Correct answer)
- The number of researchers involved in the study
- The country where the drug was developed
Correct answer: The mechanism by which the drug affects neurotransmitters
A sound explanation requires identifying the mechanism or causal pathway that connects the drug to the observed reduction in anxiety.
Question 2: Which of the following best exemplifies 'justifying a procedure' as an explanation skill on the CCTST?
- Listing the steps taken without explaining why each was chosen
- Describing only the final outcome of a process
- Providing reasons why a specific method was the most appropriate choice (Correct answer)
- Repeating the original question in different words
Correct answer: Providing reasons why a specific method was the most appropriate choice
Justifying a procedure means providing reasons that demonstrate why the chosen method was appropriate, not just describing what was done.
Question 3: A student argues: 'We should switch to renewable energy because the sun always rises.' What is the primary explanatory flaw in this argument?
- The conclusion is too broad
- The premise does not logically connect to or support the conclusion (Correct answer)
- The argument uses too few words
- The argument references the sun, which is irrelevant
Correct answer: The premise does not logically connect to or support the conclusion
The flaw is a lack of logical connection — the sun rising is a true fact but does not explain why switching to renewable energy is warranted.
Question 4: When presenting the results of an experiment, a scientist says: 'The plants grew faster, probably because of the fertilizer, though soil temperature also varied.' This statement best illustrates:
- Overconfidence in the conclusion
- Acknowledgment of alternative explanatory factors (Correct answer)
- Failure to present any explanation
- An irrelevant digression from the main finding
Correct answer: Acknowledgment of alternative explanatory factors
Acknowledging that soil temperature also varied shows awareness of alternative explanations, which is a key component of good explanation skills.
Question 5: Which of the following is the clearest example of 'stating results' as part of the explanation process?
- Speculating about what might happen in future experiments
- Presenting the data or findings obtained from an inquiry without added inference (Correct answer)
- Evaluating whether the hypothesis was worth testing
- Proposing a new hypothesis based on intuition
Correct answer: Presenting the data or findings obtained from an inquiry without added inference
Stating results means reporting what was actually found or observed, distinct from interpretation or prediction.
Question 6: A city planner explains a decision to build a new highway by citing traffic data, cost-benefit analyses, and environmental impact reports. This explanation is strong primarily because:
- It uses technical language that sounds authoritative
- It is supported by multiple independent lines of evidence (Correct answer)
- It was made by an official with authority
- It avoids mentioning potential downsides
Correct answer: It is supported by multiple independent lines of evidence
Using multiple independent lines of evidence strengthens an explanation by reducing the chance that any single flawed data source drives the conclusion.
Question 7: In critical thinking, 'defending a position' differs from 'explaining a conclusion' primarily because defending a position:
- Requires more words and detail
- Focuses on anticipating and responding to counterarguments (Correct answer)
- Avoids the use of evidence
- Is only appropriate in formal debates
Correct answer: Focuses on anticipating and responding to counterarguments
Defending a position specifically involves addressing objections and counterarguments, whereas explaining a conclusion focuses on presenting reasoning and evidence.
CCTST Explanation Skills 2
A researcher concludes that a new drug reduces anxiety.
To justify this conclusion, which element of an explanation is most critical to present?