GAT Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Flashcards
6 cards from real GAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 GAT Critical Thinking and Problem Solving flashcards as text
Which strategy is most effective when you encounter an unfamiliar word in a GAT reading passage?
Answer: Use surrounding context clues to infer meaning
Context clues — surrounding sentences and paragraph topic — are the most reliable in-test resource for inferring unfamiliar vocabulary.
A 'false dichotomy' fallacy presents an argument as if there are only two options when:
Answer: Other alternatives exist but are ignored
A false dichotomy artificially limits choices to two, ignoring additional valid alternatives that could resolve the issue.
Which of the following is the BEST example of inductive reasoning?
Answer: Every swan observed so far has been white; therefore all swans are probably white.
Inductive reasoning generalizes from specific observations to a probable conclusion, as in the classic swan example.
When prioritizing tasks in a problem-solving scenario on the GAT, which criterion should take precedence?
Answer: Urgency and importance
Effective prioritization ranks tasks by both urgency (time-sensitive) and importance (impact), as illustrated by frameworks like the Eisenhower Matrix.
Which term refers to evaluating the reliability and validity of information sources before using them in an argument?
Answer: Source criticism
Source criticism is the systematic process of assessing a source's credibility, accuracy, and relevance before relying on it.
A GAT test-taker is asked to 'evaluate' a scientific claim. According to Bloom's Taxonomy, this requires:
Answer: Making a judgment based on criteria and evidence
Evaluation, the highest-order skill in Bloom's Taxonomy, requires making evidence-based judgments using defined standards or criteria.