General Critical Thinking and Problem Solving 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes a logical fallacy?
- A conclusion supported by strong evidence
- An error in reasoning that undermines an argument (Correct answer)
- A valid deductive argument form
- A statistical method for testing hypotheses
Correct answer: An error in reasoning that undermines an argument
A logical fallacy is a flaw in reasoning that makes an argument invalid or misleading, regardless of whether the conclusion happens to be true.
Question 2: When evaluating a source of information, which factor is MOST important for determining its credibility?
- The length and detail of the content
- The author's expertise and peer verification (Correct answer)
- The visual appeal of the presentation
- Whether the information confirms your existing beliefs
Correct answer: The author's expertise and peer verification
Credibility is best determined by the author's qualifications and whether the information has been verified by other experts in the field.
Question 3: What is the term for the tendency to search for information that confirms one's pre-existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence?
- Deductive reasoning
- Confirmation bias (Correct answer)
- Inductive reasoning
- Cognitive dissonance
Correct answer: Confirmation bias
Confirmation bias is the tendency to favor information that supports existing beliefs and to discount evidence that contradicts them.
Question 4: In a deductive argument, if the premises are true and the argument is valid, the conclusion MUST be:
- Probably true
- Possibly true
- Certainly true (Correct answer)
- Open to interpretation
Correct answer: Certainly true
In a valid deductive argument, if all premises are true, the conclusion is guaranteed to be true — this is what distinguishes deduction from induction.
Question 5: Which problem-solving step involves breaking a complex problem into smaller, more manageable parts?
- Evaluation
- Implementation
- Decomposition (Correct answer)
- Verification
Correct answer: Decomposition
Decomposition is the process of breaking a complex problem into smaller sub-problems that are easier to understand and solve individually.
Question 6: The 'ad hominem' logical fallacy involves:
- Attacking the person making an argument rather than the argument itself (Correct answer)
- Drawing a conclusion from too few examples
- Assuming that correlation implies causation
- Presenting a false choice between only two options
Correct answer: Attacking the person making an argument rather than the argument itself
Ad hominem (Latin for 'to the person') is a fallacy that attacks the character or circumstances of the person making an argument instead of addressing the argument's merits.
Question 7: What does it mean to identify an 'assumption' in an argument?
- To find a stated fact that supports the conclusion
- To locate an unstated premise the argument depends on (Correct answer)
- To restate the conclusion in different words
- To find a counterexample that disproves the conclusion
Correct answer: To locate an unstated premise the argument depends on
An assumption is an unstated belief or premise that an argument takes for granted and relies upon, even though it is never explicitly stated.
General Critical Thinking and Problem Solving 1
Which of the following best describes a logical fallacy?