IB DP Core: Theory of Knowledge 2

Question 1

In TOK, what distinguishes a 'knowledge claim' from a mere opinion?

Accepted Answer

A knowledge claim asserts something is true and can be evaluated for justification

Answer

A knowledge claim makes an assertion about what is true and can be examined for its supporting reasons and evidence.

Question 2

Which of the following best illustrates a 'shared knowledge' in the TOK framework?

Accepted Answer

The established body of mathematical theorems accepted by the discipline

Answer

Shared knowledge is constructed and validated collectively within communities such as academic disciplines.

Question 3

A TOK student argues that language shapes the way we perceive reality. Which philosopher's idea does this most closely reflect?

Accepted Answer

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

Answer

The Sapir-Whorf (linguistic relativity) hypothesis holds that the structure of a language influences its speakers' worldview.

Question 4

In the Natural Sciences area of knowledge, the concept of 'falsifiability' is central because it:

Accepted Answer

Provides a criterion that distinguishes scientific claims from non-scientific ones

Answer

Karl Popper proposed falsifiability as the demarcation criterion: a claim is scientific only if it can in principle be shown false.

Question 5

When evaluating historical evidence, historians must consider 'historiography.' What does this term mean in TOK contexts?

Accepted Answer

The study of how historical accounts are written and interpreted

Answer

Historiography refers to the study of the methods and development of history as a discipline, including how interpretations change over time.

IB - International Baccalaureate Practice Test