SEHS Critical Thinking and Problem Solving 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student notices that every time it rains, the school's test scores for that day are slightly lower. The student concludes that rain causes lower test performance. What logical error is this?
- Confirmation bias
- Correlation confused with causation (Correct answer)
- Ad hominem fallacy
- Straw man argument
Correct answer: Correlation confused with causation
Correlation (two things occurring together) does not prove causation (one thing causing the other); there may be confounding factors.
Question 2: If all selective entry schools require high academic achievement, and Westview Academy is a selective entry school, what can be logically concluded?
- Westview Academy does not accept average students
- Westview Academy requires high academic achievement (Correct answer)
- Students at Westview Academy are all gifted
- Westview Academy offers advanced placement courses
Correct answer: Westview Academy requires high academic achievement
This is a valid syllogism: if all S are P, and W is S, then W must be P.
Question 3: A test has 40 questions. A student answers 75% correctly. How many questions did the student answer correctly?
- 25
- 28
- 30 (Correct answer)
- 32
Correct answer: 30
75% of 40 = 0.75 × 40 = 30 questions answered correctly.
Question 4: Which of the following best represents an inference rather than a stated fact?
- The exam lasted three hours.
- She scored 98 out of 100.
- He must have studied hard to earn such a high score. (Correct answer)
- The school accepts 120 students per year.
Correct answer: He must have studied hard to earn such a high score.
An inference is a conclusion drawn from evidence, not directly stated; the other options are presented as direct facts.
Question 5: In a logic puzzle, Alex is taller than Ben. Ben is taller than Carol. Carol is taller than Dan. Who is the shortest?
- Alex
- Ben
- Carol
- Dan (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Dan
Following the chain: Alex > Ben > Carol > Dan, so Dan is the shortest.
Question 6: Which strategy is most effective when approaching an unfamiliar complex problem on a selective entry exam?
- Skip it and return only if time allows
- Break it into smaller, manageable parts (Correct answer)
- Choose the most complex-looking answer
- Rely solely on memorized formulas
Correct answer: Break it into smaller, manageable parts
Decomposing a complex problem into smaller parts is a core critical thinking strategy that makes difficult problems more tractable.
Question 7: A pattern shows: 2, 6, 18, 54, ___. What is the next number?
- 108
- 144
- 162 (Correct answer)
- 216
Correct answer: 162
Each term is multiplied by 3: 2×3=6, 6×3=18, 18×3=54, 54×3=162.
SEHS Critical Thinking and Problem Solving 1
A student notices that every time it rains, the school's test scores for that day are slightly lower.
The student concludes that rain causes lower test performance.
What logical error is this?