Critical Thinking and Logic - C168: Question Set #2

You are researching the issue of death caused by prescription use among the elderly. You started out with the preconceived notion that the elderly go to too many doctors who are specialists, and each one prescribes medications without knowing the patient's full medical history. You are convinced that the blame can be placed squarely on the doctors who rush through appointments and don't ask the right questions with the elderly. All of the research you have found thus far supports your theory. W

a c e

In recent years, scientists have found that the monarch butterfly population has declined significantly from what it was even ten years ago. Although there are many possible causes, the scientists have marked the decline of milkweed along the edges of Midwestern farmland as the most likely cause of decline in the butterfly population. With genetically modified crops, farmers are now able to spray the crops (including the milkweed) with pesticides, which kills the milkweed, but does not harm the

c

You have been assigned to write a research paper for a class. What essential step will you want to complete early in the process? a) Draft your paper as you research. b) Make an outline. c) Think about your audience. d) Identify your own assumptions on the issue. e) Identify the consequences of your conclusion.

c) Think about your audience. d) Identify your own assumptions on the issue.

A charitable organization is suffering from decreased donations. The board of directors holds a meeting to address the problem; however, they cannot reach a consensus on how to address the problem. What critical thinking strategy might they adopt to help them make a decision? Select one. a) They make a decision based on what the chairperson of the board suggests. b) They make a decision to hold off on doing anything until they can all agree on a course of action. c) They make a decision accor

e

A recent study on the gender wage gap presented the following information: Full-time working women in the U.S. are paid on average $10,622 less per year than their male counterparts. The majority of working mothers in the U.S. now bring in at least a quarter of their family's earnings. 14.5 million households nationwide are headed by women. Full-time working women are paid on average 77 cents for every dollar paid to full-time men. The gap has been closing at a rate of less than 1/2 cent per yea

a) strength

An assisted living facility is experiencing a high number of residents falling. Although this is a common ailment for older people, the facility would like to try to decrease the number of falls. One proposed solution is to offer a daily yoga class for residents free of charge. Classify the following instance of evidence or reasoning as supporting or not supporting the proposed solution: Many of the resident falls have happened in the same location within the facility. a) Supports the proposed

b) Does not support the proposed solution

A motion in front of the city council in your city would increase the number of streetlights in your neighborhood. The neighbor to your south is appearing before the council to argue in favor of this motion. He would like your support. The neighbor to your north is appearing before the council to argue against this motion. She would also like your support. You have listened to both arguments from your neighbors and they both seem to make good points. You have decided to do a little research your

a b d

Over the past five years, per capita consumption of fast food in America has risen consistently. This proves that Americans care less about their health now than they did five years ago. What assumptions are present in this argument? Your Answer a) Fast food consumption is a key indicator of attitudes about health. b) People who care about their health don't consume fast food. c) Americans find fast food to be convenient. d) Fast food is unhealthy. e) Americans have less time to prepare food n

a b d

A recent study published by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute concluded that people who "text" while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in a car accident than drivers who are not distracted in the same way. The study showed that the major factor that makes texting dangerous is driving while taking one's eyes off the road. Therefore, the study concludes that talking on a cell phone while driving is considerably safer than texting while driving. Based on this study, which of

a c

A candidate running for a national office makes the following campaign pitch: "My opponent has said, 'The fundamentals of our economy are strong,' which shows that he is completely out of touch with reality. We have a great challenge ahead of us to get our economy back on track. I believe I have good qualifications for helping our country do this. Keep in mind that my opponent is a good friend of Pastor John Doe, who just last week blamed certain ethnic groups and illegal aliens for dragging ou

a d f

According to a marketing research firm, a person who lives in a mid-sized city see approximately 5,000 ads per day. Because of "ad overload" many companies are searching for creative ways to get their product names in front of potential customers. One fast-food company offers to buy notebooks for grade school children in low-income areas of the city. The notebooks come with the company's logo and food advertisements on them. The kids love them and the parents benefit from lower school supply cos

b) Obesity rates among low-income children are higher than average, and obesity rates among the children in the targeted schools continue to climb.

A professor of English believes that the only way people become full citizens of a democracy, with all of the rights and responsibilities thereof, is to have a full command of reading comprehension skills, writing skills, and verbal communication skills. Why is this belief reasonable based on the standards of critical thinking? Select one. a) The stated belief meets the standard of precision. b) The stated belief logically reflects the fundamental point of view of the field of study. c) The st

b) The stated belief logically reflects the fundamental point of view of the field of study.

A recent study on the gender wage gap presented the following information: Full-time working women in the U.S. are paid on average $10,622 less per year than their male counterparts. The majority of working mothers in the U.S. now bring in at least a quarter of their family's earnings. 14.5 million households nationwide are headed by women. Full-time working women are paid on average 77 cents for every dollar paid to full-time men. The gap has been closing at a rate of less than 1/2 cent per yea

b) weakness

Which one statement accurately describes how a critical thinker might employ the elements of critical thinking differently to the fields of sociology and business? a) A critical thinker would make assumptions and draw inferences in sociology but not in business. b) A critical thinker would identify the purpose and question at issue before beginning research in sociology but not in business. c) A critical thinker would consider the concept of profitability in business but not in sociology. d) A

c) A critical thinker would consider the concept of profitability in business but not in sociology.

A recent study on the gender wage gap presented the following information: Full-time working women in the U.S. are paid on average $10,622 less per year than their male counterparts. The majority of working mothers in the U.S. now bring in at least a quarter of their family's earnings. 14.5 million households nationwide are headed by women. Full-time working women are paid on average 77 cents for every dollar paid to full-time men. The gap has been closing at a rate of less than 1/2 cent per yea

c) neutral

In a history class, the professor begins the lecture on the first day with this statement: "Let's just assume that history matters." How might you go about determining whether or not that assumption is valid? a) Ask yourself whether or not you agree with the assumption. b) Dismiss the assumption since it comes from an historian who is obviously biased. c) See how many of your friends and family agree with the assumption. d) Look for examples and other evidence that support or defy the assumpti

d

You recently moved to a new city, and you are now experiencing severe allergy problems. The first doctor you see recommends that you cut dairy, wheat, and eggs from your diet because they can often exacerbate the reaction to air allergens. The second doctor you see says that is poppycock—that you should simply increase your dosage of antihistamines. You want to make the right choice, so you are left to evaluate the biases and assumptions of each of the doctors. Which one of the following st

d

The editor of a newspaper is about to run a story that he knows will offend many readers in the community and many advertisers of the paper. The editor thinks the story is important, but the publisher is concerned about the backlash. The editor wants to use the elements of critical thinking to decide what to do. Based on this information, which elements of critical thinking should the editor consider while making the decision? Choose 3 answers. Your Answer Correct Answer Checked a) The reliabi

d) The consequences of running the story. e) The significance of the information in the story.

Match the profession with how a person from that profession approaches the world. Politicians A. Sophistic objectivity B. Neutral objectivity C. Appreciation and cultivation

A. Sophistic objectivity

Match the profession with how a person from that profession approaches the world. Select your answer from the pull-down list. Scientists A. Sophistic objectivity B. Neutral objectivity C. Appreciation and cultivation

B. Neutral objectivity

Match the profession with how a person from that profession approaches the world. Select your answer from the pull-down list. Artists A. Sophistic objectivity B. Neutral objectivity C. Appreciation and cultivation

C. Appreciation and cultivation

Which of the following are standards of critical thinking: a) Concepts b) Clarity c) Purpose d) Sufficiency e) Question at issue

b) Clarity d) Sufficiency

You have read that organic food is safer for your family, so you try to buy only organic whenever possible. However, you recently read an article about organic olives that have been recalled due to a botulism outbreak, which surprised you. Now you are not sure whether or not organic foods are better for your family. You decide to investigate and find the following evidence: Organic products may be more vulnerable to certain toxins because they are usually fertilized with manure. Dangerous spore

a) How manure is used in growing both organic and non-organic foods needs further research.

Which of the following are elements of reasoning? a) Purpose b) Clarity c) Question at Issue d) Sufficiency e) Inference

a) Purpose c) Question at Issue e) Inference

An assisted living facility is experiencing a high number of residents falling. Although this is a common ailment for older people, the facility would like to try to decrease the number of falls. One proposed solution is to offer a daily yoga class for residents free of charge. Classify the following instance of evidence or reasoning as supporting or not supporting the proposed solution: Other facilities that offer yoga to their participants have seen a decrease in falls. a) Supports the propo

a) Supports the proposed solution

An assisted living facility is experiencing a high number of residents falling. Although this is a common ailment for older people, the facility would like to try to decrease the number of falls. One proposed solution is to offer a daily yoga class for residents free of charge. Classify the following instance of evidence or reasoning as supporting or not supporting the proposed solution: The facility has hired a yoga instructor who specializes in geriatric yoga. a) Supports the proposed soluti

a) Supports the proposed solution

An assisted living facility is experiencing a high number of residents falling. Although this is a common ailment for older people, the facility would like to try to decrease the number of falls. One proposed solution is to offer a daily yoga class for residents free of charge. Classify the following instance of evidence or reasoning as supporting or not supporting the proposed solution: Yoga is known to increase balance and strength. a) Supports the proposed solution b) Does not support the p

a) Supports the proposed solution

Which two questions would a student ask to apply critical thinking concepts to the study of psychology? Your Answer a) What are the main concepts of the field of psychology? b) What is the expertise of the professors in the field of psychology? c) What are the assumptions made about the field of psychology? d) How much homework can I expect in the field of psychology? e) What kind of tests can I expect in the field of psychology?

a) What are the main concepts of the field of psychology? c) What are the assumptions made about the field of psychology?

An assisted living facility is experiencing a high number of residents falling. Although this is a common ailment for older people, the facility would like to try to decrease the number of falls. One proposed solution is to offer a daily yoga class for residents free of charge. Classify the following instance of evidence or reasoning as supporting or not supporting the proposed solution: A weekly yoga class has been offered at the facility for years with minimal attendance. a) Supports the pro

b) Does not support the proposed solution

A senator in your state is attempting to get the motorcycle helmet law repealed because she believes in individual freedoms and minimal government interference for adults. However, a woman whose husband is on life-support from head injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident while not wearing a helmet is arguing against this repeal. The woman is accusing the senator having no compassion or empathy for her situation. How does the senator's point of view influence her approach to this issue? Sele

b

In which of the following situations would critical thinking most appropriately apply? Select one. a) Determining the shortest driving route between two cities. b) Determining the best exercise to lose weight. c) Determining the best restaurant in your city. d) Determining the cheapest meals for your family.

b

The publisher of a profitable local outdoor magazine has just read an article submitted from a freelance writer. The article is about the decline of back-country skiing due to development, something that the readers of the magazine will be very interested in. However, many of the publisher's advertisers are developers, and the largest advertiser is a developer mentioned in the article. What one scenario demonstrates how bias might influence the approach to this article? a) The publisher shows

b

Which of the following problems has a solution that is widely accepted by experts? Select one. a) What is the best way to prevent teen drug use? b) What is the best medical approach for treating alcohol poisoning? c) What can be done to prevent drunk driving? d) What is the best treatment for alcoholism?

b

You are driving a long distance between cities when you realize that your car makes a funny noise when you accelerate. As you drive, you listen for the noise at 20 mph, again at 40 mph, and again at 60 mph. Which method of causation are you employing? a) The single difference method b) The concomitant variation method c) The common factor method d) The process of elimination

b

A newspaper article spotlights three people who are on a waiting list to receive an organ donation. The article also urges readers to register for organ donation. What implications of the proposed solution need to be considered? a) The religious views of organ donors. b) The financial impact of organ donation on health care costs. c) The financial stability of the organ donor registrant. d) The financial stability of the organ recipient. e) The religious views of the doctors involved.

b d

A downtown group of restaurants is lobbying the city to close a downtown street to cars along one city block in order to provide outdoor dining for its patrons. They present a business plan to the city council showing increased revenues for participating restaurants, increased parking revenues for the city along side streets, and an overall economic benefit for all of downtown. The source for the information on the business plan is a study done by an independent research group that did a study o

b g

A mid-sized company is struggling with the combined effects of higher insurance premiums to cover their employees and higher usages of sick leave by employees. The company maintains a fitness club in the basement of its office building for employees to use before and after work, and during the lunch hour. The executives decide to implement a new company policy that would allow employees three hours of paid leave per week to utilize the fitness club. Which of the following could be concluded abo

b) Assumptions were made regarding employee behavior. f) The conclusion was based on an effort to encourage employees to take steps to live healthier lives. g) The executives of the company take some responsibility for the health of their employees.