Some MCQs on Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Section 1: Fundamentals of Critical Thinking

1. What is critical thinking primarily concerned with?
A) Memorizing facts
B) Analyzing and evaluating information logically ✅
C) Following instructions without question
D) Accepting opinions as facts

2. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a critical thinker?
A) Open-mindedness
B) Emotional decision-making ✅
C) Logical reasoning
D) Willingness to reconsider beliefs

3. What is the first step in the critical thinking process?
A) Drawing conclusions
B) Identifying the problem ✅
C) Gathering opinions
D) Making assumptions

4. Which cognitive bias involves favoring information that confirms pre-existing beliefs?
A) Halo effect
B) Confirmation bias ✅
C) Anchoring bias
D) Availability heuristic

5. What does the term "argument" mean in critical thinking?
A) A heated disagreement
B) A set of reasons supporting a conclusion ✅
C) A personal opinion
D) A statement without evidence

Section 2: Problem-Solving Techniques

6. Which step comes first in the problem-solving process?
A) Generating solutions
B) Defining the problem ✅
C) Evaluating outcomes
D) Implementing a solution

7. What is brainstorming in problem-solving?
A) Criticizing ideas as they arise
B) Generating multiple ideas without judgment ✅
C) Selecting the best solution immediately
D) Avoiding creative thinking

8. What is the purpose of a SWOT analysis?
A) To predict future events
B) To evaluate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats ✅
C) To eliminate all risks
D) To simplify complex problems

9. Which problem-solving tool involves breaking a problem into smaller parts?
A) Mind mapping
B) Root cause analysis ✅
C) Trial and error
D) Guesswork

10. What is the main goal of the "5 Whys" technique?
A) To assign blame for a problem
B) To identify the root cause of a problem ✅
C) To avoid solving problems
D) To complicate simple issues

Section 3: Logical Fallacies & Reasoning Errors

11. "If we allow students to redo exams, soon they’ll demand unlimited retakes!" This is an example of:
A) Slippery slope fallacy ✅
B) Straw man fallacy
C) Ad hominem attack
D) Circular reasoning

12. Attacking a person instead of their argument is called:
A) False dilemma
B) Red herring
C) Ad hominem ✅
D) Hasty generalization

13. "Everyone is using this product, so it must be good." This is an example of:
A) Bandwagon fallacy ✅
B) Appeal to authority
C) False cause
D) Begging the question

14. "Either you support this policy, or you hate progress." This is a:
A) False dilemma ✅
B) Equivocation
C) Appeal to emotion
D) Post hoc fallacy

15. "We should trust him because he says he’s honest." This is:
A) Begging the question ✅
B) Straw man
C) Appeal to tradition
D) Hasty generalization

Section 4: Decision-Making & Analysis

16. Which of the following best defines "opportunity cost" in decision-making?
A) The financial cost of a decision
B) The value of the next best alternative forgone ✅
C) The time taken to make a choice
D) The emotional toll of a decision

17. What is the primary purpose of a pros-and-cons list?
A) To complicate simple decisions
B) To visually compare advantages and disadvantages ✅
C) To eliminate all risks
D) To delay decision-making

18. In the DECIDE model of problem-solving, what does the "D" stand for?
A) Define the problem ✅
B) Develop alternatives
C) Determine outcomes
D) Delegate tasks

19. Which tool helps prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance?
A) SWOT analysis
B) Pareto Principle (80/20 rule)
C) Eisenhower Matrix ✅
D) Fishbone diagram

20. "Paralysis by analysis" refers to:
A) Making decisions too quickly
B) Overthinking to the point of inaction ✅
C) Relying solely on intuition
D) Ignoring data entirely

Section 5: Cognitive Biases

21. The tendency to overestimate the importance of recent information is called:
A) Anchoring bias
B) Availability heuristic ✅
C) Dunning-Kruger effect
D) Sunk cost fallacy

22. A manager hires someone because they attended the same university. This is an example of:
A) Confirmation bias
B) Halo effect
C) Affinity bias ✅
D) Gambler’s fallacy

23. "I’ve invested too much to quit now!" illustrates which bias?
A) Optimism bias
B) Sunk cost fallacy ✅
C) Self-serving bias
D) Bandwagon effect

24. Which bias leads people to believe they are less biased than others?
A) Blind spot bias ✅
B) Negativity bias
C) Status quo bias
D) Framing effect

25. The "halo effect" occurs when:
A) One positive trait influences overall perception ✅
B) A person ignores all evidence
C) Decisions are based solely on statistics
D) A group unanimously agrees

Section 6: Argument Evaluation

26. A strong argument requires:
A) Loud delivery
B) Logical structure and credible evidence ✅
C) Emotional appeals
D) Lengthy explanations

27. "All birds fly. Penguins are birds. Therefore, penguins fly." This argument is:
A) Valid but unsound ✅ (Valid structure, false premise)
B) Sound but invalid
C) Both valid and sound
D) Neither valid nor sound

28. Which of these weakens an argument?
A) Relevant examples
B) Circular reasoning ✅
C) Peer-reviewed data
D) Clear definitions

29. An argument that assumes what it’s trying to prove is guilty of:
A) Straw man fallacy
B) Begging the question ✅
C) False dilemma
D) Red herring

30. "We should ban cars because vehicles are dangerous." This commits which fallacy?
A) Equivocation (ambiguous word use) ✅
B) Ad populum
C) Hasty generalization
D) Appeal to authority

Section 7: Advanced Logical Reasoning

31. Which of these is a necessary condition for a deductively valid argument?
A) The premises must be true
B) If the premises are true, the conclusion must be true ✅
C) The conclusion must surprise the audience
D) At least one premise must be false

32. "No birds are mammals. All penguins are birds. Therefore, no penguins are mammals." This argument is:
A) Valid and sound ✅
B) Valid but unsound
C) Invalid but sound
D) Neither valid nor sound

33. In abductive reasoning, we:
A) Draw conclusions from general principles
B) Infer the best explanation from observations ✅
C) Use emotional appeals
D) Repeat the premise as the conclusion

34. Which statement is a counterexample to "All prime numbers are odd"?
A) 1
B) 2 ✅
C) 9
D) 11

Section 8: Real-World Problem Solving

35. A company's sales are declining despite good product quality. The FIRST step should be:
A) Fire the sales team
B) Identify possible causes through data analysis ✅
C) Lower prices immediately
D) Blame competitors

36. In the "Six Thinking Hats" method, the white hat represents:
A) Emotions and feelings
B) Facts and neutral information ✅
C) Creativity and new ideas
D) Risks and critical judgment

37. Which technique helps visualize steps in a process to identify inefficiencies?
A) SWOT analysis
B) Flowcharting ✅
C) Mind mapping
D) Pareto chart

38. "We've always done it this way" is a failure of:
A) Risk assessment
B) Status quo bias ✅
C) Cost-benefit analysis
D) Ethical reasoning

Section 9: Evaluating Evidence

39. A study claims "90% of dentists recommend X toothpaste." What critical question should you ask?
A) How many dentists were surveyed? ✅
B) What brand funded the study? ✅
C) How was "recommend" defined? ✅
D) All of the above ✅ (Best answer)

40. Which source is MOST credible for scientific claims?
A) A celebrity endorsement
B) A peer-reviewed journal article ✅
C) A social media poll
D) An anonymous blog post

41. Correlation between ice cream sales and drowning deaths likely indicates:
A) Ice cream causes drowning
B) A hidden variable (e.g., hot weather) ✅
C) Faulty data collection
D) Pure coincidence

Section 10: Ethical Reasoning

42. Utilitarianism evaluates decisions based on:
A) Strict rules
B) Outcomes and collective benefit ✅
C) Personal intentions
D) Traditional practices

43. A doctor hides a patient's terminal diagnosis to "avoid distress." This conflicts with:
A) Virtue ethics
B) Deontological ethics (duty to truth) ✅
C) Ethical egoism
D) Moral relativism

44. Conflicting moral principles in a dilemma are best resolved by:
A) Ignoring the problem
B) Identifying and weighing core values ✅
C) Letting emotions decide
D) Flipping a coin

Section 11: Advanced Fallacies

45. "You can't argue for free speech—you're not even a lawyer!" commits:
A) Ad hominem
B) Appeal to authority (false authority) ✅
C) Straw man
D) False dichotomy

46. "Tax cuts are like letting a child eat unlimited candy." This is:
A) A strong analogy
B) A faulty analogy ✅ (Oversimplification)
C) Circular reasoning
D) A hasty generalization

47. "After I wore this necklace, I got a promotion! It must be lucky." This is:
A) Post hoc fallacy ✅
B) Slippery slope
C) Begging the question
D) Red herring

Section 12: Creative Problem Solving

48. Reverse brainstorming involves:
A) Only praising ideas
B) Identifying how to cause the problem ✅
C) Voting immediately
D) Using complex jargon

49. The "stepladder technique" improves group decisions by:
A) Having members join discussions one-by-one ✅
B) Using majority rule
C) Eliminating dissent
D) Relying on the highest-paid person's opinion

50. SCAMPER is used for:
A) Risk assessment
B) Idea generation and innovation ✅
C) Data analysis
D) Conflict resolution

Section 13: Core Principles of Critical Thinking

51. Critical thinking is best defined as:
A) Accepting information at face value
B) Systematically analyzing and evaluating information to reach reasoned conclusions ✅
C) Memorizing facts and figures
D) Arguing aggressively for one’s opinion

52. The primary goal of critical thinking is to:
A) Win debates
B) Make well-informed, logical decisions ✅
C) Follow traditional beliefs without question
D) Avoid all forms of disagreement

53. Which of the following is a key trait of a critical thinker?
A) Resistance to new ideas
B) Reliance on gut feelings
C) Intellectual humility ✅
D) Preference for quick judgments

54. What does it mean to think "critically"?
A) Finding faults in others’ arguments
B) Questioning assumptions and examining evidence ✅
C) Rejecting all opinions different from your own
D) Focusing only on negative outcomes

Section 14: Questioning and Inquiry

55. The "Socratic Method" emphasizes:
A) Lecturing others on correct answers
B) Asking probing questions to uncover deeper understanding ✅
C) Memorizing historical facts
D) Avoiding difficult questions

56. Which question is MOST aligned with critical thinking?
A) "Why should I care about this?"
B) "What evidence supports this claim?" ✅
C) "Who agrees with me?"
D) "How can I dismiss this idea quickly?"

57. A critical thinker encountering a new claim should FIRST ask:
A) "Does this align with my beliefs?"
B) "What are the sources and evidence?" ✅
C) "Who disagrees with this?"
D) "How can I simplify this?"

Section 15: Assumptions and Biases

58. An "assumption" in critical thinking is:
A) A proven fact
B) An unexamined belief taken for granted ✅
C) A logical conclusion
D) A scientific law

59. Confirmation bias refers to:
A) Seeking evidence that contradicts your beliefs
B) Favoring information that supports your existing views ✅
C) Avoiding all biases intentionally
D) Ignoring all evidence

60. To identify assumptions in an argument, ask:
A) "What is being taken for granted?" ✅
B) "Who is the smartest person here?"
C) "How can I end this discussion?"
D) "What’s the simplest answer?"

Section 16: Logic and Reasoning

61. Deductive reasoning moves from:
A) Specific observations to broad generalizations
B) General principles to specific conclusions ✅
C) Emotions to actions
D) One anecdote to a universal rule

62. Inductive reasoning is weaker than deductive because it:
A) Uses formal logic
B) Relies on probabilities, not certainties ✅
C) Ignores evidence
D) Starts with a conclusion

63. A logical fallacy is:
A) A persuasive technique
B) An error in reasoning that weakens an argument ✅
C) A scientific fact
D) A type of bias

Section 17: Clarity and Precision

64. Which statement is the MOST precise?
A) "Many people think this is good."
B) "A 2023 study found 72% of participants improved." ✅
C) "Everyone knows this works."
D) "It’s probably the best option."

65. Ambiguity in language can be reduced by:
A) Using jargon
B) Defining key terms clearly ✅
C) Speaking vaguely
D) Avoiding examples

66. Critical thinkers prioritize language that is:
A) Emotional and vivid
B) Clear and accurate ✅
C) Complex and technical
D) Abstract and theoretical

 

Section 18: Intellectual Standards

67. Evaluating whether evidence is relevant to a claim aligns with which intellectual standard?
A) Clarity
B) Relevance ✅
C) Depth
D) Breadth

68. "Does this conclusion follow from the evidence?" checks for:
A) Logical consistency ✅
B) Emotional appeal
C) Popularity
D) Length of argument

69. Intellectual humility means:
A) Never questioning authority
B) Recognizing the limits of your knowledge ✅
C) Pretending to know everything
D) Avoiding debates

70. Fair-mindedness in critical thinking requires:
A) Agreeing with everyone
B) Considering opposing viewpoints impartially ✅
C) Defending your position at all costs
D) Ignoring evidence

The Hidden Life of Garbage Questions and Answers

 The Hidden Life of Garbage

Questions and Answers

Comprehension

1.     According to Rogers, why are landfills “tucked away, on the edge of town, in otherwise untraveled terrain” (3)?

• Rogers suggests that landfills are deliberately placed in remote locations to keep them out of public view. This prevents people from seeing the massive amounts of waste they produce and allows society to ignore the environmental consequences of excessive consumption.

2. What is the landfill’s “working face” (4)? How does it compare with other parts of the landfill?

• The "working face" of a landfill is the active dumping area where waste is currently being deposited and compacted. Compared to other parts of the landfill, which may be covered with layers of dirt or synthetic liners, the working face is chaotic, exposed, and constantly changing, reflecting the never-ending cycle of waste disposal.

3. Why does Rogers think that the GROWS landfill is “aptly named” (5)? What connotations do you think Waste Management Inc. intended the name GROWS to have? What connotations does Rogers think the name has?

• Rogers believes the name GROWS is appropriate because the landfill keeps expanding, accumulating more waste over time.
• Waste Management Inc. likely intended the name to imply growth and progress, possibly suggesting technological advancements or economic benefits.
• However, Rogers sees the name ironically, as it highlights the ever-increasing waste problem, emphasizing the unsustainable nature of modern consumption.

4. What are the dangers of the “new state-of-the-art landfills” (9)? What point does Rogers make about liners being “expected to last somewhere between thirty and fifty years” (11)?

• Despite being advertised as environmentally friendly, modern landfills still pose significant dangers, such as leakage of toxic chemicals into groundwater and methane gas emissions.
• Rogers criticizes the assumption that landfill liners will last 30-50 years, arguing that landfills will outlive their liners, leading to long-term environmental hazards once the barriers degrade.

5. According to Rogers, what is the “repressed question” (13) that is not being asked?

• The “repressed question” is: Why do we produce so much waste in the first place?
• Instead of addressing the root cause—overconsumption and unsustainable production—society focuses on managing garbage after it’s already created, ignoring the deeper issue of reducing waste at its source.

 

Purpose and Audience in Heather Rogers' Essay

1.     At what point in the essay does Rogers state her thesis? Why do you think she places the thesis where she does?

o    Rogers likely states her thesis after describing the landfill in vivid detail, possibly in the middle or later part of the introduction. This placement allows her to first immerse the reader in the reality of waste disposal, making them feel the scale and impact of landfills before explicitly stating her argument. By delaying the thesis, she builds curiosity, emotional engagement, and urgency, making her message more impactful.

2.     What dominant impression does Rogers try to create in her description? Is she successful?

o    Rogers aims to create an impression of waste as overwhelming, hidden, and environmentally dangerous. She describes landfills as expanding, grotesque landscapes that symbolize unsustainable consumption. Through detailed imagery, irony, and critical analysis, she successfully conveys a sense of urgency and concern about how society deals with garbage.

3.     What is Rogers’s attitude toward waste disposal in general — and toward disposal companies like Waste Management Inc. in particular? Do you share her feelings?

o    Rogers is highly critical of waste disposal practices, especially the way they are hidden from public view. She argues that landfills are not a solution but rather a symptom of a broken system that prioritizes profit over sustainability.

o    She is particularly skeptical of disposal companies like Waste Management Inc., which she suggests profit from excessive waste rather than working to reduce it.

o    Do you share her feelings? This depends on personal views. Many readers may agree that waste production is excessive and that corporations are not doing enough to address the root cause. Others might argue that modern waste management is necessary, even if imperfect.

 

Style and Structure in Heather Rogers’ Essay

1.     Rogers begins her essay with a description of garbage trucks collecting trash. What specific things does she describe? How does this description establish the context for the rest of the essay?

o    Rogers describes the mechanical efficiency of garbage collection, including the trucks lifting bins, compacting waste, and moving systematically through neighborhoods. She may also highlight the anonymity of the process, showing how waste disappears from sight with little thought from the public.

o    This description sets up the context by emphasizing how waste is out of sight, out of mind—a central theme of the essay. It prepares the reader to consider what happens after trash is collected, leading to her discussion on landfills.

2.     What determines the order in which details are arranged in Rogers’s essay?

o    Rogers structures her essay logically and thematically:

§  She begins with immediate observations (garbage collection).

§  She then moves to a larger-scale issue (the landfill system).

§  Finally, she explores the consequences and hidden problems of waste disposal.

o    The order helps build a sense of progression, leading the reader from familiar daily experiences to the larger, often ignored environmental crisis.

3.     Is this essay a subjective or objective description of the landfill? Explain.

o    The essay blends both subjective and objective elements:

§  Objective elements: Rogers provides factual information about landfill operations, technological advancements, and environmental impacts.

§  Subjective elements: Her use of imagery, irony, and critical tone conveys her personal disapproval of waste management systems.

o    While she includes research-based observations, her word choices and framing reflect a strong perspective, making the essay lean toward subjectivity.

4.     In paragraph 13, why does Rogers put the phrase “environmentally responsible” in quotation marks? What impression is she trying to convey?

o    The quotation marks suggest skepticism or irony. Rogers is likely questioning whether modern landfills are truly “environmentally responsible” or if this is just greenwashing—a misleading way to make waste disposal seem eco-friendly when it still harms the environment.

o    She implies that calling landfills “environmentally responsible” is deceptive, since they still create long-term pollution.

5.     Rogers never offers a solution to the problems she writes about. Should she have done so? Is her failure to offer a solution a shortcoming of the essay?

o    Arguments for offering a solution:

§  Readers may feel frustrated if an essay criticizes an issue but provides no direction for change.

§  A proposed solution could have empowered readers to take action.

o    Arguments for not offering a solution:

§  Rogers may want readers to think critically rather than offering an oversimplified fix.

§  The lack of a solution highlights the complexity of the waste problem—suggesting that no single solution exists.

o    Whether it’s a shortcoming depends on the reader’s expectations. Some may find the essay powerful as a critique, while others may feel it lacks practical takeaways.

 

 

Vocabulary Projects 1. Define each of the following words as it is used in this selection. hydraulic (1) putrescence (7) rejectamenta (1) cascades (7) sequestered (2) leach (9) hydroseeded (3) encapsulate (10) butte (3) palpable (12) aptly (5) lavish (12) fetid (7) obliteration (12)

 

Here are the definitions of the given words as used in Heather Rogers’ essay:

1.     hydraulic (1) – Related to the movement of liquid under pressure, often used in waste management systems for compacting or processing trash.

2.     rejectamenta (1) – Waste material or debris, particularly discarded items or garbage.

3.     sequestered (2) – Isolated or set apart, often referring to how landfills are hidden away from public view.

4.     hydroseeded (3) – A process of spraying a mixture of seeds, mulch, and water to promote vegetation growth, often used to cover closed landfill sites.

5.     butte (3) – A steep, isolated hill with a flat top, resembling the shape of some landfill structures.

6.     aptly (5) – Suitably or appropriately, referring to how the name of the landfill reflects its expanding nature.

7.     fetid (7) – Having a strong, unpleasant smell, often describing the odor of decomposing waste.

8.     putrescence (7) – The state of rotting or decaying, particularly organic waste in landfills.

9.     cascades (7) – A series of rapid downward movements, often describing how waste is dumped and spreads in layers.

10.                        leach (9) – To drain or filter out, often used in reference to hazardous chemicals seeping from waste into the ground.

11.                        encapsulate (10) – To enclose or contain something, such as trapping waste within landfill liners to prevent leaks.

12.                        palpable (12) – Noticeable or tangible, often describing the overwhelming presence of waste or pollution.

13.                        lavish (12) – Excessive or abundant, possibly referring to the large scale of waste production.

14.                        obliteration (12) – Complete destruction or removal, potentially discussing the erasure of natural landscapes by landfills.

 

 Some Highlights of Research

Exploring the Academic Landscape: A Critical Analysis and Review of the Nepal Journal of Multidisciplinary Research

Mahat, D., Neupane, D., & Karki, T. B. (2023). Exploring the Academic Landscape: A Critical Analysis and Review of the Nepal Journal of Multidisciplinary Research. Dasarath and Karki, Tej Bahadur, Exploring the Academic Landscape: A Critical Analysis and Review of the Nepal Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (December 23, 2023).

Food choice motives of guardians of Trilok Academy Kathmandu with reference to genderQ4

Neupane, D. (2018). Food choice motives of guardians of Trilok Academy Kathmandu with reference to gender. Nepal Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 1(1), 73-81.

Exploring the Influence of Family Dynamics on Death Attitude among Elderly People: A Comparative Study of Chitwan and Jhapa District, Nepal

Karki, T. B., D’Mello, L., Poudel, G., Ghimire, M., Neupane, D., Shrestha, S. K., & Mahat, D. (2024). Exploring the Influence of Family Dynamics on Death Attitude among Elderly People: A Comparative Study of Chitwan and Jhapa District, Nepal. International Journal of Applied and Scientific Research, 2(8), 703-716.