Critical thinking and Problem Solving
MCQs
Set 1
- Which of the following
is/are characteristics of a critical thinker?
A) Open-mindedness
B) Logical reasoning
✅ C) Willingness to reconsider beliefs
❌ D) Emotional decision-making - What is the purpose of
a SWOT analysis?
✅ A) To evaluate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
❌ B) To predict future events
❌ C) To eliminate all risks
❌ D) To complicate complex problems - Which of the following
weaken an argument?
✅ A) Circular reasoning
❌ B) Relevant examples
❌ C) Clear definitions
❌ D) Peer-reviewed data - A strong argument
requires:
✅ A) Logical structure
✅ B) Credible evidence
❌ C) Loud delivery
❌ D) Emotional appeals - What is the first step
in critical thinking?
✅ A) Identifying the problem
❌ B) Making assumptions
❌ C) Drawing conclusions
❌ D) Gathering opinions - The "halo
effect" occurs when:
✅ A) One positive trait influences overall perception
❌ B) A group unanimously agrees
❌ C) People ignore all evidence
❌ D) Decisions are based solely on statistics - Which of the following
are types of reasoning?
✅ A) Deductive
✅ B) Inductive
✅ C) Abductive
❌ D) Aggressive
✅ Set 2
- The “5 Whys” technique
is used to:
✅ A) Identify the root cause of a problem
❌ B) Avoid problem-solving
❌ C) Assign blame
❌ D) Make problems worse - "All birds fly.
Penguins are birds. Therefore, penguins fly."
✅ A) Valid but unsound
❌ B) Valid and sound
❌ C) Invalid but sound
❌ D) Neither valid nor sound - What helps you avoid
ambiguity in critical discussions?
✅ A) Defining key terms clearly
❌ B) Speaking vaguely
❌ C) Using jargon
❌ D) Avoiding examples - Which are key
components of the DECIDE problem-solving model?
✅ A) Define the problem
✅ B) Explore alternatives
❌ C) Delay decisions
❌ D) Delegate always - What is reverse
brainstorming?
✅ A) Identifying how to cause the problem
❌ B) Voting for best idea
❌ C) Using jargon
❌ D) Praising only good ideas - An assumption in
critical thinking is:
✅ A) An unexamined belief
❌ B) A scientific law
❌ C) A proven fact
❌ D) A hypothesis - Which of these best
demonstrates intellectual humility?
✅ A) Recognizing limits of your knowledge
❌ B) Always debating
❌ C) Pretending to know everything
❌ D) Agreeing with everyone
✅ Set 3
- The “Eisenhower
Matrix” is used to:
✅ A) Prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance
❌ B) Evaluate emotions
❌ C) Eliminate alternatives
❌ D) Choose leaders - Bandwagon fallacy
assumes that:
✅ A) If everyone believes something, it must be true
❌ B) Only experts are right
❌ C) Popularity equals truth
❌ D) Authority must be followed - What question should
you ask when evaluating a claim like “90% of dentists recommend X”?
✅ A) Who funded the study?
✅ B) How many dentists were surveyed?
✅ C) What does “recommend” mean?
✅ D) All of the above - What defines
confirmation bias?
✅ A) Favoring information that supports existing views
❌ B) Actively avoiding data
❌ C) Seeking contradiction
❌ D) Random acceptance - The "Six Thinking
Hats" method's white hat symbolizes:
✅ A) Facts and neutral information
❌ B) Emotions
❌ C) Risk analysis
❌ D) Creativity - “Post hoc” fallacy
assumes:
✅ A) Because one thing follows another, it caused it
❌ B) There’s no explanation needed
❌ C) All events are unrelated
❌ D) Logic isn’t required - What is “SCAMPER” used
for?
✅ A) Idea generation and innovation
❌ B) Conflict resolution
❌ C) Hiring decisions
❌ D) Ethical analysis
✅ Set 4
- Which bias is shown
when people stick with a decision because they've already invested too
much?
✅ A) Sunk cost fallacy
❌ B) Optimism bias
❌ C) Affinity bias
❌ D) Halo effect - "We should ban
cars because vehicles are dangerous" is an example of:
✅ A) Equivocation
❌ B) Straw man
❌ C) Hasty generalization
❌ D) Appeal to pity - What is the main
function of a pros-and-cons list?
✅ A) Compare advantages and disadvantages visually
❌ B) Delay decisions
❌ C) Complicate thinking
❌ D) Simplify problems unfairly - What are signs of
fair-mindedness?
✅ A) Impartially considering opposing views
❌ B) Ignoring opposition
❌ C) Arguing emotionally
❌ D) Only listening to experts - Which best defines
“critical thinking”?
✅ A) Analyzing and evaluating info to form reasoned conclusions
❌ B) Memorizing facts
❌ C) Arguing with emotion
❌ D) Relying on quick judgments - "Penguins are
birds. All birds fly. So penguins fly" is:
✅ A) Valid but unsound
❌ B) Sound
❌ C) Invalid
❌ D) True by definition - Which statements
reflect intellectual standards in critical thinking?
✅ A) Relevance
✅ B) Clarity
✅ C) Logical consistency
❌ D) Length of argument
✅ Set 5
- Abductive reasoning
involves:
✅ A) Inferring the best explanation from observations
❌ B) Proving all things mathematically
❌ C) Using personal beliefs only
❌ D) Rejecting opposing claims - "We've always
done it this way" reflects:
✅ A) Status quo bias
❌ B) Confirmation bias
❌ C) Critical thinking
❌ D) Strategic change - A logical fallacy is:
✅ A) An error in reasoning
❌ B) A scientific theory
❌ C) Always persuasive
❌ D) A good debate tactic - What is “opportunity
cost”?
✅ A) Value of the next best alternative forgone
❌ B) The total financial loss
❌ C) Emotional damage
❌ D) Any monetary cost - “Flowcharting” is
helpful for:
✅ A) Visualizing processes and inefficiencies
❌ B) Gathering emotional support
❌ C) Predicting trends
❌ D) Marketing - Which is a
counterexample to "All prime numbers are odd"?
✅ A) 2
❌ B) 1
❌ C) 3
❌ D) 9 - What’s the main risk
of “Paralysis by Analysis”?
✅ A) Inaction due to overthinking
❌ B) Rushed decisions
❌ C) Gut instinct domination
❌ D) Ignoring detail
✅ Set 6
- The Socratic Method
encourages:
✅ A) Asking probing questions
❌ B) Memorizing facts
❌ C) Giving orders
❌ D) Avoiding contradictions - How do you check
assumptions in an argument?
✅ A) Ask “What is taken for granted?”
❌ B) Ask “What’s the conclusion?”
❌ C) Ignore facts
❌ D) Assume accuracy - How does “Blind Spot
Bias” affect us?
✅ A) Makes us believe we are less biased than others
❌ B) Makes us unbiased
❌ C) Strengthens arguments
❌ D) Promotes logic - A good decision is
based on:
✅ A) Logical reasoning
✅ B) Evidence
❌ C) Hunches
❌ D) Peer pressure - Ethical reasoning
includes:
✅ A) Considering consequences (Utilitarianism)
✅ B) Following duties (Deontology)
❌ C) Ignoring conflict
❌ D) Avoiding analysis - Evaluating whether a
conclusion follows from evidence checks for:
✅ A) Logical consistency
❌ B) Clarity
❌ C) Relevance only
❌ D) Popular opinion - An argument is valid
if:
✅ A) The conclusion follows from the premises
❌ B) The premises are false
❌ C) The reasoning is unclear
❌ D) It agrees with beliefs
✅ Set 7
- Affinity bias occurs
when:
✅ A) Favoring people like ourselves (e.g., same school)
❌ B) Judging fairly
❌ C) Avoiding similarities
❌ D) Favoring performance only - The “stepladder
technique” is used to:
✅ A) Improve group decision-making
❌ B) Promote status
❌ C) Silence dissent
❌ D) Use majority rule - Evaluating evidence
relevance checks:
✅ A) Intellectual standard of Relevance
❌ B) Popularity
❌ C) Emotions
❌ D) Confidence - Choosing evidence
based only on emotion is a:
✅ A) Fallacy
❌ B) Sound method
❌ C) Bias-free process
❌ D) Reliable strategy - What makes a source
credible?
✅ A) Peer-reviewed journal
❌ B) Anonymous blog
❌ C) Social media poll
❌ D) Celebrity endorsement - Which promotes clarity
and precision?
✅ A) Using specific data and definitions
❌ B) Vague generalizations
❌ C) Buzzwords
❌ D) Overstating claims - Inductive reasoning is
weaker than deductive because:
✅ A) It relies on probability, not certainty
❌ B) It uses formal logic
❌ C) It ignores detail
❌ D) It’s always false
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