Module 1

A person who believes that critical thinking is similar to other skills-based activities is most likely to suggest that it ________. a) can be improved by guided practice b) is something that groups of people cannot do together c) requires sticking to one's beliefs and opinions d) can be employed only when there are contradicting ideas The stronger our critical thinking skills and habits of mind, ________. a) the weaker our democracy will become b) the more likely we are to be influenced by others c) the more likely we are to live in a closed society d) the greater our prospects of success Which of the following measures should be taken by corporations hoping to succeed in a global high-tech world? a) restrict the free flow of accurate information b) exercise control over employees' minds c) cultivate workplace cultures that foster strong critical thinking d) emphasize leadership decision making based on gut feelings If a professor is grading student work for the quality of the critical thinking displayed, which of these considerations would be the most important? a) whether the professor agrees or disagrees with the conclusions presented b) the vocabulary and writing style displayed by the student c) the quality and fair-mindedness of reasoning displayed in the work d) the originality of the point of view expressed in the student's work Which of the following tools can be used to evaluate the quality of the critical thinking displayed by a group engaged in problem solving? a) the Rubric for Evaluating Written Argumentation b) Lafley and Martin's Five-Step Strategy Model c) the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric d) the STRATUS Model of Strategic Planning e) the CDC Protocol for the Evaluation of Dangerous Diseases Which of the following statements best describes the critical thinking process? a) Critical thinking is about being stubborn and judgmental in decision making. b) Critical thinking is about making decisions based on reasons that speak for themselves. c) Critical thinking is about cynically showing why other people are always wrong. d) Critical thinking is about using one's skills to defend bad decisions. Which of the following scenarios best exemplifies positive critical thinking? a) John prefers following instructions of his manager to thinking for himself.

b) Susan anticipates the expenses of attending college and seeks a part-time job. c) Eli, caught up in the excitement and emotions of the moment, joins in the looting. d) Jude, determined to act now on his decision, refuses to listen to his friend's reasons to delay. Al reads a blog about a new policy on student loans that is being proposed. Using the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric, he determines that the blogger's use of critical thinking was "acceptable." Which of the following would explain that rating? a) The blog contained the writer's biased opinion on the policies. b) The blog justified every one of its assumptions and questions. c) The blog superficially evaluated alternative points of view. d) The blog drew warranted and non-fallacious conclusions. Which of the following comparisons of the descriptions "unacceptable" and "weak" in the Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric is correct? a) They both apply to attempts at critical thinking that fair-mindedly follow where evidence and reasons lead. b) They both apply to attempts at critical thinking that thoughtfully analyze and evaluate major alternative points of view. c) They both apply to attempts at critical thinking that fail to identify strong, relevant counterarguments. d) They both apply to attempts at critical thinking that do justify results but do not explain reasons. When strong critical thinkers are taking into consideration the relevant ideas, definitions, and theories, they are attending to which of the following? a) methods b) criteria c) evidence d) conceptualizations e) questions Which individual exhibits a weak disposition toward critical thinking? a) a person who prefers jobs in which he is permitted to think through problems and make decisions b) a person who holds stubbornly to their preconceptions even when the facts show otherwise c) a person who gives his or her best while trying to solve difficult problems he encounters at work d) a person who takes the initiative to anticipate potential workplace problems Sophia asks probing questions, is interested in a variety of topics, and strives to learn more every day. Given this information, which positive critical thinking habit of mind does Sophia exhibit? a) open-mindedness

A person is less likely to apply critical thinking skills when he or she ________. a) approaches a challenging problem with confidence that he or she can think it through b) tries to think ahead and anticipate the consequences of various options c) reads widely and follows news reports just to learn new things d) makes snap judgments about problems without first thinking about how best to approach them _______ can be thought of as the process of purposeful reflective judgment . a) Networking b) Negative Thinking c) Mindfulness d) Critical Thinking When we engage in critical thinking we move from rigid thinking to more _____ thinking. a) flexible b) concrete c) reactive d) strained