GEN 499 Critical Thinking Quiz Latest
Questions and Answers
1. <11{1[4(17)17]}> Mrs. Orlof teaches two history classes, one in the morning
and one in the afternoon. Yesterday she gave the same test to both classes.
Anyone who failed the test must take a retest. Since a greater percentage of
students who took the morning test failed the test than students who took the
afternoon test, more of Orlof’s morning history students than afternoon history
students will have to take the retest.
The conclusion above is not necessarily valid because: (Points : 1)
more students in the morning class may have passed the test than failed the test.
some students may have been absent from both classes.
some of the students who passed the afternoon test may have received information
about the test from morning students.
more students may have taken the test in the afternoon than in the morning.
Question 2.2. <11{1[4(23)23]}> People have claimed that Jamie’s paintings have given
them the blues. Clearly this cannot be entirely correct, since many of Jamie’s paintings
contain no blue at all.
The argument above is flawed because the author: (Points : 1)
provides no evidence.
misinterprets a key term.
relies on contradictory facts.
is not a noted painting expert.
Question 3.3. <11{1[2(06)06]}> Reporter: A new campaign finance reform bill being
considered by Congress would limit the amount of campaign contributions that political
candidates can receive. However, a survey of candidates running for mayor, governor, and
senate seats shows that not one of them favors the bill. Clearly, there is no desire among
politicians to limit campaign contributions.
Which one of the following points out the flaw in the reporter’s argument above? (Points : 1)
The reporter doesn’t indicate the amount that the new bill would limit campaign
contributions.
The evidence provided by the reporter suggests that most politicians are in favor of
the new bill.
The reporter wrongly assumes that no politician has ever supported a bill intended
to limit campaign contributions.
, The views of candidates currently running for office do not necessarily represent
the views of all politicians.
Question 4.4. <21{1[2(24)24]}> The average height of members of the high school
basketball team is six feet, three inches. Jerry is on the high school basketball team, so Jerry
must be taller than six feet.
The argument above is flawed because it confuses (Points : 1)
Jerry with other members of the team
the members of one team with the members of another team
people who are six feet three inches tall for people who are exactly six feet tall
an average for the individuals that make up that average.
Question 5.5. <11{1[3(02)02]}> Catherine goes to her local movie theater only to see
romantic comedies. Since Catherine did not go to the movies yesterday, there is not a
romantic comedy playing at her local theater.
The reasoning above is flawed because the evidence: (Points : 1)
does not suggest that Catherine goes to see every romantic comedy that plays at
her local movie theater.
implies that Catherine is uninterested in most types of movies.
does not indicate whether Catherine watches only romantic comedies at home.
suggests that Catherine’s local movie theater hardly ever shows romantic
comedies.
Question 6.6. <21{1[1(01)01]}> Since Jessica’s participation in local politics increased
significantly after she joined her school’s political science club, it is clear that her
involvement in that club led her to take an interest in politics.
The argument above is flawed because: (Points : 1)
it doesn’t say which political issues Jessica is interested in.
it states that the only purpose of the political science club is to spark an interest in
politics.
it misuses the word “significantly.”
it’s possible that an interest in politics caused Jessica to join the political science
club.
Question 7.7. <11{2[3(11)35]}> Some politicians claim to support the environment in
speeches they make around the country. However, to get to those speeches they ride in gas
guzzling, pollution creating private planes. They therefore clearly don’t believe a word of
what they say and are actually making the environmental problem worse.
Which one of the following, if true, would best weaken the argument above? (Points : 1)
Questions and Answers
1. <11{1[4(17)17]}> Mrs. Orlof teaches two history classes, one in the morning
and one in the afternoon. Yesterday she gave the same test to both classes.
Anyone who failed the test must take a retest. Since a greater percentage of
students who took the morning test failed the test than students who took the
afternoon test, more of Orlof’s morning history students than afternoon history
students will have to take the retest.
The conclusion above is not necessarily valid because: (Points : 1)
more students in the morning class may have passed the test than failed the test.
some students may have been absent from both classes.
some of the students who passed the afternoon test may have received information
about the test from morning students.
more students may have taken the test in the afternoon than in the morning.
Question 2.2. <11{1[4(23)23]}> People have claimed that Jamie’s paintings have given
them the blues. Clearly this cannot be entirely correct, since many of Jamie’s paintings
contain no blue at all.
The argument above is flawed because the author: (Points : 1)
provides no evidence.
misinterprets a key term.
relies on contradictory facts.
is not a noted painting expert.
Question 3.3. <11{1[2(06)06]}> Reporter: A new campaign finance reform bill being
considered by Congress would limit the amount of campaign contributions that political
candidates can receive. However, a survey of candidates running for mayor, governor, and
senate seats shows that not one of them favors the bill. Clearly, there is no desire among
politicians to limit campaign contributions.
Which one of the following points out the flaw in the reporter’s argument above? (Points : 1)
The reporter doesn’t indicate the amount that the new bill would limit campaign
contributions.
The evidence provided by the reporter suggests that most politicians are in favor of
the new bill.
The reporter wrongly assumes that no politician has ever supported a bill intended
to limit campaign contributions.
, The views of candidates currently running for office do not necessarily represent
the views of all politicians.
Question 4.4. <21{1[2(24)24]}> The average height of members of the high school
basketball team is six feet, three inches. Jerry is on the high school basketball team, so Jerry
must be taller than six feet.
The argument above is flawed because it confuses (Points : 1)
Jerry with other members of the team
the members of one team with the members of another team
people who are six feet three inches tall for people who are exactly six feet tall
an average for the individuals that make up that average.
Question 5.5. <11{1[3(02)02]}> Catherine goes to her local movie theater only to see
romantic comedies. Since Catherine did not go to the movies yesterday, there is not a
romantic comedy playing at her local theater.
The reasoning above is flawed because the evidence: (Points : 1)
does not suggest that Catherine goes to see every romantic comedy that plays at
her local movie theater.
implies that Catherine is uninterested in most types of movies.
does not indicate whether Catherine watches only romantic comedies at home.
suggests that Catherine’s local movie theater hardly ever shows romantic
comedies.
Question 6.6. <21{1[1(01)01]}> Since Jessica’s participation in local politics increased
significantly after she joined her school’s political science club, it is clear that her
involvement in that club led her to take an interest in politics.
The argument above is flawed because: (Points : 1)
it doesn’t say which political issues Jessica is interested in.
it states that the only purpose of the political science club is to spark an interest in
politics.
it misuses the word “significantly.”
it’s possible that an interest in politics caused Jessica to join the political science
club.
Question 7.7. <11{2[3(11)35]}> Some politicians claim to support the environment in
speeches they make around the country. However, to get to those speeches they ride in gas
guzzling, pollution creating private planes. They therefore clearly don’t believe a word of
what they say and are actually making the environmental problem worse.
Which one of the following, if true, would best weaken the argument above? (Points : 1)
