CRITICAL THINKING TEST -
REASONING AND PROBLEM SOLVING.
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(VERIFIED AND UPDATED)
Which of the following problems is a question of judgment that requires critical thinking? Select
one.
a) What is the fastest speed at which a car can travel between two distances?
b) What is the most scenic route one might travel between two locations?
c) What is the most efficient speed at which one might travel between two locations?
d) What is the most effective and safest way to design a roadway system to achieve efficiency? -
ANS What is the most effective and safest way to design a roadway system to achieve
efficiency?
The federal government is considering setting aside land for a new national monument. An
employee in the governor's office of the state where the monument may be designated is asked
to research the possible economic impact of the designation. What critical thinking strategy
should the employee employ to clarify the issue?
a) Discuss the issue with other employees in the governor's office to see how they feel about it.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,b) Determine whether the governor supports or opposes the monument designation.
c) Determine the main sources of potential information and begin research.
d) Research the economic impact of every national monument in every state.
e) Write out all arguments that both favor and oppose the monument for the governor's review.
- ANS c) Determine the main sources of potential information and begin research.
A to E
Through a bond issue, a city council has the funding to create bike lanes in the city; however,
they cannot agree upon the routes and upon which streets should contain the bike lanes. Expert
A has presented evidence about traffic flow and bicycle safety, concluding that bike lanes should
be put on residential streets where possible and kept off the busier main corridors. Expert A's
evidence shows that this increases safety for the bikers even though it may mean they will ride
longer distances. Expert B has presented evidence about traffic flow and bicycle safety that
concludes that the main corridors are the better and safer choice for bike lanes because they
are wider and more easily accessible. The city decides to go with Expert A's evidence and
installs the bike lanes on residential streets. Shortly after the bike lanes open, a biker is seriously
injured when hit by a car backing out of a driveway.
Which o - ANS e) It is not possible to know the accuracy of either expert's evidence from the
information given.
F to J
Through a bond issue, a city council has the funding to create bike lanes in the city; however,
they cannot agree upon the routes and upon which streets should contain the bike lanes. Expert
A has presented evidence about traffic flow and bicycle safety, concluding that bike lanes should
be put on residential streets where possible and kept off the busier main corridors. Expert A's
evidence shows that this increases safety for the bikers even though it may mean they will ride
longer distances. Expert B has presented evidence about traffic flow and bicycle safety that
concludes that the main corridors are the better and safer choice for bike lanes because they
are wider and more easily accessible. The city decides to go with Expert A's evidence and
installs the bike lanes on residential streets. Shortly after the bike lanes open, a biker is seriously
injured when hit by a car backing out of a driveway.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Which of - ANS h) The evidence of both experts was relevant.
A to C
A city has recently built a new sports arena in a downtown urban area that already has parking
problems. The residents of the downtown area where the sports arena has been built have
proposed that the city issue the residents parking permits and designate the majority of the
parking spaces in the area of the arena as "permit-parking only," so residents are not
inconvenienced by the arena.
What primary questions would the city want to ask to measure the implications of this solution?
a) Have we identified the negative implications of the proposed solution?
b) Have we identified the positive implications of the proposed solutions?
c) Have we considered all possible implications that could ever arise in the future? - ANS a)
Have we identified the negative implications of the proposed solution?
b) Have we identified the positive implications of the proposed solutions?
D to F
A city has recently built a new sports arena in a downtown urban area that already has parking
problems. The residents of the downtown area where the sports arena has been built have
proposed that the city issue the residents parking permits and designate the majority of the
parking spaces in the area of the arena as "permit-parking only," so residents are not
inconvenienced by the arena.
What primary questions would the city want to ask to measure the implications of this solution?
d) Have we considered all significant implications known at this time?
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
REASONING AND PROBLEM SOLVING.
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(VERIFIED AND UPDATED)
Which of the following problems is a question of judgment that requires critical thinking? Select
one.
a) What is the fastest speed at which a car can travel between two distances?
b) What is the most scenic route one might travel between two locations?
c) What is the most efficient speed at which one might travel between two locations?
d) What is the most effective and safest way to design a roadway system to achieve efficiency? -
ANS What is the most effective and safest way to design a roadway system to achieve
efficiency?
The federal government is considering setting aside land for a new national monument. An
employee in the governor's office of the state where the monument may be designated is asked
to research the possible economic impact of the designation. What critical thinking strategy
should the employee employ to clarify the issue?
a) Discuss the issue with other employees in the governor's office to see how they feel about it.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,b) Determine whether the governor supports or opposes the monument designation.
c) Determine the main sources of potential information and begin research.
d) Research the economic impact of every national monument in every state.
e) Write out all arguments that both favor and oppose the monument for the governor's review.
- ANS c) Determine the main sources of potential information and begin research.
A to E
Through a bond issue, a city council has the funding to create bike lanes in the city; however,
they cannot agree upon the routes and upon which streets should contain the bike lanes. Expert
A has presented evidence about traffic flow and bicycle safety, concluding that bike lanes should
be put on residential streets where possible and kept off the busier main corridors. Expert A's
evidence shows that this increases safety for the bikers even though it may mean they will ride
longer distances. Expert B has presented evidence about traffic flow and bicycle safety that
concludes that the main corridors are the better and safer choice for bike lanes because they
are wider and more easily accessible. The city decides to go with Expert A's evidence and
installs the bike lanes on residential streets. Shortly after the bike lanes open, a biker is seriously
injured when hit by a car backing out of a driveway.
Which o - ANS e) It is not possible to know the accuracy of either expert's evidence from the
information given.
F to J
Through a bond issue, a city council has the funding to create bike lanes in the city; however,
they cannot agree upon the routes and upon which streets should contain the bike lanes. Expert
A has presented evidence about traffic flow and bicycle safety, concluding that bike lanes should
be put on residential streets where possible and kept off the busier main corridors. Expert A's
evidence shows that this increases safety for the bikers even though it may mean they will ride
longer distances. Expert B has presented evidence about traffic flow and bicycle safety that
concludes that the main corridors are the better and safer choice for bike lanes because they
are wider and more easily accessible. The city decides to go with Expert A's evidence and
installs the bike lanes on residential streets. Shortly after the bike lanes open, a biker is seriously
injured when hit by a car backing out of a driveway.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Which of - ANS h) The evidence of both experts was relevant.
A to C
A city has recently built a new sports arena in a downtown urban area that already has parking
problems. The residents of the downtown area where the sports arena has been built have
proposed that the city issue the residents parking permits and designate the majority of the
parking spaces in the area of the arena as "permit-parking only," so residents are not
inconvenienced by the arena.
What primary questions would the city want to ask to measure the implications of this solution?
a) Have we identified the negative implications of the proposed solution?
b) Have we identified the positive implications of the proposed solutions?
c) Have we considered all possible implications that could ever arise in the future? - ANS a)
Have we identified the negative implications of the proposed solution?
b) Have we identified the positive implications of the proposed solutions?
D to F
A city has recently built a new sports arena in a downtown urban area that already has parking
problems. The residents of the downtown area where the sports arena has been built have
proposed that the city issue the residents parking permits and designate the majority of the
parking spaces in the area of the arena as "permit-parking only," so residents are not
inconvenienced by the arena.
What primary questions would the city want to ask to measure the implications of this solution?
d) Have we considered all significant implications known at this time?
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
