C168 - Critical Thinking and Logic –
Refactored Exam 2026 Questions and
Answers Graded A+
bottom-up approach to critical reasoning - Correct answer-
Critical thinking comprises what three interlinking dimensions? - Correct answer--
Analyzing one's own thinking- breaking it down into its component parts.
-Evaluating one's own thinking- identifying its weaknesses while recognizing its
strengths.
-Improving one's own thinking- reconstructing it to make it better.
Critical thinking is characteristically what? - Correct answer-self-directed
self-disciplined
self-monitored
self-corrective
sociocentrism - Correct answer-the assumption that one's own social group is
inherently superior to all others
,In reasoning through any problem, a well-cultivated critical thinker: - Correct
answer-Raises vital questions
Gathers and assesses relevant information
Reaches well-reasoned conclusions and solutions
Thinks open-mindedly
Communicates effectively with others
First-order thinking - Correct answer-Americans have always done it that way, and
as the greatest country in the world, it's always worked for us in the past.
How can we trust the engineering work on this building? The structural engineers
weren't educated in the U.S.
My intuition tells me to turn right here, so I won't bother to look at the map.
Second-order thinking - Correct answer-The assumptions we've relied upon may be
flawed. Let's review them again.
I'd like to talk this over with some colleagues. They may have some insights we are
missing.
As far as I am concerned, you're headed down the wrong path on this project, and
I'm rarely wrong on these matters.
,I didn't completely understand the repercussions of my original decision, and so
now I have changed my mind and I am recommending a new approach.This is an
example of second-order thinking, which is self-correcting.
weak sense critical thinkers - Correct answer-Ignore the flaws in their own thinking
Often seek to win an argument through intellectual trickery or deceit.
Lacks key higher-level skills and values of critical thinking
Makes no good faith effort to consider alternative viewpoints.
Lacks fair-mindedness
Employ lower-level rhetorical skills (making unreasonable thinking appear
reasonable and reasonable thinking appear unreasonable).
Employ emotionalism and intellectual trickery.
Hide or distort evidence
strong sense critical thinkers - Correct answer-consistent pursuit of what is
intellectually fair and just strive to be ethical
strive to empathize with other's viewpoints
will entertain arguments with which they do not agree
change their views when confronted with superior reasoning.
, employ their thinking reasonable instead of manipulatively.
requires fair mindedness combined with basic critical thinking skills
Fair mindedness yields many intellectual virtues - Correct answer-consider all
thinking by the same standards
expect good reasoning from supporters as well as from opponents
apply the same critical criteria to our own logic as to others' reasoning
recognize the actual strengths and weaknesses of any reasoning we assess
Intellectual Humility - Correct answer-Characterization
Commitment to discovering the extent of one's own ignorance on any issue
Recognition that one does not—and cannot—know everything
Consciousness of one's biases and prejudices
Aware of the limitations of one's viewpoint
Recognition that one should claim only what one actually knows
Awareness that egocentrism is often self-deceiving (i.e., convinces the mind that it
knows more than it does)
Its Opposite
Refactored Exam 2026 Questions and
Answers Graded A+
bottom-up approach to critical reasoning - Correct answer-
Critical thinking comprises what three interlinking dimensions? - Correct answer--
Analyzing one's own thinking- breaking it down into its component parts.
-Evaluating one's own thinking- identifying its weaknesses while recognizing its
strengths.
-Improving one's own thinking- reconstructing it to make it better.
Critical thinking is characteristically what? - Correct answer-self-directed
self-disciplined
self-monitored
self-corrective
sociocentrism - Correct answer-the assumption that one's own social group is
inherently superior to all others
,In reasoning through any problem, a well-cultivated critical thinker: - Correct
answer-Raises vital questions
Gathers and assesses relevant information
Reaches well-reasoned conclusions and solutions
Thinks open-mindedly
Communicates effectively with others
First-order thinking - Correct answer-Americans have always done it that way, and
as the greatest country in the world, it's always worked for us in the past.
How can we trust the engineering work on this building? The structural engineers
weren't educated in the U.S.
My intuition tells me to turn right here, so I won't bother to look at the map.
Second-order thinking - Correct answer-The assumptions we've relied upon may be
flawed. Let's review them again.
I'd like to talk this over with some colleagues. They may have some insights we are
missing.
As far as I am concerned, you're headed down the wrong path on this project, and
I'm rarely wrong on these matters.
,I didn't completely understand the repercussions of my original decision, and so
now I have changed my mind and I am recommending a new approach.This is an
example of second-order thinking, which is self-correcting.
weak sense critical thinkers - Correct answer-Ignore the flaws in their own thinking
Often seek to win an argument through intellectual trickery or deceit.
Lacks key higher-level skills and values of critical thinking
Makes no good faith effort to consider alternative viewpoints.
Lacks fair-mindedness
Employ lower-level rhetorical skills (making unreasonable thinking appear
reasonable and reasonable thinking appear unreasonable).
Employ emotionalism and intellectual trickery.
Hide or distort evidence
strong sense critical thinkers - Correct answer-consistent pursuit of what is
intellectually fair and just strive to be ethical
strive to empathize with other's viewpoints
will entertain arguments with which they do not agree
change their views when confronted with superior reasoning.
, employ their thinking reasonable instead of manipulatively.
requires fair mindedness combined with basic critical thinking skills
Fair mindedness yields many intellectual virtues - Correct answer-consider all
thinking by the same standards
expect good reasoning from supporters as well as from opponents
apply the same critical criteria to our own logic as to others' reasoning
recognize the actual strengths and weaknesses of any reasoning we assess
Intellectual Humility - Correct answer-Characterization
Commitment to discovering the extent of one's own ignorance on any issue
Recognition that one does not—and cannot—know everything
Consciousness of one's biases and prejudices
Aware of the limitations of one's viewpoint
Recognition that one should claim only what one actually knows
Awareness that egocentrism is often self-deceiving (i.e., convinces the mind that it
knows more than it does)
Its Opposite
