Exam Questions with Correct Verified Answers/ Rated
A+
1. Which of the following statements best defines critical
thinking?
A) Critiquing the arguments of others to find flaws
B) Thinking about thinking in order to make thinking better
C) Memorizing facts and figures for an exam
D) Relying on instinct to solve complex problems
Answer: B
Rationale: According to Paul and Elder, critical thinking is the art
of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it. It
is "thinking about thinking" (second-order thinking) that seeks to
make reasoning better.
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,2. Critical thinking comprises three interlocking dimensions. What
are they?
A) Hypothesizing, Testing, and Concluding
B) Analyzing, Evaluating, and Improving
C) Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic
D) Assuming, Inferring, and Concluding
Answer: B
Rationale: The three dimensions are analyzing one's own thinking
by breaking it down, evaluating it by identifying weaknesses while
recognizing strengths, and improving it by reconstructing it to
make it better.
3. What is another term for critical thinking?
A) First-order thinking
B) Second-order thinking
C) Primary thinking
D) Reflective thinking
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,Answer: B
Rationale: Critical thinking is also known as second-order
thinking—first-order thinking that is consciously realized, analyzed,
assessed, and reconstructed. It is "thinking about thinking".
4. What is "ordinary thinking" called in the context of critical
thinking?
A) Second-order thinking
B) First-order thinking
C) Primary thinking
D) Reflective thinking
Answer: B
Rationale: First-order thinking is ordinary thinking—spontaneous,
non-reflective, and contains insight, prejudice, good and bad
reasoning indiscriminately combined.
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, 5. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of critical
thinking?
A) Self-directed
B) Self-disciplined
C) Self-monitored
D) Self-promoting
Answer: D
Rationale: Critical thinking is self-directed, self-disciplined, self-
monitored, and self-corrective. It is not self-promoting.
6. Hiding or distorting evidence to defend a preconceived
viewpoint illustrates which of the following?
A) Strong-sense critical thinking
B) Fair-mindedness
C) Weak-sense critical thinking
D) Intellectual humility
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