WGU C168 Critical Thinking and Logic OA (pdf) | 2026/2027 |
Objective Assessment | Critical Thinking
1. Which of the following is the most accurate definition of critical thinking?
A) The ability to memorize and recall large amounts of information quickly
B) The process of analyzing, evaluating, and improving one's own thinking
C) The tendency to accept information from authority figures without
question
D) The skill of winning arguments through persuasive language and rhetoric
Correct Answer: The process of analyzing, evaluating, and improving one's
own thinking
Rationale: Critical thinking is characteristically self-directed, self-disciplined,
self-monitored, and self-corrective. It comprises three interlocking
dimensions: analyzing, evaluating, and improving thinking. It is not about
memorization, blind acceptance, or winning arguments through
manipulation.
2. The three interlocking dimensions of critical thinking are:
A) Observing, describing, and concluding
B) Questioning, researching, and reporting
C) Analyzing, evaluating, and improving
D) Remembering, understanding, and applying
Correct Answer: Analyzing, evaluating, and improving
Rationale: Critical thinking is comprised of three interlocking dimensions:
analyzing, evaluating, and improving. These dimensions work together to
transform ordinary thinking into disciplined, self-corrective reasoning.
,3. What term describes thinking that is spontaneous and non-reflective,
containing both insight and prejudice?
A) Second-order thinking
B) Critical thinking
C) First-order thinking
D) Metacognition
Correct Answer: First-order thinking
Rationale: First-order thinking (ordinary thinking) is spontaneous and non-
reflective, containing insight, prejudice, good and bad reasoning. Second-
order thinking (critical thinking) is first-order thinking that is consciously
analyzed, assessed, and reconstructed.
4. A critical thinker who consistently pursues what is intellectually fair and
just, striving to be ethical, is known as a:
A) Weak-sense critical thinker
B) Strong-sense critical thinker
C) Egocentric thinker
D) Sociocentric thinker
Correct Answer: Strong-sense critical thinker
Rationale: Strong-sense critical thinkers engage in a consistent pursuit of
what is intellectually fair and just, striving to be ethical. Weak-sense critical
thinkers, by contrast, often ignore flaws in their own thinking and may use
intellectual trickery to win arguments.
5. The tendency to view everything in relationship to oneself is known as:
,A) Sociocentrism
B) Egocentrism
C) Intellectual humility
D) Fair-mindedness
Correct Answer: Egocentrism
Rationale: Egocentrism is the tendency to view everything in relationship to
oneself. Sociocentrism, by contrast, is the assumption that one's own social
group is inherently superior to all others.
6. A person who overestimates how much they know about a topic is
displaying:
A) Intellectual humility
B) Intellectual courage
C) Intellectual arrogance
D) Intellectual empathy
Correct Answer: Intellectual arrogance
Rationale: Intellectual arrogance is the overestimation of how much one
knows. Intellectual humility, its opposite, is the commitment to discovering
the extent of one's own ignorance on any issue.
7. The commitment to consider all relevant opinions equally, without regard
to one's own sentiments or selfish interests, is known as:
A) Intellectual unfairness
B) Egocentrism
C) Fair-mindedness
, D) Intellectual arrogance
Correct Answer: Fair-mindedness
Rationale: Fair-mindedness is the commitment to consider all relevant
opinions equally without regard to one's own sentiments or selfish interests.
Intellectual unfairness is the failure to represent viewpoints with which one
disagrees fairly and accurately.
8. Which of the following is a characteristic of critical thinking?
A) It is passive and accepts information at face value
B) It is self-directed and self-corrective
C) It relies solely on intuition and gut feelings
D) It avoids questioning established beliefs
Correct Answer: It is self-directed and self-corrective
Rationale: Critical thinking is characteristically self-directed, self-disciplined,
self-monitored, and self-corrective. It is an active, reflective process that
questions assumptions and seeks improvement.
9. A fixed or oversimplified conception of a person, group, or idea is known
as a:
A) Concept
B) Stereotype
C) Inference
D) Assumption
Correct Answer: Stereotype
Objective Assessment | Critical Thinking
1. Which of the following is the most accurate definition of critical thinking?
A) The ability to memorize and recall large amounts of information quickly
B) The process of analyzing, evaluating, and improving one's own thinking
C) The tendency to accept information from authority figures without
question
D) The skill of winning arguments through persuasive language and rhetoric
Correct Answer: The process of analyzing, evaluating, and improving one's
own thinking
Rationale: Critical thinking is characteristically self-directed, self-disciplined,
self-monitored, and self-corrective. It comprises three interlocking
dimensions: analyzing, evaluating, and improving thinking. It is not about
memorization, blind acceptance, or winning arguments through
manipulation.
2. The three interlocking dimensions of critical thinking are:
A) Observing, describing, and concluding
B) Questioning, researching, and reporting
C) Analyzing, evaluating, and improving
D) Remembering, understanding, and applying
Correct Answer: Analyzing, evaluating, and improving
Rationale: Critical thinking is comprised of three interlocking dimensions:
analyzing, evaluating, and improving. These dimensions work together to
transform ordinary thinking into disciplined, self-corrective reasoning.
,3. What term describes thinking that is spontaneous and non-reflective,
containing both insight and prejudice?
A) Second-order thinking
B) Critical thinking
C) First-order thinking
D) Metacognition
Correct Answer: First-order thinking
Rationale: First-order thinking (ordinary thinking) is spontaneous and non-
reflective, containing insight, prejudice, good and bad reasoning. Second-
order thinking (critical thinking) is first-order thinking that is consciously
analyzed, assessed, and reconstructed.
4. A critical thinker who consistently pursues what is intellectually fair and
just, striving to be ethical, is known as a:
A) Weak-sense critical thinker
B) Strong-sense critical thinker
C) Egocentric thinker
D) Sociocentric thinker
Correct Answer: Strong-sense critical thinker
Rationale: Strong-sense critical thinkers engage in a consistent pursuit of
what is intellectually fair and just, striving to be ethical. Weak-sense critical
thinkers, by contrast, often ignore flaws in their own thinking and may use
intellectual trickery to win arguments.
5. The tendency to view everything in relationship to oneself is known as:
,A) Sociocentrism
B) Egocentrism
C) Intellectual humility
D) Fair-mindedness
Correct Answer: Egocentrism
Rationale: Egocentrism is the tendency to view everything in relationship to
oneself. Sociocentrism, by contrast, is the assumption that one's own social
group is inherently superior to all others.
6. A person who overestimates how much they know about a topic is
displaying:
A) Intellectual humility
B) Intellectual courage
C) Intellectual arrogance
D) Intellectual empathy
Correct Answer: Intellectual arrogance
Rationale: Intellectual arrogance is the overestimation of how much one
knows. Intellectual humility, its opposite, is the commitment to discovering
the extent of one's own ignorance on any issue.
7. The commitment to consider all relevant opinions equally, without regard
to one's own sentiments or selfish interests, is known as:
A) Intellectual unfairness
B) Egocentrism
C) Fair-mindedness
, D) Intellectual arrogance
Correct Answer: Fair-mindedness
Rationale: Fair-mindedness is the commitment to consider all relevant
opinions equally without regard to one's own sentiments or selfish interests.
Intellectual unfairness is the failure to represent viewpoints with which one
disagrees fairly and accurately.
8. Which of the following is a characteristic of critical thinking?
A) It is passive and accepts information at face value
B) It is self-directed and self-corrective
C) It relies solely on intuition and gut feelings
D) It avoids questioning established beliefs
Correct Answer: It is self-directed and self-corrective
Rationale: Critical thinking is characteristically self-directed, self-disciplined,
self-monitored, and self-corrective. It is an active, reflective process that
questions assumptions and seeks improvement.
9. A fixed or oversimplified conception of a person, group, or idea is known
as a:
A) Concept
B) Stereotype
C) Inference
D) Assumption
Correct Answer: Stereotype
