1. In the context of critical thinking, what is a bias?
A. A systematic preference or prejudice for or against something.
B. An objective evaluation based on evidence.
C. A logical conclusion drawn from facts.
D. A form of inductive reasoning.
Answer: A) A systematic preference or prejudice for or against
something.
Rationale: A bias is a tendency to favor one side over another, often
leading to skewed reasoning or conclusions.
2. Which of the following is an example of the "appeal to ignorance"
fallacy?
A. No one has proven this theory wrong, so it must be true.
B. Many people agree with this viewpoint, so it must be valid.
C. Experts in the field have endorsed this conclusion.
D. This argument has been tested and verified.
Answer: A) No one has proven this theory wrong, so it must be true.
Rationale: The appeal to ignorance fallacy assumes something is true
simply because it has not been disproven, which is a flawed approach to
reasoning.
,3. Which of the following is an example of a red herring fallacy?
A. Distracting from the issue by introducing irrelevant information.
B. Arguing that something is true because it has not been proven false.
C. Attacking the person rather than the argument.
D. Assuming that the future will resemble the past.
Answer: A) Distracting from the issue by introducing irrelevant
information.
Rationale: A red herring fallacy occurs when irrelevant information is
introduced to divert attention from the real issue.
4. Which of the following is an example of an ad hominem fallacy?
A. This argument is invalid because the person presenting it is
untrustworthy.
B. We should not accept this conclusion because there are no
supporting facts.
C. If we accept this argument, we must accept all similar arguments.
D. The person who made this claim has no expertise in the subject.
Answer: A) This argument is invalid because the person presenting it is
untrustworthy.
Rationale: An ad hominem fallacy attacks the character or traits of the
person making the argument rather than addressing the argument
itself.
, 5. In evaluating an argument, which of the following would be
considered a weak reason?
A. A claim based on sound statistical data.
B. A claim supported by expert testimony.
C. A claim based on personal anecdotes.
D. A claim supported by research studies.
Answer: C) A claim based on personal anecdotes.
Rationale: Personal anecdotes are generally considered weak evidence
in logical arguments because they are subjective and not universally
applicable.
6. What is the "burden of proof" in critical thinking?
A. The responsibility of the opposing side to prove the claim is false.
B. The responsibility of the person making the claim to provide
evidence supporting it.
C. The responsibility of the audience to reject the argument if it is
flawed.
D. The responsibility of both sides to present equal evidence.
Answer: B) The responsibility of the person making the claim to
provide evidence supporting it.
Rationale: The burden of proof lies with the person making the claim;
they must provide sufficient evidence to justify their argument.
A. A systematic preference or prejudice for or against something.
B. An objective evaluation based on evidence.
C. A logical conclusion drawn from facts.
D. A form of inductive reasoning.
Answer: A) A systematic preference or prejudice for or against
something.
Rationale: A bias is a tendency to favor one side over another, often
leading to skewed reasoning or conclusions.
2. Which of the following is an example of the "appeal to ignorance"
fallacy?
A. No one has proven this theory wrong, so it must be true.
B. Many people agree with this viewpoint, so it must be valid.
C. Experts in the field have endorsed this conclusion.
D. This argument has been tested and verified.
Answer: A) No one has proven this theory wrong, so it must be true.
Rationale: The appeal to ignorance fallacy assumes something is true
simply because it has not been disproven, which is a flawed approach to
reasoning.
,3. Which of the following is an example of a red herring fallacy?
A. Distracting from the issue by introducing irrelevant information.
B. Arguing that something is true because it has not been proven false.
C. Attacking the person rather than the argument.
D. Assuming that the future will resemble the past.
Answer: A) Distracting from the issue by introducing irrelevant
information.
Rationale: A red herring fallacy occurs when irrelevant information is
introduced to divert attention from the real issue.
4. Which of the following is an example of an ad hominem fallacy?
A. This argument is invalid because the person presenting it is
untrustworthy.
B. We should not accept this conclusion because there are no
supporting facts.
C. If we accept this argument, we must accept all similar arguments.
D. The person who made this claim has no expertise in the subject.
Answer: A) This argument is invalid because the person presenting it is
untrustworthy.
Rationale: An ad hominem fallacy attacks the character or traits of the
person making the argument rather than addressing the argument
itself.
, 5. In evaluating an argument, which of the following would be
considered a weak reason?
A. A claim based on sound statistical data.
B. A claim supported by expert testimony.
C. A claim based on personal anecdotes.
D. A claim supported by research studies.
Answer: C) A claim based on personal anecdotes.
Rationale: Personal anecdotes are generally considered weak evidence
in logical arguments because they are subjective and not universally
applicable.
6. What is the "burden of proof" in critical thinking?
A. The responsibility of the opposing side to prove the claim is false.
B. The responsibility of the person making the claim to provide
evidence supporting it.
C. The responsibility of the audience to reject the argument if it is
flawed.
D. The responsibility of both sides to present equal evidence.
Answer: B) The responsibility of the person making the claim to
provide evidence supporting it.
Rationale: The burden of proof lies with the person making the claim;
they must provide sufficient evidence to justify their argument.
