PHIL 341 Midterm Study Guide: Critical
Thinking Concepts UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Claim - CORRECT ANSWER -A statement that can be true or false. Example: "The Earth
is round."
Issue - CORRECT ANSWER -A question about whether a claim is true or false. Example:
"Is climate change caused by humans?"
Objective - CORRECT ANSWER -Based on facts, independent of opinions. Example:
"Water boils at 100°C at sea level."
Subjective - CORRECT ANSWER -Based on personal feelings or opinions. Example:
"Chocolate is the best ice cream flavor."
Belief Bias - CORRECT ANSWER -Accepting a claim because it aligns with beliefs.
Example: A person who believes in ghosts dismisses all evidence against their existence.
Confirmation Bias - CORRECT ANSWER -Favoring information that supports existing
beliefs. Example: Only reading news sources that align with one's political views.
Availability Heuristic - CORRECT ANSWER -Relying on immediate examples. Example:
Thinking shark attacks are common after seeing one on the news.
False Consensus Effect - CORRECT ANSWER -Overestimating how much others agree.
Example: Assuming everyone likes your favorite TV show.
Bandwagon Effect - CORRECT ANSWER -Adopting beliefs because many others do.
Example: Buying a product because it's trending on social media.
, Negativity Bias - CORRECT ANSWER -Giving more weight to negative information.
Example: Remembering a single negative review despite hundreds of positive ones.
Loss Aversion - CORRECT ANSWER -Preferring to avoid losses over making gains.
Example: Holding onto a failing stock rather than selling it.
In-group Bias - CORRECT ANSWER -Favoring one's own group. Example: Believing
your school is better than others with no real evidence.
Fundamental Attribution Error - CORRECT ANSWER -Blaming others' behavior on
character rather than situation. Example: Thinking someone is rude rather than considering they
had a bad day.
Obedience to Authority - CORRECT ANSWER -Following orders without questioning.
Example: A soldier obeying an order without considering its morality.
Overconfidence Effect - CORRECT ANSWER -Overestimating one's abilities. Example:
Thinking you can drive well in heavy traffic while texting.
Better-than-Average Effect - CORRECT ANSWER -Believing oneself to be superior.
Example: Most people think they are above-average drivers.
Premises - CORRECT ANSWER -Support in an argument. Example: "All humans need
oxygen (premise). John is human (premise). Therefore, John needs oxygen (conclusion)."
Conclusion - CORRECT ANSWER -The claim in an argument that is supported by
premises.
Thinking Concepts UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Claim - CORRECT ANSWER -A statement that can be true or false. Example: "The Earth
is round."
Issue - CORRECT ANSWER -A question about whether a claim is true or false. Example:
"Is climate change caused by humans?"
Objective - CORRECT ANSWER -Based on facts, independent of opinions. Example:
"Water boils at 100°C at sea level."
Subjective - CORRECT ANSWER -Based on personal feelings or opinions. Example:
"Chocolate is the best ice cream flavor."
Belief Bias - CORRECT ANSWER -Accepting a claim because it aligns with beliefs.
Example: A person who believes in ghosts dismisses all evidence against their existence.
Confirmation Bias - CORRECT ANSWER -Favoring information that supports existing
beliefs. Example: Only reading news sources that align with one's political views.
Availability Heuristic - CORRECT ANSWER -Relying on immediate examples. Example:
Thinking shark attacks are common after seeing one on the news.
False Consensus Effect - CORRECT ANSWER -Overestimating how much others agree.
Example: Assuming everyone likes your favorite TV show.
Bandwagon Effect - CORRECT ANSWER -Adopting beliefs because many others do.
Example: Buying a product because it's trending on social media.
, Negativity Bias - CORRECT ANSWER -Giving more weight to negative information.
Example: Remembering a single negative review despite hundreds of positive ones.
Loss Aversion - CORRECT ANSWER -Preferring to avoid losses over making gains.
Example: Holding onto a failing stock rather than selling it.
In-group Bias - CORRECT ANSWER -Favoring one's own group. Example: Believing
your school is better than others with no real evidence.
Fundamental Attribution Error - CORRECT ANSWER -Blaming others' behavior on
character rather than situation. Example: Thinking someone is rude rather than considering they
had a bad day.
Obedience to Authority - CORRECT ANSWER -Following orders without questioning.
Example: A soldier obeying an order without considering its morality.
Overconfidence Effect - CORRECT ANSWER -Overestimating one's abilities. Example:
Thinking you can drive well in heavy traffic while texting.
Better-than-Average Effect - CORRECT ANSWER -Believing oneself to be superior.
Example: Most people think they are above-average drivers.
Premises - CORRECT ANSWER -Support in an argument. Example: "All humans need
oxygen (premise). John is human (premise). Therefore, John needs oxygen (conclusion)."
Conclusion - CORRECT ANSWER -The claim in an argument that is supported by
premises.
