Basics Quiz One

Question 1 of 42

1

What is the meaning of the term "independent thinking?"

Select one of the following:

"Independent thinking" means figuring out what your professor wants you to say and then putting your professor's opinion into your own words.
"Independent thinking" means remembering what your parents, priests or other authority figures want you to think and thinking that thing.
"Independent thinking" means ignoring what other people say and just applying your best understanding of logic to all the available evidence.
"Independent thinking"means looking into your heart to work out what you personally feel is the truth.

Explanation

Question 2 of 42

1

When someone makes a claim with complete confidence that it is true, her confidence by itself gives you a good reason to think that the claim is true.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 3 of 42

1

When you feel very strongly that something is true, and you believe it with all your heart, that gives you a good reason to think that it is true.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 4 of 42

1

When you are asked to think about a particular question, you should always start by thinking about what you already believe about the issue.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 5 of 42

1

If someone else has already logically analyzed an issue, you can give your own logical analysis simply by describing everything this other person said.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 6 of 42

1

If something you previously stated to be true turns out to be contradicted by all the available evidence, you can logically still go on saying that it is true.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 7 of 42

1

Smart people tend to be people who never change their minds about anything.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 8 of 42

1

It is possible to think logically without thinking about arguments.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 9 of 42

1

It is possible to think critically about the world without thinking about evidence.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 10 of 42

1

If you already believe something is true then you can logically assume it's supported by evidence.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 11 of 42

1

If someone can write an emotionally persuasive speech in support of a claim, then that claim is true.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 12 of 42

1

The logical thinker ignores rhetoric and looks for the facts.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 13 of 42

1

You can know that something is true without knowing of any reason to think that it is true.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 14 of 42

1

People who try to pressure you into agreeing with them are not being logical.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 15 of 42

1

Select the one and only true statement:

Select one of the following:

A "fact" is something you believe to be true.
A "fact" is something everyone believes to be true.
A "fact" is something that anyone can independently verify to be true.
A "fact" is something that may or may not be true.

Explanation

Question 16 of 42

1

Select the one and only statement that is a fact about comets:

Select one of the following:

Comets are omens of doom.
Comets sometimes have glowing tails.
Comets are an atmospheric phenomenon.
Comets are made by gasses burning in the upper air.

Explanation

Question 17 of 42

1

Select the one and only true statement:

Select one of the following:

An "opinion" is something someone believes to be true.
An "opinion" is something someone else believes that is not a fact.
An "opinion" is something someone else believes that you don't believe.
An "opinion"is something that has been proved to be true.

Explanation

Question 18 of 42

1

Select the one and only true statement:

Select one of the following:

A "judgement" is just someone's opinion.
A "judgement" is whatever you personally happen to think.
A "judgement" is an opinion formed by applying logic to the available facts.
A "judgement" is when you decide whether something is good or bad.

Explanation

Question 19 of 42

1

Critical thinking is when you think up reasons to support things you believe.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 20 of 42

1

When you've looked everywhere, but can't find evidence to support your beliefs, if you're being logical, you should:

Select one of the following:

Keep looking, the evidence has to be out there somewhere.
Make up a plausible story that supports your beliefs.
Say that evidence exists, without saying what it is.
Change your mind and give up the belief you had before.

Explanation

Question 21 of 42

1

It's logically okay to ignore evidence that contradicts your beliefs.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 22 of 42

1

Once you've chosen a point of view you can't ever change your thesis.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 23 of 42

1

If you can't prove something, you shouldn't say it's true in a paper.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 24 of 42

1

You fulfill a critical thinking assignment by:

Select one of the following:

Writing a paper that explains what you feel to be true about the subject.
Explaining what you think is logically implied by the available evidence.
Explaining what one or more other people think about the subject.
Writing a paper that gives all your personal beliefs about the topic.

Explanation

Question 25 of 42

1

"Evidence" is basically the same as "facts."

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 26 of 42

1

Select the one and only true statement:

Select one of the following:

Vehemently expressed opinions count as evidence.
Scientific papers and other academic journal articles count as evidence.
The opinions of untrained people count as evidence.
A strong feeling that something must be true counts as evidence.

Explanation

Question 27 of 42

1

If you can't describe the evidence, you have no evidence.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 28 of 42

1

When a professor asks "can you prove X," she wants you to:

Select one of the following:

Ignore the question.
Think about whether you can prove X, and change your mind if and only if you can't prove X.
Assume that X is not true, and go on from there.
Do your very, very best to prove that X is true.

Explanation

Question 29 of 42

1

If you believe X, that means that there is evidence for X.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 30 of 42

1

You should look at all the available relevant evidence before you decide what the truth is.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 31 of 42

1

Select the one and only true statement:

Select one of the following:

"Empirical" reasoning is only used by scientists.
"Empirical" statements are statements about the meanings of words.
Things exist that are not supported by empirical reasoning.
"Empirical" statements are statements about the real world.

Explanation

Question 32 of 42

1

Select the one and only true statement:

Select one of the following:

A statement is empirically true if it is passionately believed by someone.
A statement is empirically true if it is what everyone believes.
A statement is empirically true if it is completely supported by all the evidence.
A statement is empirically true if you strongly believe it is true.

Explanation

Question 33 of 42

1

Select the one and only true definition of logical support:

Select one of the following:

A fact supports a conclusion if it makes you feel that the conclusion is true.
A fact supports a conclusion if it cannot be easily explained without assuming the conclusion is true.
A fact supports a conclusion if you write it in the same paragraph as the conclusion.
A fact supports a conclusion if somebody says it does.

Explanation

Question 34 of 42

1

Some empirical claims can be supported absolutely

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 35 of 42

1

Select the one and only true statement:

Select one of the following:

A claim is only proved if it is absolutely supported.
A claim is only proved if it is absolutely or virtually absolutely supported.
A claim is only proved if it is at least compellingly supported.
A claim is proved if it is at least well supported.

Explanation

Question 36 of 42

1

If a claim is unsupported, it's still logically okay to say that it's true.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 37 of 42

1

Select the one and only true statement:

Select one of the following:

When a claim is not proven, that means it's disproved.
When a claim is not disproved, that means it's proven.
When a claim is not proven, that doesn't mean it's disproved.
When a claim is proven to be not proven, that does mean it's disproved.

Explanation

Question 38 of 42

1

You can logically say a claim is true without compelling reason to believe it.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 39 of 42

1

You can logically say a claim is false without compelling reason to disbelieve it.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 40 of 42

1

You can logically say a claim is unproven even if you have compelling reason to believe it.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 41 of 42

1

You can logically say a claim has not been disproved even if you have compelling reason to disbelieve that claim. (Read this carefully before answering)

	Created by squiptryx almost 10 years ago

Covers basic terms, ideas and practices of logical and critical thinking.

Basics Quiz One

Basics Quiz One

Question 1 of 42

What is the meaning of the term "independent thinking?"

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 2 of 42

When someone makes a claim with complete confidence that it is true, her confidence by itself gives you a good reason to think that the claim is true.

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 3 of 42

When you feel very strongly that something is true, and you believe it with all your heart, that gives you a good reason to think that it is true.

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 4 of 42

When you are asked to think about a particular question, you should always start by thinking about what you already believe about the issue.

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 5 of 42

If someone else has already logically analyzed an issue, you can give your own logical analysis simply by describing everything this other person said.

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 6 of 42

If something you previously stated to be true turns out to be contradicted by all the available evidence, you can logically still go on saying that it is true.

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 7 of 42

Smart people tend to be people who never change their minds about anything.

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 8 of 42

It is possible to think logically without thinking about arguments.

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 9 of 42

It is possible to think critically about the world without thinking about evidence.

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 10 of 42

If you already believe something is true then you can logically assume it's supported by evidence.

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 11 of 42

If someone can write an emotionally persuasive speech in support of a claim, then that claim is true.

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 12 of 42

The logical thinker ignores rhetoric and looks for the facts.

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 13 of 42

You can know that something is true without knowing of any reason to think that it is true.

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 14 of 42

People who try to pressure you into agreeing with them are not being logical.

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 15 of 42

Select the one and only true statement:

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 16 of 42

Select the one and only statement that is a fact about comets:

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 17 of 42

Select the one and only true statement:

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 18 of 42

Select the one and only true statement:

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 19 of 42

Critical thinking is when you think up reasons to support things you believe.

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 20 of 42