Question 1

Which of the following claims is testable?

Accepted Answer

A)  All of the answers are correct. 
B)  "Smoking causes cancer." 
C)  "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings." 
D)  "You were a koala in a previous life." 
E)  "The world was created three minutes ago in a way that makes it look like it was created billions of years ago." 
A)  All of the answers are correct. 
B)  "Smoking causes cancer." 
C)  "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings." 
D)  "You were a koala in a previous life." 
E)  "The world was created three minutes ago in a way that makes it look like it was created billions of years ago."

Question 2

Which of the following is a scientific question?

Accepted Answer

A)  "Should partial-birth abortions be banned?" 
B)  "Does my life have meaning?" 
C)  None of the answers are correct 
D)  "Does everything happen for a reason?" 
A)  "Should partial-birth abortions be banned?" 
B)  "Does my life have meaning?" 
C)  None of the answers are correct 
D)  "Does everything happen for a reason?"

Question 3

Scientists often formulate working hypotheses without prior assumptions because those assumptions would negatively influence their observations.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Science is completely different from common sense.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

To be scientific, a claim must be testable, and to be testable, it must be expressed in clear, specific language.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

A good scientist never admits when he or she is wrong.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

"Should cloning be permitted?" is a scientific question.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

In general, scientific tests do not support the claims of astrology.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Astrology is good science.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

In the context of the types of vague expressions used by psychic readers, _____ are subtle statements designed to prompt a reaction, but carefully phrased so that they are easily interpreted as hits but not so easily interpreted as misses.

Accepted Answer

A)  run-on sentences 
B)  ellipses 
C)  multiple-out expressions 
D)  try-ons 
A)  run-on sentences 
B)  ellipses 
C)  multiple-out expressions 
D)  try-ons

Question 11

The view that science is the only reliable way of knowing is called _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  None of the answers are correct 
B)  scientific hegemonism 
C)  scientific imperialism 
D)  scientism 
A)  None of the answers are correct 
B)  scientific hegemonism 
C)  scientific imperialism 
D)  scientism

Question 12

Good science is progressive.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Even though some arguments are not deductively valid, they can provide persuasive evidence for a conclusion.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Belief in astrology is very ancient, and it began more than four thousand years ago in _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  China 
B)  Rome 
C)  Greece 
D)  Mesopotamia 
A)  China 
B)  Rome 
C)  Greece 
D)  Mesopotamia

Question 15

According to the text, science is the most powerful intellectual tool ever discovered.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT part of the basic pattern of scientific reasoning?

Accepted Answer

A)  answering questions of value 
B)  formulating hypotheses to explain the data 
C)  gathering relevant data 
D)  identifying the problem 
A)  answering questions of value 
B)  formulating hypotheses to explain the data 
C)  gathering relevant data 
D)  identifying the problem

Which of the following claims is testable?

Which of the following is a scientific question?

Scientists often formulate working hypotheses without prior assumptions because those assumptions would negatively influence their observations.

Science is completely different from common sense.

To be scientific, a claim must be testable, and to be testable, it must be expressed in clear, specific language.

A good scientist never admits when he or she is wrong.

"Should cloning be permitted?" is a scientific question.

In general, scientific tests do not support the claims of astrology.

Astrology is good science.

In the context of the types of vague expressions used by psychic readers, _____ are subtle statements designed to prompt a reaction, but carefully phrased so that they are easily interpreted as hits but not so easily interpreted as misses.

The view that science is the only reliable way of knowing is called _____.

Good science is progressive.

Even though some arguments are not deductively valid, they can provide persuasive evidence for a conclusion.

Belief in astrology is very ancient, and it began more than four thousand years ago in _____.

According to the text, science is the most powerful intellectual tool ever discovered.

Which of the following is NOT part of the basic pattern of scientific reasoning?

Introduction to Critical Thinking

Recognizing Arguments

Basic Logical Concepts

Language

Logical Fallaciesi

Logical Fallaciesii

Analyzing Arguments

Evaluating Arguments and Truth Claims

A Little Categorical Logic

A Little Propositional Logic

Inductive Reasoning

Finding, Evaluating, and Using Sources

Writing Argumentative Essays

Thinking Critically About the Media

Filters

Exam 15: Science and Pseudoscience

Which of the following claims is testable?

Which of the following is a scientific question?

Scientists often formulate working hypotheses without prior assumptions because those assumptions would negatively influence their observations.

Science is completely different from common sense.

To be scientific, a claim must be testable, and to be testable, it must be expressed in clear, specific language.

A good scientist never admits when he or she is wrong.

"Should cloning be permitted?" is a scientific question.

In general, scientific tests do not support the claims of astrology.

Astrology is good science.

In the context of the types of vague expressions used by psychic readers, _____ are subtle statements designed to prompt a reaction, but carefully phrased so that they are easily interpreted as hits but not so easily interpreted as misses.

The view that science is the only reliable way of knowing is called _____.

Good science is progressive.

Even though some arguments are not deductively valid, they can provide persuasive evidence for a conclusion.

Belief in astrology is very ancient, and it began more than four thousand years ago in _____.

According to the text, science is the most powerful intellectual tool ever discovered.

Which of the following is NOT part of the basic pattern of scientific reasoning?

Introduction to Critical Thinking

Recognizing Arguments

Basic Logical Concepts

Language

Logical Fallaciesi

Logical Fallaciesii

Analyzing Arguments

Evaluating Arguments and Truth Claims

A Little Categorical Logic

A Little Propositional Logic

Inductive Reasoning

Finding, Evaluating, and Using Sources

Writing Argumentative Essays

Thinking Critically About the Media

Filters