Deck 10: Become a Critical Thinker and Creative Problem Solver

Question 1

Philip was given a world problem to solve and he immediately began to create an algebraic expression from the facts stated in the problem.He was engaged in:

A)estimating
B)simplifying
C)illustrating
D)translating

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Kara is a creative person.Her goal is to be a website designer, so she has enrolled a computer science major.Looking through the textbook for her required Calculus I course, she is overwhelmed by the amount of content that will be covered in the semester.She now wonders if she should switch to a less math-intensive major.Given what you have learned about critical thinking, what is the best advice for this student?

A)Apply the Problem-Solving Steps to weigh the pros and cons of switching majors.
B)Go through the problem-solving checklist before deciding to switch majors.
C)Have a positive attitude and discipline herself.
D)Dispute the myth that creative people are not good at math and science.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Arnie has been paired with Jacob to work on project due in a few weeks.Jacob is very quiet in class and has a sloppy appearance; thus Arnie's impression is that Jacob has little to contribute to class and is rather disorganized.Jacob perceives Arnie to be bossy and uptight.Each has gone to their instructor to change partners with no success.To work well together, these men must:

A)change their routine.
B)change their mindsets.
C)develop and implement a plan of action.
D)evaluate each other's contributions.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Karl is faced with a plumbing problem he must solve.It would be helpful to begin to solve the problem by:

A)defining the known and unknown.
B)exploring creative solutions.
C)asking what the best plan of action is.
D)weighing the results of different decisions.

Question 5

To overcome math or science anxiety, it is important to:

A)make problems physical and act them out if necessary.
B)use reasoning.
C)know how to ask the right questions.
D)discipline yourself.

Question 6

"All men are mortal.Harold is a man.Therefore Harold is mortal." This is an example of:

A)deductive reasoning.
B)inductive reasoning.
C)specious logic.
D)a snap judgment.

Question 7

Zach's team has been working toward solving the same technical problem for over an hour and have been unable to arrive at a solution.They would benefit most by:

A)applying deductive reasoning.
B)applying Bloom's Taxonomy.
C)creative problem-solving.
D)applying inductive reasoning.

Question 8

Jaqueline has worked on solving the same statistics problem for an hour and is frustrated she cannot solve it.Right now what she needs most is:

A)a break
B)persistence
C)allowing failure
D)help

Question 9

Muriel is working on a survey design project for her internship with a school district.Her objective is measure the ease of implementation and learning impacts for a new nutrition program in the district.She has not designed a survey before and is brainstorming her first steps to complete the project.Who would be the best person to ask for assistance on where to begin, and what type of question should she ask?

A)Muriel should meet with the district representative overseeing her internship and ask open-ended questions.
B)Muriel should meet with the district's food director and ask fact-finding questions.
C)Muriel should meet with her college program advisor and ask open-ended questions.
D)Muriel should meet with a reference librarian and ask a closed question.

Question 10

When looking for various viewpoints on a particular question you have, it is best to ask a/an:

A)feedback question
B)open-ended question
C)fact-finding question
D)follow-up question

Question 11

"Mr.Walsh has the reputation of being an easy instructor who seems to hand out A's in class.Therefore, I can count on getting at least an A in his class this semester." This statement is an example of:

A)deductive reasoning.
B)inductive reasoning.
C)unwarranted assumption.
D)sweeping generalization.

Question 12

Kelsey is a film editor and loves what she does for a living.Often she will run into glitches or changes that require her to rework scenes and layers of soundtracks several times.Her greatest strength contributing to her successful career is most likely:

A)creative problem-solving.
B)persistence.
C)having a positive attitude.
D)paying attention to detail.

Question 13

The ability to clearly define a set of criteria for analyzing ideas is a quality of a:

A)creative thinker
B)critical thinker
C)visual thinker
D)positive thinker

Question 14

Yardise is acting as her group's mediator in a discussion they are having about dividing the work for a paper and project they must complete.As mediator, which critical thinking skill will be most helpful?

A)ability to suspend judgment and tolerate ambiguity
B)using inductive and deductive reasoning
C)asking questions
D)seeing all sides of an issue

Question 15

In Art History, Sharon was asked to compare and contrast the Surrealist and Dadaist movements to early music video work of the 1980's.Her instructor is asking her to apply which level of Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives?

A)application
B)synthesis
C)analysis
D)evaluation

Question 16

Javier has been enjoying "Einstein's Riddle" and shared a possible solution with his roommate Jess.Jess made fun of him for wasting time on the activity, labeling him a 'nerd'.Jess likely used negative labeling because:

A)Javier and Jess are competitive.
B)Javier is boastful.
C)Jess has anxiety about his problem-solving skills.
D)There is not enough information to make a critical judgment.

Question 17

Pat and his group are discussing a political problem in class and must offer possible solutions.He has his ideas on how to approach the problem but listens intently to what his group members have to say before he offers his approach.This is an example of:

A)inductive reasoning
B)deductive reasoning
C)effective problem-solving
D)listening to all sides of an issue.

Question 18

Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation are levels associated with:

A)Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Strategies
B)Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives
C)Creative Problem-Solving Strategies
D)SCANS for School and Job Success

Question 19

The statement "All instructors are absent-minded intellectuals" is an example of:

A)negative labeling
B)projection.
C)stereotyping.
D)deductive reasoning.

Question 20

In the first week of class Ed impressed his classmates with his critical and creative thinking on the discussion topics.Since then, Ed has been asked to be involved in several unrelated projects.This is an example of:

A)the halo effect.
B)sweeping generalization.
C)unwarranted assumption.
D)snap judgment.

Question 21

At work Robert was always searching for more efficient and effective ways to do his job.This led him into the field of software development to find innovative ways for his company to increase productivity while cutting costs.Robert does not consider himself a creative type, yet he has earned the reputation the company's top innovator.Robert may be a great problem-solver, but this does not mean he is necessarily a creative type.

Question 22

When evaluating a plan of action in problem-solving, one should consider the consequences of their action plan.

Question 23

Morgan has completed the assigned portion of a class project that involved gathering data and performing a statistical analysis.He has added further data and analysis to support an opinion he formed on the subject matter.His curiosity and willingness to go above and beyond the assigned work demonstrates his panache for creative problem solving.

Question 24

Perry has a dilemma.He has been working in the same study group for a while, but he'd like to switch to a new group.He does not want to offend his current group, and there are no viable excuses to offer them.Perry should apply Bloom's Taxonomy to assist him in thinking through his dilemma.

Question 25

Heather and her boyfriend just broke up after dating for over a year.They started dating when she was a freshman, and she spent much of her time with him instead of making new friends when she arrived in the dorms.She and her roommate are not getting along lately either.She feels down and has no one to talk with.Her energy level is low, and she has been having a tough time concentrating on her academic work for two weeks.Choose the best set of strategies to help Heather:

A)Heather's main problem is that she is not getting along with her roommate.She needs to set the goal of working through their differences.She needs to develop and implement a plan of action in approaching or doing something nice for her roommate to improve relations.As she and her roommate communicate, she needs to evaluate her plan to ensure sustainable success in their relations.
B)Heather's main problem is that her academic work is suffering.She needs to set the goal to remain disciplined in her work despite her emotional state.She needs to develop and implement a plan of action in developing a strict work schedule.She needs to evaluate her plan to ensure success.
C)Heather's main problem is that she has not made new friends.She needs to set a goal of making a new friend.She needs to develop and implement a plan of action to talk with new people when opportunities arise.As she meets new people she needs to evaluate her plan to take further steps in developing friendships.
D)Heather's main problem is that she is single.She needs to set the goal of seeking out a new boyfriend.She needs to develop and implement a plan of action to schedule dates with a variety of individuals.As she meets new potential mates, she needs to evaluate her plan to determine if this is helping in solving her problems.

Question 26

Bailey has been working with the same study group for a long time.She likes the people in her study group, and they all seem to get along during their meetings.She has noticed that often the peers in her group will choose to work together on team projects, and she is not invited into those teams.She would like to work to change their perceptions about her; however, she is not sure what their mindsets are.What is Bailey's best course of action to solve her dilemma?

A)Bailey should first determine what her group's perception of her is.The best way to do this would be to develop a survey for her group members to complete anonymously.She should then develop goals and a plan to win over the group based on their constructive feedback.
B)Bailey should first determine what her group's perception of her is.The best way to do this would be to approach a study group member she feels is her greatest ally.She should ask this person for some feedback on her role in the group.She should then develop goals and a plan of action to correct any negative feedback.
C)Bailey should first determine what her group's perception of her is.The best way to do this would be to solicit specific feedback from the group on her role and contributions.She should then develop goals and a plan to win over the group based on their constructive feedback.
D)Bailey should first determine what her group's perception of her is.The best way to do this is to maintain a positive attitude, and to determine what she knows about herself and what she does not know.She should then use reasoning skills to determine the group members' possible perceptions.She should then develop goals and a plan of action to win over their trust, evaluating that plan as her approaches are successful or not successful.

Question 27

Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives is an important part of the problem-solving process.

Question 28

The 8^th grade class has 100 students.There were 60 girls and 40 boys.Each was given a survey about whether or not they ate pizza in the last month.In the survey results, 40 girls ate pizza while 20 did not.Also, 30 boys ate pizza while 10 did not.What is the strategy to use to determine the probability that a student drawn at random ate pizza?

A)make a chart, table, list, or illustration
B)simplify
C)look for patterns and connections
D)act out the problem

Question 29

Which of the following strategies is the quickest way to solve the problem below? A company that makes batteries conducts tests on battery life.For a D cell battery, the mean life is 19 hours, and the useful life of the battery follows a normal distribution with a standard deviation of 1.2 hours.What is the probability that one battery drawn at random will last between 17 and 20 hours?

A)making a chart, table, list, or illustration
B)estimation, guessing, checking, and revising
C)working backwards to eliminate
D)translating words into equations

Question 30

When problem solving and making choices, a creative approach would be to list many alternatives and imagine the likely consequences of each.

Question 31

One can develop creative thinking skills by solving riddles and puzzles.

Question 32

Gabriel is interested in the topic of zero population growth.This is simply the replacement of two parents with two offspring.With two people in each generation, the population would remain stable, with no growth.Due to alarming statistics on resource depletion, and global warming, Gabriel would like to show the class what the carbon footprint of a zero population scenario would look like after seven generations, versus examples of parents who have more than two children.Gabriel's data could be shown creatively with a table or through visual models.

Question 33

Problem solving steps may be done in any order.

Question 34

When developing evaluation skills, it is helpful to be open to suggestions from your study group and instructors.

Question 35

Creative thought involves both sides of the brain.

Question 36

When working to change mindsets, we are trying to change our preconceived perceptions about people and things..

Question 37

Carla saw this headline in her online newsfeed: "Newly found planet might support life." She is correct when she tells her friend that humans could live on another planet.

Question 38

Brandy just got a D on her test and is down in the dumps for not doing as well as she could have if she'd spent more time studying.Brandy is likely an all-or-nothing thinker.

Question 39

When decision-making, one should choose the best solution, and then weigh its pros and cons.

Question 40

In order to apply new information, you must first be able to synthesize it.

Question 41

Kathy's record store has a good reputation for buying and selling used records.She's always relied on both young and old customers; however, as the years go and music has gone digital, she is losing the youth market.She keeps a daily journal of ideas about how to boost sales in the record shop.She has decided to take action on some of her ideas beginning with her favorite, using social networking to raise awareness of the 'cool' factor of vinyl records and the ambiance of her store.Kathy has developed an action plan and is ready to implement her plan.Kathy should pause to avoid errors in judgment before implementing her plan.

Question 42

What are the attributes of a critical thinker? Discuss 5 ways to improve critical thinking skills.

Question 43

Colin likes to solve puzzles, riddles, and any brain-teasers he can get his hands on.He loves to brainstorm new ideas in solving problems.However, he does not have a very good track record in being an effective problem solver.Colin would benefit from engaging in better questioning techniques in order to arrive at better solutions.

Question 44

Ari is an accounting major and loves to work with numbers and data.He is a logical/mathematical learner and a critical thinker.He'd like to enhance his creative thinking skills.He could do this best by keeping a daily journal of this thoughts and learning.

Question 45

Shelia tends to make gut decisions based on her knowledge, experience and strong intuition.She has been successful in using this methodology in her work; however, in going back to school she is finding that making decisions from her gut has lead to undesirable outcomes such as choosing research topics that seem interesting only to find she is bored with the subject.She has also found herself working in teams with people she does not necessarily enjoy.Sheila would likely benefit from taking the time to think about how her personality and learning styles may not be as helpful in this new situation and to consider incorporating alternatives.

Question 46

Choose a problem at home, work, school or in your community you would like to solve.Is it a daily problem or a once in a lifetime problem? What is known? What is not known? What are possible choices? What are the pros and cons of each solution? Rank-order the solutions.Choose a solution.What might happen?

Question 47

Einstein's Riddle was first printed in Life Magazine on December 17, 1962.It has been said that only 2% of the population are able to solve it.What problem-solving strategies would you use to solve the puzzle?
"There are five houses.
The Englishman lives in the red house.
The Spaniard owns the dog.
Coffee is drunk in the green house.
The Ukrainian drinks tea.
The green house is immediately to the right of the ivory house.
The Old Gold smoker owns snails.
Kools are smoked in the yellow house.
Milk is drunk in the middle house.
The Norwegian lives in the first house.
The man who smokes Chesterfields lives in the house next to the man with the fox.
Kools are smoked in the house next to the house where the horse is kept.(should be "...in a house...", see Discussion section)
The Lucky Strike smoker drinks orange juice.
The Japanese smokes Parliaments.
The Norwegian lives next to the blue house.
Now, who drinks water?
Who owns the zebra?
In the interest of clarity, it must be added that each of the five houses is painted a different color, and their inhabitants are of different national extractions, own different pets, drink different beverages and smoke different brands of American cigarets [sic].One other thing: in statement 6, right means your right."

Question 48

Discuss 3 ways you have demonstrated creative thinking on the job or in your life.Name 5 strategies you will use to offer creative solutions to problems you may encounter.

Question 49

Olivia is in a team with classmates who already seem to have worked together in the past.She feels like the odd person out but is doing her best to be positive and contribute to the group.After her first meeting with her team, she feels like they must not respect her since they did not seem to ever engage with her ideas.With what you have learned about critical thinking and collaboration, offer Olivia your analysis of the situation and suggestions toward working more successfully with the group.

Question 50

Jake seems to be perpetually late for class.He sets his alarm but keeps hitting the snooze button.It is his statistics class, and he is overwhelmed with the course.He is never more than 5 minutes late, but he just can't seem to motivate himself to get there on time.Use the 4 steps of the problem solving process to help him devise a plan to arrive to class on time.

Question 51

Discuss a problem you are faced with at home, school or work.Think it through, and discuss how you will approach this problem using the steps of the problem solving process.If you can not think of a current issue, use an issue from the past and discuss how using the problem solving process may have supported or changed the decision you made.