Deck 38: Cognition and Intelligence: Problem Solving

Question 1

Becoming a problem-solving expert in any particular field involves,at a minimum,becoming

A)familiar with the algorithms available in that field.
B)skilled at using random search strategies within that field.
C)skilled at using the semantic differential for that field.
D)familiar with the connotative definitions in that field.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Ginny is 70 years old and is taking a computer course at the local community college.She is learning to use the word processing feature on a computer and is attempting to "copy and paste" a section of text.As she attempts this procedure,she "talks" herself through the steps that her instructor taught her.To complete this task,Ginny is using

A)an algorithm.
B)a heuristic.
C)insight.
D)a random search strategy.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

A mechanical solution to a problem is one in which

A)general and functional techniques are used in answering the problem.
B)the answer is arrived at by rote learning.
C)brainstorming and insight are used to solve the novel problem.
D)the answer is arrived at by using the representative heuristic.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

A learned set of rules that always leads to a correct solution is known as

A)an algorithm.
B)a heuristic.
C)insight.
D)the functional solution.

Question 5

Approaching a problem by using a learned set of rules produces a solution that is achieved by

A)understanding.
B)recognition.
C)rote.
D)trial and error.

Question 6

The use of an algebraic equation to determine how many scoops of coffee are needed to make 20 cups illustrates problem-solving by

A)trial and error.
B)rote.
C)understanding.
D)heuristics.

Question 7

Two examples of mechanical solutions are

A)general and functional.
B)trial and error and rote.
C)intuition and insight.
D)selective encoding and heuristics.

Question 8

Amateur naturalists usually begin painfully identifying the birds,butterflies,mammals,or plants they find by mechanically searching through published field guides until they find the correct species name and description.These amateur naturalists are identifying through which type of problem-solving?

A)insight
B)rote
C)understanding
D)the use of heuristics

Question 9

An algorithmic solution to a problem is one in which

A)the answer is arrived at using lexigrams.
B)the answer is arrived at by brainstorming.
C)a learned set of rules is used in answering the problem.
D)all of these are used.

Question 10

A mechanical solution to a problem is one in which

A)the answer is arrived at by using the availability heuristic.
B)the answer is arrived at by intuition.
C)a learned set of rules is used in answering the problem.
D)general and functional techniques are used in answering the problem.

Question 11

In his study of thinking,Duncker found that the first step in problem-solving based on understanding is to discover

A)a number of functional solutions.
B)the set of rules that lead to the solution.
C)the general properties of a correct solution.
D)the implicit actions for solving the problem.

Question 12

Solutions by understanding depend on

A)algorithms.
B)trial and error methods.
C)mechanical approaches to problem solving.
D)a deeper comprehension of the nature of the problem.

Question 13

One day,a classmate with whom you've been trying to go out socially gives you her phone number on a napkin.You put the napkin in your pocket,planning to save the number in your phone later.Unfortunately,you forget to save the number and wash your jeans without taking out the napkin.Now all you can piece together of the phone number are the first six digits.If you go to the phone and dial the first six digits plus "0",then dial the first six digits plus "1",then dial the first six digits plus "2",etc.until you dial the correct number,you are solving the problem by

A)using heuristics.
B)rote.
C)trial and error.
D)insight.

Question 14

Almost everyone who has tried to play a poker game like Texas Hold'Em begins at the mechanical level of

A)trial and error.
B)representativeness heuristics.
C)functional solutions.
D)understanding the general properties of the game.

Question 15

A mechanical solution is achieved by using all of the following EXCEPT

A)trial and error.
B)rote.
C)a learned set of rules.
D)using a heuristic.

Question 16

Solutions to problems that are based on understanding are characterized by

A)rapid solution after an unsuccessful attempt.
B)the discovery of a general approach and then the testing of specific solutions.
C)habitual modes of thought applied to new situations.
D)proceeding according to a known set of rules.

Question 17

Although most people use trial­and­error when they first try the Rubik's cube puzzle,some take the easy route of reading the printed instructions that give the steps for a(n)solution.

A)mechanical
B)heuristic
C)random search
D)intuitive

Question 18

Problems come in many forms and are usually best faced

A)through trial and error.
B)mindfully.
C)intuitively.
D)using experiential processing.

Question 19

Barry is learning to play Texas Hold'Em,so he reads books and looks at printed odds tables available for every stage of play within the game.Barry is learning to play this poker game through

A)trial and error.
B)rote.
C)representativeness heuristics.
D)an understanding of the general properties of the game.

Question 20

You are asked to multiply a three-digit number and a two-digit number.You follow the steps you were taught in fifth grade,and you correctly answer the problem.You utilized

A)a heuristic.
B)an algorithm.
C)insight.
D)divergent thinking.

Question 21

In his study of thinking,Duncker found that the second step in problem-solving based on understanding is to

A)propose a number of functional solutions.
B)determine the general properties of a correct solution.
C)enumerate all the implicit actions for solving the problem.
D)approach solutions using a trial-and-error method.

Question 22

"Try to identify how the current state of affairs differs from the desired goal,and then find steps that will reduce the difference." This advice describes a

A)syllogism.
B)heuristic.
C)prototype.
D)dimension of the semantic differential.

Question 23

A random search strategy involves

A)the use of insight and pragmatics.
B)trying possible solutions to a problem in a more or less random order.
C)limiting the number of possible solutions to be tried.
D)correctly stating the requirements for success but not in enough detail for further action.

Question 24

A student who takes a multiple-choice test by reading the stem of each item,looking for key words,and generating a tentative response before looking at the responses.This helps the student narrow down the possible answers. This student is using

A)a heuristic.
B)a random search strategy.
C)vicarious problem-solving.
D)an algorithmic search strategy.

Question 25

At first amateur naturalists painfully identify the birds,butterflies,mammals,or plants they find by mechanically searching through published field guides.In time,those who persist begin to identify more and more species from memory and others based on the general properties they have learned through experience.These amateurs who base their identifications on the general properties of the species observed are using which type of problem-solving?

A)trial and error
B)rote
C)understanding
D)the use of algorithms

Question 26

A solution that correctly states the requirements for success in solving a problem,but not in sufficient detail for further action,is called a solution.

A)heuristic
B)general
C)functional
D)specific

Question 27

A "rule of thumb" that reduces the number of alternatives thinkers must consider is called a(n)

A)semantic differential.
B)algorithm.
C)heuristic.
D)insight solution.

Question 28

Jan asks her friend Whitney to run to her new apartment near campus and get her report that she left on the table by the door so she will not miss the test.She hands Whitney her key ring that has eight keys on it.Whitney runs to the apartment and then realizes that she does not know which key will open the door,so she just starts trying one key and then another,hoping by chance to find the right one.Finally,the fifth key she tries opens the door.To solve the "key" problem,Whitney was using

A)insight.
B)pragmatics.
C)a general solution.
D)a random search strategy.

Question 29

Although Gabe knows the answer to the algebra problem,he cannot seem to work out the steps and reach his desired goal.So,Gabe tries working backward from the answer to the starting point.This strategy describes a

A)syllogism.
B)heuristic.
C)prototype.
D)dimension of the semantic differential.

Question 30

As you are driving to your friend's new apartment,you realize that you forgot the address of the apartment building.You know that the apartment is north of his old apartment.As you drive down the street where his old apartment is,you begin looking at the signs: Azalea Drive,Oak Circle,Peach Tree Street,and Sycamore Drive.You remember that the apartment is on a Drive,not a street or circle,which narrows down the possibilities and illustrates your use of a(n)

A)heuristic.
B)algorithm.
C)intuition.
D)random search strategy.

Question 31

Which of the following is another example of trial-and-error thinking that may work if the number of alternatives is small and involves trying all possibilities in a more or less arbitrary or unsystematic order?

A)pragmatics
B)heuristics
C)random search strategy
D)insight

Question 32

Heuristics are problem-solving strategies which

A)use a trial and error approach.
B)use random search strategies.
C)guarantee success in solving a problem.
D)reduce the number of alternatives.

Question 33

"Try working backward from the desired goal to the starting point or current state." This advice describes a

A)syllogism.
B)heuristic.
C)prototype.
D)dimension of the semantic differential.

Question 34

Problem-solving strategies that reduce the number of steps necessary to solve a problem are called

A)semantic differentials.
B)mechanical solutions.
C)heuristics.
D)trial-and-error strategies.

Question 35

Amateurs become experts in their fields when they start basing their solutions on

A)trial and error methods.
B)rote learning.
C)understanding.
D)the use of algorithms.

Question 36

Functional solutions

A)are rule-based.
B)are general.
C)are workable.
D)involve trial and error.

Question 37

A detailed,practical,and workable solution to a problem is called a solution.

A)heuristic
B)general
C)functional
D)specific

Question 38

Whitney tells her friend Jan that she can wear the extra jacket that she keeps in her car.Whitney hands Jan her keys and heads off to class.Jan heads to Whitney's car with the set of eight keys.She looks at the keys,noting that two are too small to be car keys,and then she looks for any key that might have a symbol associated with a particular car.She finds two keys that have a shape on them like the hood ornament on Whitney's car.So,these will be the only two keys of the eight that she will try.To solve this "key" problem,Jan used

A)functional fixedness
B)an algorithm
C)a heuristic
D)a random search strategy

Question 39

Most people use trial­and­error when they first try to solve the Rubik's cube puzzle or read the printed instructions. However,in order to solve the Rubik's cube puzzle consistently,a person must

A)use a random search strategy.
B)use algorithms.
C)solve the puzzle through a flash of insight.
D)understand the general properties of the puzzle.

Question 40

Although almost everyone who has tried to play a poker game like Texas Hold 'Em begins at the mechanical,trial­ and-error level with those who persist and can keep up with the other players

A)using algorithms in playing the game.
B)using rote methods,such as printed odds tables for each stage of the game.
C)utilizing representativeness heuristics in placing bets.
D)understanding the general properties of the game.

Question 41

Selective combination,selective comparison,and selective encoding are all related to

A)algorithmic solutions.
B)finding solutions by insight.
C)cognitive assimilation.
D)convergent thinking.

Question 42

Which of the following represents an insightful problem solution?

A)A child uses his or her shoe lace to tie two sticks together to knock an apple from a tree.
B)A poker player discards his lowest card and draws an ace.
C)A geometry student applies a formula to figure the area of a triangle.
D)A physician decides to perform surgery even though the odds are against its success.

Question 43

Selective combination is the

A)ability to evaluate new problems by associating them with old information or with problems already solved.
B)ability to choose information that is relevant to a problem while ignoring distractions.
C)ability to bring together seemingly unrelated bits of useful information.
D)tendency to get "hung up" on wrong solutions or to become blind to alternatives.

Question 44

According to Psychologist Janet Davidson,the three abilities involved in insight are

A)selective attention,convergent thinking,divergent thinking.
B)cognitive assimilation,selective attention,selective encoding.
C)selective attention,selective comparison,convergent thinking.
D)selective encoding,selective combination,selective comparison.

Question 45

Nikki is in the second grade and is given the following problem to solve: John has 15 apples,Amy has 10 apples,and Chris has 5 apples.How many apples do John and Chris have altogether? Nikki adds the apples for all three people,using the irrelevant information about Amy's number of apples.Thus,according to Davidson,Nikki is displaying a lack of

A)selective attention.
B)selective comparison.
C)selective encoding.
D)selective combination.

Question 46

You want exactly nine gallons of water,but you have only a seven-gallon bucket and a five-gallon bucket.Although you,at first,do not see how these two buckets can help,you realize that you can use them in the following way.You fill the seven-gallon bucket,then pour it in the five-gallon bucket,leaving two gallons in the seven-gallon bucket.You then pour out the five-gallon,pour the two gallons of water in the five-gallon,and refill the seven-gallon bucket,and you have a total of nine gallons of water.To solve this problem,you had to use

A)selective comparison.
B)selective attention.
C)selective encoding.
D)selective combination.

Question 47

The textbook problem of how many socks to take out of a drawer to get a matched pair when the drawer contains a four to five mixture of white and black socks requires the reader to realize that the four to five mixture is irrelevant information and that the only relevant information is that there are two colors of socks.Getting the correct answer of three socks requires the reader to first use which of Davidson's insight abilities?

A)selective combination
B)selective attention
C)selective comparison
D)selective encoding

Question 48

You want to boil an egg for 15 minutes,and all you have is a 7-minute hourglass and an 11-minute hourglass.Using these two hourglasses in your solution requires you to use

A)selective combination.
B)selective attention.
C)selective encoding.
D)selective comparison.

Question 49

Regarding effective problem-solving,which of the following is NOT a heuristic strategy?

A)Represent the problem in other ways,with a graph or an analogy.
B)Generate a possible solution and test it.
C)Use a learned set of rules,step by step.
D)Try working backward from the desired goal to the starting point.

Question 50

Regarding heuristics,which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)A heuristic is a "rule of thumb" that reduces the number of alternatives thinkers must consider.
B)Heuristics are based on a learned set of rules that lead to a correct solution.
C)Expert problems solvers are good at using heuristic strategies.
D)Using heuristics raises one's odds of success,but does not guarantee a solution.

Question 51

Selective encoding is the

A)ability to compare new problems with old information or with problems already solved.
B)ability to choose information that is relevant to a problem while ignoring distractions.
C)ability to bring together seemingly unrelated bits of useful information.
D)tendency to get "hung up" on wrong solutions or to become blind to alternatives.

Question 52

According to Davidson,a person who is able to ignore distractions and focus on information necessary to solve a problem is good at

A)selective attention.
B)selective encoding.
C)selective combination.
D)selective comparison.

Question 53

Insight tends to be based on

A)algorithms.
B)heuristics.
C)a random search strategy.
D)reorganizing the problem.

Question 54

You are locked in a windowless room with only a candle,a quarter,and a slab of processed cheese food.If you are able to use all of these items successfully to escape from the room,you would most likely have used

A)selective attention.
B)selective inhibition.
C)selective encoding.
D)selective combination.

Question 55

Which of the following differentiates insightful solutions from other forms of problem-solving?

A)Insightful solutions focus on a reduction of alternatives in order to reach understanding.
B)The gaining of insight is a rapid process.
C)Insightful solutions revolve around habitual modes of thought applied to new and interesting situations.
D)Several detailed and workable solutions are derived from a tentative general solution.

Question 56

A sudden mental reorganization of a problem that makes the solution obvious is called

A)inductive thought.
B)deductive thought.
C)insight.
D)intelligence.

Question 57

Mae was asked to solve the following problem: Pretend that you are a bus driver.You begin the day with an empty bus.At your first stop,you let on 10 passengers.At your second stop,4 people get off the bus,and 12 people get on.At your third stop,8 people get off the bus,and 2 people get on.At your fourth stop,nobody gets off the bus,and 1 person gets on.How old is the bus driver? According to Davidson,if Mae just adds the numbers without focusing on the relevant part of this problem,he or she is showing a lack of

A)selective attention.
B)selective encoding.
C)selective comparison.
D)selective combination.

Question 58

According to Psychologist Janet Davidson,a person who is able to bring together seemingly unrelated bits of information to solve a problem is good at

A)selective attention.
B)selective encoding.
C)selective combination.
D)selective comparison.

Question 59

After working to solve a problem for three hours,Larry has just about "given up" until he suddenly realizes the "perfect" solution and wonders why he did not think of it sooner.Larry has just experienced

A)inductive thought.
B)deductive thought.
C)functional fixedness.
D)insight.

Question 60

When problem solving,if you cannot reach a goal directly,try to identify an intermediate goal or subproblem that at least gets you closer.This advice illustrates the use of a(n)

A)algorithm.
B)heuristic.
C)mechanical solution.
D)random search strategy.

Question 61

A truck gets stuck under a bridge.Several tow trucks are unable to pull it out.At last a little boy walks up and asks the red-faced adults trying to free the truck why they haven't let the air out of the truck's tires.Their oversight was due to

A)divergent thinking.
B)functional incubation.
C)synesthesia.
D)fixation.

Question 62

Claudia's failure to see that a trash bag would make an excellent makeshift raincoat is an example of

A)mental consolidation.
B)retroactive interference.
C)functional fixedness.
D)cognitive dissonance.

Question 63

In attempting to solve a problem,a subject fails to see that the old doorknob in the box could be used as a weight to hang on the balance scale.This subject is exhibiting

A)inductive thought.
B)functional fixedness.
C)a failure of short-term memory.
D)disjunctive thinking.

Question 64

A person who gets "hung up" on using a familiar object only in one certain way is exhibiting

A)a cultural barrier to problem solving.
B)functional fixedness.
C)an emotional barrier to problem solving.
D)tacit myopia.

Question 65

If you have ever been without a screwdriver and took a dime out of your pocket and used it to loosen a screw,then you did not let which of the following be a barrier to your thinking?

A)animism
B)functional fixedness
C)inhibition
D)disjunctive thinking

Question 66

In one of his studies,Karl Duncker asked students to mount a candle on a vertical board so the candle could burn normally.The students who saw the box in which the materials were presented as only a container rather than as a part of the solution were exhibiting

A)mental consolidation.
B)functional fixedness.
C)retroactive interference.
D)cognitive dissonance.

Question 67

Selective comparison is the

A)ability to evaluate new problems by associating them with old information or with problems already solved.
B)ability to select information that is relevant to a problem while ignoring distractions.
C)ability to bring together seemingly unrelated bits of useful information.
D)tendency to get "hung up" on wrong solutions or to become blind to alternatives.

Question 68

Regarding fixation,which of the following statements is TRUE?

A)Fixation is also known as conditional thinking.
B)Fixation is a way of using insight to solve a problem.
C)Fixation is a type of mnemonic device.
D)Fixation is a barrier to problem solving.

Question 69

You and a friend are presented with the problem of how you could determine how much gold would match a statue's weight without using a balance scale.You suddenly remember the story of how Archimedes determined the amount of gold in a crown by the amount of water it displaced.Your friend tells you that he solved the problem using the same method because he remembered the Chinese fable about how the villagers were able to weigh an elephant.You and your friend both solved the problem using

A)selective intuition.
B)selective comparison.
C)selective combination.
D)selective encoding.

Question 70

You are given the problem of building a structure that can support an overcoat in the middle of a room and are given only two long sticks and a clamp to work with.You are more likely to solve this problem if you first thought of how pole lamps are wedged between floor and ceiling.Using your previous knowledge of pole lamps to solve the coat rack problem is an example of

A)selective comparison.
B)selective attention.
C)selective combination.
D)selective encoding.

Question 71

According to Psychologist Janet Davidson,a person who is able to evaluate new problems by contrasting them with old information or with problems already solved is good at

A)selective attention.
B)selective encoding.
C)selective combination.
D)selective comparison.

Question 72

You are asked to plant four small trees so that each is an equal distance from all the others.If you believe that the trees all have to be planted on level ground,you will be unable to correctly answer this problem because you are exhibiting

A)disjunctive thinking.
B)fixation.
C)consolidation.
D)functional incubation.

Question 73

A rigidity in problem solving caused by the inability to see new uses for familiar objects is termed

A)disjunctive thinking.
B)functional fixedness.
C)proactive inhibition.
D)retroactive interference.

Question 74

The problem­solving ability known as "selective comparison" involves comparing new problems with

A)old information or with problems already solved.
B)novel possibilities for uses of objects used in problem-solving.
C)mental images of projected solutions.
D)seemingly unrelated bits of information.

Question 75

You are trying to determine which of two terms is related to identical twins.You see "monozygotic" and "dizygotic." You remember that a zygote is formed from one egg and one sperm and that "mono" means one and "di" means two.Identical twins would have to result from the same egg and the same sperm,thus one zygote. Using old information to derive the meaning of "monozygotic" and "dizygotic" illustrates the use of

A)selective comparison.
B)selective attention.
C)selective combination.
D)selective encoding.

Question 76

While reading a book about Sigmund Freud,you come upon the term psychosomatic.You cannot quite figure out the meaning of the word from the context in which it is used,and so you bring to mind your rudimentary knowledge of the parts of the word.You know that psycho has to do with the mind or with thinking,and you also know that somatic has to do with the body.Looking back at the book,you come to the conclusion that psychosomatic has to do with the mind's influence on one's physical state.You have just relied on

A)selective attention.
B)selective encoding.
C)selective comparison.
D)selective search strategies.

Question 77

When a person uses fables and stories from their particular culture to solve new problems,such as using the Hansel and Gretel story to solve the problem of not getting lost in a cave,the person is using

A)selective intuition.
B)selective comparison.
C)selective combination.
D)selective encoding.

Question 78

When you made a poor grade on history in high school,you made sure you read the Chapter s twice before taking the next test.Although this strategy has NOT worked in college,you continue this INEFFECTIVE strategy,disregarding the instructor's study advice.Your continued poor performance on tests is due to

A)disjunctive thinking.
B)fixation.
C)consolidation.
D)functional incubation.

Question 79

When tested with Karl Duncker's candle problem,five-year-old children showed no signs of functional fixedness because,compared to adults,the children

A)could visualize the problem better.
B)could physically manipulate the objects with more dexterity.
C)had less experience with the uses of the various objects.
D)had more experience with the uses of the various objects.

Question 80

Unnecessary restrictions to thinking tend to result in

A)fixation.
B)selective comparison.
C)disjunctive concepts.
D)connotative meanings.