Deck 14: Language, Writing, and Critical Thinking

Question 1

The flight attendant told her passengers that 90% of those passengers who reported that they had listened to the instructions of what to do in the unlikely event of a crash landing survived such a crash landing. Has the flight attendant made a thinking error?

A) No, because this is very useful information to impart to her passengers.
B) No, by citing an exact percentage she is being precise and not showing vagueness in her description.
C) Yes, because this information is based on an inadequate comparison since people who died could not provide a report.
D) Yes, because the attendant is equivocating on the meaning of the word "survived."

Answer 1

Yes, because this information is based on an inadequate comparison since people who died could not provide a report.

Question 2

The childhood story that begins, "This is the house that Jack built," is a chapter example to illustrate the concept that language is:

A) recursive.
B) externalized.
C) symbolic.
D) rule-based.

Answer 2

recursive.

Question 3

An environmental activist said, "The ocean is becoming a cesspool where people throw their garbage, medical waste, and plastic refuse. But you can help clean it up by contributing to the 'Save Our Oceans' campaign." Which persuasive strategy is the activist using?

A) Making an inadequate comparison
B) Equivocation
C) Euphemism
D) Emotive language

Answer 3

Emotive language

Question 4

Propaganda is a kind of:

A) critical writing.
B) misconception.
C) thinking error.
D) persuasive communication.

Question 5

Based on brain research, many neuroscience researchers conclude that the mind is produced through normal functioning of the brain. Nevertheless, Olga's mind tells her that this explanation is too simple; therefore, Olga has made up her own mind that this view of the brain is wrong. The use of _____ is an obstacle to clear thinking that is impeding Olga from drawing of a well-reasoned conclusion.

A) weasel words
B) inadequate comparison
C) vague language
D) equivocation

Question 6

An overworked psychologist examined the case of a "bothersome" young man who often irritated and annoyed other people around him, and her analysis of the case took longer than expected. In her case report describing how she diagnosed the young man, the psychologist commented that she found diagnosing the case "bothersome." In this regard, the psychologist's comments lack clarity because she is using:

A) inadequate comparison.
B) ambiguous language.
C) vague language.
D) equivocation.

Question 7

According to Myers (2013), a message that induces a change in beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors is considered:

A) persuasion.
B) recursion.
C) emotive language.
D) nonverbal communication.

Question 8

To impress a girl he had just met, Joel told her that he was practically finished with college. The girl thought that he was probably in his last semester. Later she learned that he was just entering his senior year. Because she had studied impediments to clear thinking and communication, she recognized that Joel was using:

A) ambiguous language
B) a weasel word.
C) an inadequate comparison.
D) propaganda and self-promotion.

Question 9

A country's minister of defense argued that an invasion into a foreign country was necessary for national security. In reference to "national security," the minister of defense was using:

A) ambiguous language.
B) emotive language.
C) vague language.
D) equivocation.

Question 10

A powerful feature of language called ______ allows people to elaborate their thinking by adding clauses and phrases.

A) externalization
B) recursion
C) symbolism
D) verbalization

Question 11

An army general was making an argument to government leaders that using drones to drop bombs is a better way to wage war because it leads to fewer casualties of troops and little collateral damage. The general's language shows he is using which strategy to persuade policy makers to use drones?

A) Red-herring fallacy
B) Attacking the person
C) Propaganda
D) Euphemism

Question 12

An example in the text involves The Eternal Jew, which was a(n):

A) Nazi propaganda film.
B) collection of essays by Jewish writers.
C) collection of stories from survivors of the Holocaust.
D) American anti-Semitic play.

Question 13

When opponents of abortion describe themselves as "pro-life" rather than as "anti-women's right to choose," they are using which affective language strategy?

A) Positive emotive language
B) Attacking the person
C) Equivocation
D) Propaganda

Question 14

A television station advertised that its news program, "Channel 2 Eyewitness News," is the number one news broadcast in the region. Which misuse of language is MOST likely occurring in the ad?

A) Using emotive language
B) Making an inadequate comparison
C) Using weasel words to describe the program
D) Attacking the person (in this case, other stations)

Question 15

An army general argued that government leaders should use more drones to drop bombs when waging war because that strategy leads to fewer casualties of troops and little collateral damage. Explain which strategy the general used to persuade the leaders to use more drones?

A) Propaganda supported a persuasive and clearly political message.
B) Attacking the person focused on the bombs partly intended to attack people.
C) Euphemisms of "collateral damage" and "casualties" referred to deaths.
D) Emotive language of "dropping bombs" brought to mind horrible destruction.

Question 16

A persuasive message from a government or political entity is less likely to be considered propaganda if it:

A) is in agreement with political statements from the party in power.
B) uses language that is neither ambiguous nor vague.
C) uses emotive language to convince people of the truth of the statements.
D) is educational and provides information that people agree with.

Question 17

From the perspective of the critical thinking goal of making well-reasoned arguments, the strategy of attacking a person is a problem because it:

A) is unethical to criticize another person to such a degree.
B) does not give the person being attacked the opportunity to respond.
C) deflects the evaluation away from the argument and onto the person.
D) may not be a true portrayal of the person.

Question 18

Ambiguity and vagueness of language are MOSTLY a problem related to:

A) coherence.
B) grammatical and recursive aspects of language.
C) clarity.
D) plagiarism and the tendency toward intellectual dishonesty.

Question 19

The fact that advertisers spend $1.5 trillion per year on their messages to get consumers to buy their products illustrates an everyday example of a kind of:

A) political rhetoric.
B) language misuse.
C) persuasion.
D) propaganda.

Question 20

Which statement is TRUE about language and thinking?

A) People always think in words.
B) Recursion helps people express thoughts in language more simply.
C) Language helps to express thoughts or externalize thinking.
D) Language and thinking are essentially the same thing.

Question 21

When ideas are coherent in a written passage, they are:

A) in the form of arguments followed by counterarguments.
B) logically connected in a way that the reader can follow.
C) consistent with each other so that a reader would say they are on topic.
D) presented in a way that the reader is most likely to agree with.

Question 22

Which statement is TRUE about the four writing process components of collecting information, planning, translating ideas into text, and reviewing/revision?

A) The process involves always following the four steps in order.
B) Collecting information is the most important component in writing.
C) Sometimes writers go back to an earlier step before going on to the next step.
D) Following the steps is not recommended if the writer is writing creatively.

Question 23

The outline structure for writing the critical thinking essay may be especially useful for reducing which thinking error or misuse of language?

A) Use of vague language
B) Myside bias
C) Circular reasoning
D) Arguing from ignorance

Question 24

Which format depicts the BEST and MOST economical way to cite an author or authors according to the rules of the American Psychological Association (APA format)?

A) An article in the journal, . . . showed that Kellogg found . . .
B) In the journal Cognition, in an article entitled . . . Kellogg found . . .
C) In 1988 Kellogg found . . .
D) Kellogg (1988) found . . .

Question 25

Tran is writing an essay in which he wishes to make a rebuttal and introduce the counterargument with a transition word. Which word would BEST help Tran create a clear transition?

A) Therefore
B) Conclusion
C) However
D) Inference

Question 26

An essay question asks a student to judge two therapies and then to decide which therapy is best. This writing prompt is MOST specifically a(an) _____ question requiring _____.

A) evaluation; critical thinking
B) analysis; critical thinking
C) synthesis; creative thinking
D) application; knowledge to solve a problem

Question 27

The prompt to write an essay question asks, "Integrate lessons learned in freshmen composition courses with information presented in this chapter to identify a good way for organizing thoughts before writing a critical thinking essay." This prompt is MOST specifically asking for:

A) knowledge.
B) comprehension.
C) evaluation.
D) synthesis.

Question 28

Which is NOT one of the four common forms of plagiarism listed by Beins and Beins (2012) and identified in the text?

A) "You fail to cite someone else's idea you are using."
B) "You use someone's exact words without citing them."
C) "You use someone else's exact words without putting the words in quotation marks (even if you cited them)."
D) "You do not cite someone's else's most recent publication describing an idea of theirs that you are using."

Question 29

Which is a main difference between a critical thinking essay and a persuasive essay?

A) Persuasive essays tend to be more one-sided.
B) Persuasive essays tend to contain more counterarguments.
C) Critical thinking essays are less focused on inquiry.
D) Critical thinking essays are always logical.

Question 30

Three of the four components of the writing process agreed upon by most writing experts are:

A) collecting information, planning, and reviewing/revision.
B) planning, translating ideas into text, and reviewing/revision.
C) collecting information, planning, and drafting.
D) collecting information, translating ideas into text, and reviewing/revision.

Question 31

The statement by Flower and Hayes (1980, p. 33) that the writer is "a thinker on full-time cognitive overload" refers to the idea that:

A) writers are overloaded with information that they have collected and must communicate in a coherent fashion.
B) writing assignments overload writers with too many specific demands.
C) writing is a complex task that makes great demands on attention and working memory.
D) writers feel overwhelmed by the expectations of their audience.

Question 32

The prompt to write an essay question asks, "Summarize the four components of the writing process." This prompt is MOST specifically asking for:

A) application.
B) comprehension.
C) evaluation.
D) synthesis.

Question 33

The prompt to write an essay question asks, "Take a position on the gun debate; then, defend and justify the position with supporting evidence." This prompt is MOST specifically asking for:

A) application.
B) comprehension.
C) evaluation.
D) synthesis.

Question 34

Writing a draft of a paper is MOST related to which component of the writing process?

A) Collecting information
B) Planning
C) Translating ideas into text
D) Reviewing and revising

Question 35

Suppose students were asked in an essay question to use what they know about persuasion to advise a student on how write an advertisement for a new computer. Which kind of specific essay question is being prompted?

A) Knowledge
B) Comprehension
C) Application
D) Evaluation

Question 36

Jana has used many ideas from authors who have written extensively on a question that is her focus for a review of literature. She has included numerous quotations, showing each within quotation marks and using correct American Psychological Association (APA) format. The BEST analysis of Jana's writing is that she has:

A) not really summarized the ideas of others in her own writing.
B) correctly reviewed and written about other people's ideas.
C) not written an objection to each of the author's ideas.
D) not cited the journals published the ideas included in her review.

Question 37

Taking notes and writing an essay are cognitively very demanding because they both:

A) require that the person come up with new ideas.
B) take considerable time to execute.
C) receive little practice at school.
D) make heavy demands on working memory.

Question 38

The prompt to write an essay question asks, "List the five impediments to clear thinking and communication found in Table 14.1 of this chapter and to describe each one." This prompt is MOST specifically asking for:

A) evaluation.
B) comprehension.
C) memory.
D) synthesis.

Question 39

Which kind of plagiarism is displayed by the author in the following brief summary of the two routes of persuasion? According to an article in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, persuasion has two routes: the central route and the peripheral route. People who are able and willing to reason about an issue will tend to take the central route and examine the arguments made, relying on Type 2 thinking. In contrast, when people are not motivated to reason, are distracted, or are busy, they are more likely to take the peripheral route to persuasion and not think deeply about an issue, relying on Type 1 thinking.

A) The author of this passage fails to cite whoever came up with the idea of two routes of persuasion.
B) The author of this passage uses the exact words of someone who developed the two routes theory of persuasion without quoting the creator(s) of the theory.
C) The author of the summary does not quote the exact words of the author of the theory being summarized.
D) The author of the summary attributes the ideas from the journal article to the wrong author.

Question 40

This chapter's Table 14.4, which describes using an outline schema, or structure, encourages the writer to consider all of the relevant evidence, which may help reduce:

A) the use of propaganda.
B) ambiguity and vagueness.
C) myside bias.
D) the number of inadequate comparisons made.

Question 41

Which strategies do propagandists and politicians use to persuade audiences that their messages are true? For each strategy described in the book's discussion of persuasion and propaganda, provide an example of the strategy's use and explain why it exemplifies the strategy.

Question 42

Which statement BEST summarizes the conclusion that is supported by high-quality evidence in this chapter's Practice Thinking exercises on whether reversing letters is the defining feature of dyslexia?

A) Although some studies show that individuals with dyslexia experience letter reversals, these individuals also show other symptoms, such spelling and phonological errors, that seriously challenge the letters reversal hypothesis.
B) Research studies clearly show that the problem with dyslexia is a visual problem, supporting the reversal of letters hypothesis of dyslexia and contradicting the phonological hypothesis.
C) The scientific research clearly demonstrates that letter reversals are a defining feature of dyslexia based on the evidence found by experts such as Orton (1925).
D) The considerable number of people, including educators and some experts, who endorse the letters reversal hypothesis strongly supports the hypothesis that letter reversal is the defining feature of dyslexia.

Question 43

Wolfe et al. (2009) found that if a good second counterargument can be offered to rebut a first counterargument, then readers:

A) will be confused about which position to accept and will reject both sides of the argument.
B) may be persuaded to accept the rebuttal challenging the first counterargument, thereby strengthening the first side.
C) will side with the good second counterargument because it is the one that has been most recently presented.
D) may question whether it is worth the effort needed to examine the evidence on either side because both have been countered.

Question 44

Compare and contrast a critical thinking essay with an essay having the main purpose of persuading the reader in the context of the writing process. Make sure to summarize the steps in writing a critical thinking essay, and also highlight the differences of a critical thinking essay with a persuasive essay.

Question 45

Suppose you wish to explicitly argue that a causal conclusion exists. Your written conclusion would be BETTER expressed if it included certain words or phrases, such as

A) argues for; in conclusion; in summary; suggest that.
B) leads to; is the result of; is due to; produces.
C) is associated with; is related to; contributes to; are linked to.
D) are correlated; are connected; are linked; are associated.

Question 46

Suppose you wish to explicitly signal that you are making a rebuttal. You could indicate this transition to a counterargument by using which of the following words or expressions?

A) Argues for; in conclusion; in summary; and suggest that
B) Moreover; in addition; to sum up; and research shows that
C) However; nevertheless; but; and contrary to
D) Inference; claim; assertion; and conclusion

Question 47

Reviewing and revising most specifically involve:

A) perception and attention.
B) persuasion and translation.
C) critical reading and metacognition.
D) avoiding the use of poor transition words.