Critical Thinking Assessment

You conducted a successful job search, and now have three offers from which to choose. What can you do to most thoroughly investigate your potential employers? (Choose all that apply.)

• check out their websites

• watch the news to see if the companies are mentioned

• research their financial situations

• speak with people who work for them already

Choose the best conclusion for an argument that begins, "The other members of Philip's swim team …"

• won their events, so Philip will win his event, too.

• have been swimming for at least six years, so Philip has been swimming for six years, too

• prefer to swim in outdoor pools, so Philip prefers outdoor pools, too.

• wear swim trunks with the school logo on them, so Philip wears them, too.

Which is NOT a sound argument?

• Sabrina wanted to be a better figure skater, so she took extra lessons and practiced every day. Her skating improved so much that she entered a competition.

• Yesterday, a black cat ran in front of me, and later, I lost my wallet. If I don't see that black cat today, I won't have any bad luck.

• We had a storm last night with hurricane-strength winds, and many trees were downed. There was a citywide power outage.

• On a clear day, I can see the top of the CN Tower from my condo apartment. If it's clear tomorrow, I'll be able to see it.

You are trying to decide what kind of car to buy. You make a chart to compare a two-seater sports car, a two-door sedan, and a minivan in three categories. Which would NOT be a suitable category?

• price

• gas mileage

• tire pressure

• storage capacity

You read a story in the newspaper about salary negotiations with public transportation workers. The workers are threatening to go on strike tomorrow if their demands for higher wages and better benefits are not met. What can you infer from this news story?

• Health insurance premiums are very expensive.

• The cost of gas will make ticket prices increase in the next few weeks.

• People who ride the bus should look for possible alternative transportation.

• Employers never like to meet salary demands.

What is wrong with this argument? "You think we need a new regulation to control air pollution? I think we already have too many regulations. Politicians just love to pass new ones, and control us even more than they already do. It is suffocating. We definitely do not need any new regulations!"

• The person speaking doesn't care about the environment.

• The person speaking has changed the subject.

• The person speaking is running for political office.

• The person speaking does not understand pollution.

Which is NOT a valid argument?

• There are six cans of tomatoes in Carlo's pantry and 14 in his basement. There are no other cans of tomatoes in his house. Therefore, he has 20 cans of tomatoes in his house.

• Everyone northbound on the train yesterday was late to work. Faith was northbound on the Interstate. Faith was late to work.

• Huang lives in either Kansas City, Kansas, or Kansas City, Missouri. If he lives in Kansas, then he is an American.

• No one who eats in the cafeteria likes the pizza. My boss eats in the cafeteria. Therefore, my boss does not like the pizza.

Which statement represents an opinion-based judgment instead of a fact?

• My presentation was excellent. I am sure my boss will promote me now.

• My presentation was excellent. The clients all told me they liked it.

• My presentation was excellent. It won an award from management.

• My presentation was excellent. It was cited as such on my peer evaluation.

What is wrong with the following argument? America—love it, or leave it!

• There is nothing wrong with the argument.

• It implies that if you leave the country on vacation, you do not love it.

• It does not tell you how to love it.

• It presents only two options, when in fact there are many more.

Evidence shows that people who live in Toronto score higher on happiness surveys than those who live in Vancouver. Which is the best conclusion that can be drawn from this data?

• Vancouverites would be happier if they moved to Toronto.

• People in colder climates are happier than those in warmer climates

• There are only happy people in Toronto.

• Those in Toronto who scored high on a happiness survey probably like snow.