Critical Thinking and Media Literacy Quiz

Sarah watches a commercial for a sugary cereal featuring a famous athlete. The athlete looks strong and energetic while eating the cereal. How might this influence Sarah?

• She might think all cereals taste delicious, focusing on the nutritional value instead of what tastes good.

• She might believe that eating this cereal will automatically make her a great athlete, forgetting healthy habits.

• She might carefully compare the cereal's nutritional information with other breakfast choices, ignoring celebrity endorsements.

• She might research the athlete's training routine and diet, regardless of the cereal they promote so frequently.

A website dedicated to selling a specific brand of vitamins claims that their product can cure the common cold. What should you immediately suspect about this information?

• The website is likely trying to sell you something, so the information could be biased for many different types of products.

• The website is sharing information from other experts and has no reason to mislead people despite selling products online.

• The website probably has the consumer's best interest in mind and would never include false information for profit in sales.

• The website is dedicated to health and wellness; therefore, they are a reliable source of information, promoting well-being for consumers.

You see a post online that says, 'Everyone knows that playing video games is a waste of time.' What's the most important question to ask about this statement?

• What is the history of video games and their different genres, and how have they evolved over time?

• Who is making this claim, and what reason might they have for saying so, despite their many claims?

• What are the names of popular video games, and which ones are considered the most challenging ever?

• How many people play video games around the world and what are their favorite kind of games that are accessible?

An advertisement shows kids happily playing with a new toy. They are laughing and smiling. What is the main purpose of this advertisement?

• To provide detailed information about the toy's materials and safety features, ensuring consumer awareness.

• To show you how much fun the toy is and make you want to buy it and play with it happily like them.

• To educate you about the toy's history and how it was invented, sharing their background knowledge.

• To compare the toy's features and price to other similar toys on the market, but with no bias.

A juice commercial promises that drinking their juice will make you 'the smartest kid in class. All of the cool kids are trying it' What persuasive technique are they using?

• They are using the 'bandwagon' technique, suggesting everyone is already using the product in their schools.

• They are using emotional appeal, showing regular people using the product, creating a personal connection.

• They are using 'testimonials' from experts to support the claim, enhancing the product's credibility to consumers.

• They are using a generalization, implying that the juice will directly lead to intelligence alone, creating problems.

An advertisement claims that 'Everyone is buying this new phone, so you should too!' What fallacy of logic is this?

• This is an appeal to authority because they use a respected source to support the claim and get your support.

• This is a slippery slope fallacy, suggesting one action will inevitably lead to a series of increasing consequences.

• This is a bandwagon fallacy, suggesting something is good because everyone else is doing it no matter the facts.

• This is a false dilemma fallacy, presenting only two options when more exist and more accurate facts are present.

An advertisement for a video game features fast cars, explosions, and exciting music. Who is most likely the target audience for this advertisement?

• People who enjoy slow-paced strategy games and intellectual challenges requiring time and dedication.

• Young adults and teenagers who enjoy action-packed and visually stimulating entertainment, and excitement.

• Senior citizens who prefer relaxing and calming activities and games involving nature and peaceful scenery.

• Preschool children who enjoy educational games and activities with bright colors and simple learning.

You want to convince your friend to join your soccer team. What is the first step you should take in the problem-solving process?

• Think about the possible consequences of your friend joining or not joining and the positives and negatives.

• Determine the size and scope of the problem, considering how it affects others and the environment as well.

• Identify an alternative solution, thinking about other ways to get your friend involved in a similar activity.

• Clearly identify the problem, which is your friend not being on the soccer team, but being alone instead.

Your class wants to raise money for a field trip. What data would be most helpful to collect to understand the scope of the problem?

• The distance to the field trip location and the time it will take to travel, considering possible routes.

• The number of students in your class and the total cost of the field trip for everyone including lunch.

• The types of activities planned for the field trip and students' interests, preferences, and opinions also.

• The history of previous field trips and the lessons learned from those, including successful experiences.

Your school is thinking about getting rid of recess. What is a possible unintended consequence of this decision?

• Students might have more time to dedicate to studying and completing homework, so they can have good grades.

• Students might become more focused and attentive in class, improving their academic performance at school.

• Students might have increased opportunities for physical activity and social interaction, while improving health.

• Students might become more restless and have trouble concentrating in class since they are very energetic.