critical thinking exercise 5 2 answers

Critical Thinking Exercises

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Critical thinking is a skill that students develop gradually as they progress in school. While the skill becomes more important in higher grades, some students find it difficult to understand the concept of critical thinking .

The reason critical thinking can be difficult to grasp is because it requires students to set aside assumptions and beliefs to learn to think without bias or judgment.

Critical thinking involves suspending your beliefs to explore and question topics from a "blank page" point of view. It also involves the ability to distinguish fact from opinion when exploring a topic.

These exercises are designed to help develop critical thinking skills.

Critical Thinking Exercise 1: Tour Guide for an Alien

This exercise provides an opportunity to think outside your normal way of thinking.

Pretend that you have been assigned the task of conducting a tour for aliens who are visiting the earth and observing human life. You're riding along in a blimp, viewing the landscape below, and you float over a professional baseball stadium. One of the aliens looks down and is very confused by what he sees. You explain that there is a game going on and he asks several important questions.

• What is a game? 
• Why are there no female players?
• Why do people get so excited about watching other people play games?
• What is a team?
• Why can't the people in the seats go down on the field and join in?

If you try to answer these questions fully, it will quickly become apparent that we carry around certain assumptions and values. We support a certain team, for instance, because it makes us feel like we're a part of a community. This sense of community is a value that matters to some people more than others.

Furthermore, when trying to explain team sports to an alien, you have to explain the value we place on winning and losing.

When you think like an alien tour guide, you are forced to take a deeper look at the things we do and things we value. Sometimes they don't sound logical from the outside looking in.

Critical Thinking Exercise 2: Fact or Opinion

Do you think you know the difference between fact and opinion? It's not always easy to discern. When you visit websites, do you believe everything you read? The abundance of available information makes it more important than ever for students to develop critical thinking skills. Additionally, it's an important reminder that you must use trustworthy sources in your school work.

If you don't learn the difference between fact and opinion, you may end up reading and watching things that continue to reinforce beliefs and assumptions you already own.

For this exercise, read each statement and try to determine whether it sounds like a fact or an opinion. This can be completed alone or with a study partner .

• My mom is the best mom on earth.
• My dad is taller than your dad.
• My telephone number is difficult to memorize.
• The deepest part of the ocean is 35,813 feet deep.
• Dogs make better pets than turtles.
• Smoking is bad for your health.
• Eighty-five percent of all cases of lung cancer in the U.S. are caused by smoking.
• If you flatten and stretch out a Slinky toy it will be 87 feet long.
• Slinky toys are fun.
• One out of every one hundred American citizens is color blind.
• Two out of ten American citizens are boring.

You will probably find some of the statements easy to judge but other statements difficult. If you can effectively debate the truthfulness of a statement with your partner, then it's most likely an opinion.

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Become a better critical thinker with these 7 critical thinking exercises

Critical thinking is a skill you can use in any situation. Whether you're a student, entrepreneur, or business executive, critical thinking can help you make better decisions and solve problems.

But learning critical thinking skills isn't always an easy task. Many tools, techniques, and strategies are available, and choosing the right one can be challenging. Vague suggestions on the internet like "read more" aren't very helpful, and elaborate business examples don’t apply to many of us.

As average problem-solvers, we need actionable thinking exercises to improve our critical thinking skills and enhance our thinking processes. Regularly performing exercises that specifically stretch our decision-making and reasoning skills is the most effective method of improving our thinking abilities.

This article will explore several exercises that will help you develop critical thinking skills. Whether you are preparing for an exam, making an influential decision for your business, or going about your daily life, these fun activities can build your reasoning skills and creative problem-solving abilities.

Boost your logical thinking skills and start practicing a critical mindset with these 10 critical thinking exercises.

A Quick Look at Critical Thinking

As a thoughtful learner, you likely already understand the basics of critical thinking, but here's a quick refresher.

Critical thinking involves analyzing problems or issues objectively and rationally. Critical thinkers are able to understand their own biases and assumptions, as well as those of others. They’re also able to see the world from a different point of view and understand how their experiences impact their thinking.

Developing critical thinking skills is essential because it allows us to see things from multiple perspectives, identify biases and errors in reasoning, and be open to possible solutions. Making informed decisions is easier when we have a better understanding of the world around us.

Why We Need to Practice Critical Thinking

We aren't born with critical thinking skills, and they don’t naturally develop beyond survival-level thinking. To master critical thinking, we must practice it and develop it over time.

However, learning to think critically isn't as easy as learning to ride a bicycle. There aren't any step-by-step procedures to follow or supportive guides to fall back on, and it is not taught in public schools consistently or reliably. To ensure students' success, teachers must know higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) and how to teach them, research says.

Unfortunately, although teachers understand the importance of HOTS and attempt to teach it, studies show that their capacity to measure students' HOTS is low. Educator and author Dr. Kulvarn Atwal says, "It seems that we are becoming successful at producing students who are able to jump through hoops and pass tests."

As critical thinking skills become more important in higher grades, some students find it challenging to understand the concept of critical thinking. To develop necessary thinking skills, we must set aside our assumptions and beliefs. This allows us to explore and question topics from a "blank page" point of view and distinguish fact from opinion.

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7 Critical Thinking Exercises To Improve Your Critical Thinking Skills

The good news is that by assessing, analyzing, and evaluating our thought processes, we can improve our skills. Critical thinking exercises are key to this improvement. Our critical thinking builds and improves with regular practice, just like a muscle that gets stronger with use.

If you want to become a better critical thinker , here are some critical thinking exercises to try:

Exercise #1: The Ladder of Inference

You can exercise your critical thinking skills by using the Ladder of Inference model . This thinking model was developed by renowned organizational psychologist Chris Argyris. Each rung on the ladder of inference represents a step you take to arrive at your conclusions.

The decision-making process starts when we are faced with a problem or situation. As soon as we observe something problematic or important, we presume what is causing it, and then we use that assumption to draw conclusions. Based on those conclusions, we take action.

For example, say you're at a party and see a friend across the room. You catch their eye and wave, but they turn and walk away. Using the ladder, you might climb the rungs as follows:

• Observe that your friend walked away.
• Select a few details of the situation, including your wave and your assumption that they saw you.
• Meaning is attached based on the environment, making you think your friend must have other people to talk to at the party.
• Assumptions are made based on that meaning, assuming that means your friend doesn’t like you as much as them.
• Conclusions are drawn from the assumption, and you determine that your friend must be mad at you or doesn't want you to be at the party.
• Beliefs are formed, making you think you're not welcome.
• Action is taken, and you leave the party.

In this example, you started with a situation (someone walking away at a crowded party) and made a series of inferences to arrive at a conclusion (that the person is mad at you and doesn't want you there).

The Ladder of Inference can be a helpful tool to frame your thinking because it encourages you to examine each step of your thought process and avoid jumping to conclusions. It's easy to make assumptions without realizing it, as in this scene. Perhaps your friend never even saw you wave from across the crowded room.

Exercise #2: The Five Whys

The "Five Whys" technique is an analytical skill that can help you uncover the source of a problem. The activity was created by Sakichi Toyoda, the founder of Toyota, and consists of repeatedly asking “why?” when a problem is encountered to determine its root cause.

This exercise can be difficult because knowing if you've discovered the source of your problem is challenging. The "five" in "Five Whys" is just a guideline — you may need to ask more. When you can't ask anything else, and your response is related to the original issue, you've probably arrived at the end.

Even if you need several rounds of questioning, just keep going. The important part that helps you practice critical thinking is the process of asking "why?" and uncovering the deeper issues affecting the situation.

For instance, say you're trying to figure out why your computer keeps crashing.

• You ask " why ," and the answer is that there's a software problem.
• Why? Because the computer keeps running out of memory.
• Why? Because too many programs are running at the same time.
• Why? Because too many browser tabs are open .
• Why? Because multitasking is fragmenting your focus, you're doing too many things at once.

In this example, working through the "why's" revealed the underlying cause. As a result, you can find the best solution, which is concentrating on just one thing at a time.

Exercise #3: Inversion

Inversion is another critical thinking exercise that you can use in any situation. Inversion is sort of like taking on the role of the devil's advocate. In this exercise, adopt the opposite view of whatever issue you're exploring and consider the potential arguments for that side. This will help broaden your critical thinking skills and enable you to see other perspectives on a situation or topic more clearly.

For example, let's say you're thinking about starting your own business. Using inversion, you would explore all of the potential arguments for why starting your own business is bad. This might include concerns like:

• You could end up in debt.
• The business might fail.
• It's a lot of work.
• You might not have time for anything else.

By exploring these potentially adverse outcomes, you can identify the potential risks involved in starting your own business and make a more sound decision. You might realize that now is not the right time for you to become an entrepreneur. And if you do start the company, you'll be better prepared to deal with the issues you identified when they occur.

Exercise #4: Argument Mapping

Argument mapping can be a beneficial exercise for enhancing critical thinking skills. Like mind mapping, argument mapping is a method of visually representing an argument's structure. It helps analyze and evaluate ideas as well as develop new ones.

In critical thinking textbooks, argument diagramming is often presented to introduce students to argument constructions. It can be an effective way to build mental templates or schema for argument structures, which researchers think may make critical evaluation easier .

Argument maps typically include the following:

• Conclusion: What is being argued for or against
• Premises: The reasons given to support the conclusion
• Inferences: The connections made between the premises and conclusion

The argument map should be as clear and concise as possible, with a single word or phrase representing each element. This will help you make connections more easily. After the map is completed, you can use it to identify any weak points in the argument. If any areas aren't well-supported, additional premises can be added.

Argument mapping can be applied to any situation that requires critical thinking skills. The more time you take to map out an argument, the better you'll understand how the pieces fit together. Ultimately, this will help you think more creatively and critically, and make more informed decisions.

Exercise #5: Opinion vs. Fact

Critical thinking activities that focus on opinions and facts are particularly valuable and relevant new learning opportunities. Our constantly-connected world makes it easy to confuse opinions and facts , especially with sensationalist news articles and click-bait headlines.

How can you tell a fact from an opinion? Facts are generally objective and established, whereas opinions are subjective and unproven. For example, "the cloud is in the air" is a fact. "That dress looks good on you" is an opinion.

Practice your critical thinking skills by reading or listening to the news. See if you can identify when someone is stating an opinion rather than a fact. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Who is saying what? What reasons might be behind their statements?
• Does the claim make sense? Who would disagree with it and why?
• How can you tell if the data is reliable? Can it be fact-checked? Has it been shared by other credible publishers?
• How do you know whether or not the presenter is biased? What kind of language is being used?

This powerful exercise can train your mind to start asking questions whenever presented with a new claim. This will help you think critically about the information you're taking in and question what you're hearing before accepting it as truth.

Exercise #6: Autonomy of an Object

In her book " The Critical Thinking Tool Kit ," Dr. Marlene Caroselli describes a critical thinking exercise called "Living Problems, Lively Solutions." This exercise uses the autonomy of an object as a problem-solving tool to find a possible solution.

To do this, you'll personify your problem and place it in another context — a different time or place. This allows you to uncover unique solutions to the problem that might be tied to your mental associations with that setting.

For example, if your problem is poor time management , you might personify the issue as a thief of your time. The idea of a thief could make you think of jail, which might prompt thoughts of locking up specific distractions in your life. The idea of jail could also make you think of guards and lead you to the possible solution of checking in with an accountability buddy who can make sure you're sticking to your schedule.

The autonomy-of-object technique works because it stimulates thoughts you wouldn’t have considered without the particular context in which you place the problem.

Exercise #7: The Six Thinking Hats

Designed by Edward de Bono, the Six Thinking Hats is a critical thinking exercise that was created as a tool for groups to use when exploring different perspectives on an issue. When people use other thinking processes, meetings can become challenging rather than beneficial.

To help teams work more productively and mindfully, de Bono suggests dividing up different styles of thinking into six categories, represented as hats:

• The white hat is objective and focuses on facts and logic
• The red hat is intuitive, focusing on emotion and instinct
• The black hat is cautious and predicts negative outcomes
• The yellow hat is optimistic and encourages positive outcomes
• The green hat is creative, with numerous ideas and little criticism
• The blue hat is the control hat used for management and organization

With each team member wearing a different hat, a group can examine an issue or problem from many different angles, preventing one viewpoint (or individual) from dominating the meeting or discussion. This means that decisions and solutions reached using the Six Thinking Hats approach will likely be more robust and effective, and everyone’s creative thinking skills will benefit.

Train Your Brain With Critical Thinking Exercises

Using critical thinking regularly in various situations can improve our ability to evaluate and analyze information. These seven critical thinking exercises train your brain for better critical thinking skills . With daily practice, they can become habits that will help you think more critically each day.

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7 Puzzles to Challenge Your Critical Thinking

Can you spot the connections and sort these items.

Posted March 5, 2015 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

The theme of this post is critical thinking—and the kinds of puzzles that can be constructed around it. This term is used frequently in psychology and education . There are various definitions, but the one that best suits our purpose and which is, in the end, perhaps the best, is the ability to comprehend the logical connections among ideas, words, phrases, and concepts . In the relevant scientific literature, of course, the term is used much more broadly as a framework for understanding human cognition . But in my opinion, the best way to understand things is to construct puzzles to illustrate their basic essence.

Critical thinking involves skill at recognizing a pattern in given information and especially recognizing how the information is connected to the real world. Here are a couple of very simple examples. First, consider the five words below:

• Cruise ship
• Walking on foot
• Automobile (not a race car)

Now, put them in order from the slowest to the fastest, when they are going at maximum speed. The solution, of course, is: 4-2-5-1-3.

As with all such puzzles, there might be slightly different solutions—one could claim that some automobiles go faster than cruise ships. This “indeterminacy” characterizes this kind of thinking. However, some puzzles are straightforward. For instance, what do the following five things have in common?

The answer? These are all words referring to shades of blue.

The seven puzzles below are to the ones above, though hopefully more challenging. Some involve knowledge of facts, but critical thinking is still involved in such cases because the organization of the facts according to some principle is always involved—for example, a puzzle may ask you to put five items in order of their dates of invention.

The following tongue-in-cheek definition of critical thinking by Richard W. Paul, a leading expert on critical thinking theory, says it all: “Critical thinking is thinking about your thinking while you’re thinking in order to make your thinking better.”

I. What do the following 5 things have in common?

• Orange juice

II. Put the following buildings or structures in order of height, from the shortest to the tallest.

• Typical camping tent

III. What do the following animals have in common?

IV. Put the following inventions in order from earliest to most recent.

V. What feature do the following words have in common?

• Imagination

VI. Put these bodies of water in order in terms of volume, from smallest to largest .

VII. What do the following landmasses have in common?

I. They are all drinkable liquids. II. 5-1-4-3-2 III. They all have a tail. They are also all quadrupeds. IV. To the best of my knowledge: 5-4-3-1-2 V. They start with a vowel: a, e, i, o, u VI. 4-2-1-5-3 VII. They are all peninsulas.

Marcel Danesi, Ph.D. , is a professor of semiotics and anthropology at Victoria College, University of Toronto. His books include The Puzzle Instinct and The Total Brain Workout .

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A Deep Dive into 10 Thought-Provoking Critical Thinking Exercises

Today, information bombards us from all directions, and the ability to think critically has become a paramount skill. Beyond the rote memorization of facts, critical thinking exercises involve the analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information to make informed decisions. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore ten engaging and effective critical thinking exercises designed to enhance cognitive abilities, foster intellectual agility, and contribute to overall cognitive excellence.

List of Critical Thinking Exercises: 

1. socratic questioning: unlocking wisdom through dialogue.

The Socratic method, with its roots in ancient philosophy, serves as a foundational exercise for critical thinking. It involves posing open-ended questions stimulating thoughtful dialogue and exploring complex topics. The exercise encourages individuals to engage in structured discussions, challenging assumptions, and dissecting various perspectives on a chosen subject matter.

Exercise: Organize or participate in Socratic discussion groups where participants tackle topics ranging from ethical dilemmas to societal issues. The goal is to foster an environment where thoughtful questioning leads to a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

2. Brain Teasers and Puzzles: Nurturing Analytical Thinking

Solving puzzles, riddles, and brain teasers is a classic exercise for enhancing problem-solving skills and developing cognitive flexibility. Engaging in these activities challenges the mind, fostering creativity and adaptability.

Exercise: Dedicate regular time to solving Sudoku, crosswords, or logic puzzles. These exercises provide mental stimulation and improve memory, concentration, and logical reasoning.

3. Debate Club Participation: Sharpening Persuasive and Analytical Skills

Joining a debate club provides a platform to practice constructing persuasive arguments, critically evaluating opposing viewpoints, and refining communication skills. The exercise encourages individuals to think on their feet, respond to counterarguments, and strengthen their ability to convey ideas convincingly.

Exercise: Actively participate in structured debates on topics ranging from current affairs to philosophical dilemmas. This fosters the development of not only critical thinking but also effective communication.

4. Case Study Analysis: Applying Critical Thinking to Real-World Scenarios

Analyzing real or hypothetical case studies allows individuals to apply critical thinking exercises to assess situations and propose effective solutions. This exercise mimics the problem-solving demands of various professions and prepares individuals to think critically in real-world contexts.

Exercise: Review business case studies, legal scenarios, or medical cases, identifying key issues and recommending strategic approaches. This hands-on approach enhances decision-making skills.

5. Concept Mapping: Visualizing Complex Ideas for Better Understanding

Creating visual representations of ideas, relationships, and hierarchies through concept mapping enhances understanding and promotes analytical thinking. This exercise encourages individuals to see the interconnectedness of concepts and improves visual-spatial thinking.

Exercise: Utilize mind maps or concept maps to illustrate complex concepts or plan projects. This visual approach aids in organizing thoughts, identifying relationships between ideas, and enhancing overall comprehension.

6. Decision-Making Simulations: Learning Through Virtual Scenarios

Participation in decision-making simulations replicates real-world scenarios, encouraging thoughtful analysis and strategic thinking. This exercise allows individuals to make decisions within a controlled environment, experiencing the consequences of their choices.

Exercise: Explore online simulations or business strategy games that require strategic decision-making. These simulations provide a risk-free environment for learning and testing different decision-making approaches.

7. Read Diverse Perspectives: Broadening Horizons through Literature

Exposure to a variety of perspectives, cultures, and ideologies through literature and diverse media broadens understanding and encourages critical thinking. This exercise prompts individuals to consider alternative viewpoints and challenges preconceived notions.

Exercise: Read books, and articles, or watch documentaries from authors with differing viewpoints. This exposure to diverse perspectives fosters empathy, cultural awareness, and a more nuanced understanding of the world.

8. Critical Writing Exercises: Articulating Coherent Arguments

Developing analytical writing skills involves articulating coherent arguments and supporting them with evidence, fostering clarity and logical reasoning. This exercise enhances the ability to express complex thoughts in a structured and persuasive manner.

Exercise: Engage in writing essays or analyses on thought-provoking topics. Focus on constructing compelling arguments with evidence-based reasoning. This exercise not only hones critical thinking exercises but also improves written communication.

9. Ethical Dilemma Deliberation: Exploring Morality and Decision-Making

Delving into ethical dilemmas requires individuals to examine the moral implications of decisions, considering multiple ethical frameworks. This exercise encourages individuals to think critically about the consequences of their actions on both a personal and societal level.

Exercise: Engage in discussions and analyze ethical scenarios, exploring the ethical dimensions of various decisions. This exercise prompts individuals to consider the broader implications of their choices.

10. Data Analysis Challenges: Making Informed Decisions Based on Data

Enhancing quantitative critical thinking involves interpreting and drawing conclusions from data, promoting data literacy. This exercise empowers individuals to make informed decisions based on quantitative information.

Exercise: Work with datasets, analyze trends, and draw meaningful insights. Developing proficiency in data analysis enhances the ability to make evidence-based decisions in various contexts.

Conclusion:

Cultivating cognitive excellence through critical thinking exercises is a journey that requires active engagement in diverse exercises. The ten exercises presented in this guide offer a comprehensive range of activities to foster cognitive agility. From engaging in Socratic questioning to tackling ethical dilemmas and analyzing data, these exercises empower individuals to approach challenges with a discerning and analytical mindset. Embrace the journey of continuous intellectual development through these practical and stimulating critical thinking exercises, and witness the transformative power of a sharpened mind.

Also Read: 10 Team-Building Games That Promote Critical Thinking

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Critical thinking definition

Critical thinking, as described by Oxford Languages, is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement.

Active and skillful approach, evaluation, assessment, synthesis, and/or evaluation of information obtained from, or made by, observation, knowledge, reflection, acumen or conversation, as a guide to belief and action, requires the critical thinking process, which is why it's often used in education and academics.

Some even may view it as a backbone of modern thought.

However, it's a skill, and skills must be trained and encouraged to be used at its full potential.

People turn up to various approaches in improving their critical thinking, like:

• Developing technical and problem-solving skills
• Engaging in more active listening
• Actively questioning their assumptions and beliefs
• Seeking out more diversity of thought
• Opening up their curiosity in an intellectual way etc.

Is critical thinking useful in writing?

Critical thinking can help in planning your paper and making it more concise, but it's not obvious at first. We carefully pinpointed some the questions you should ask yourself when boosting critical thinking in writing:

• What information should be included?
• Which information resources should the author look to?
• What degree of technical knowledge should the report assume its audience has?
• What is the most effective way to show information?
• How should the report be organized?
• How should it be designed?
• What tone and level of language difficulty should the document have?

Usage of critical thinking comes down not only to the outline of your paper, it also begs the question: How can we use critical thinking solving problems in our writing's topic?

Let's say, you have a Powerpoint on how critical thinking can reduce poverty in the United States. You'll primarily have to define critical thinking for the viewers, as well as use a lot of critical thinking questions and synonyms to get them to be familiar with your methods and start the thinking process behind it.

Are there any services that can help me use more critical thinking?

We understand that it's difficult to learn how to use critical thinking more effectively in just one article, but our service is here to help.

We are a team specializing in writing essays and other assignments for college students and all other types of customers who need a helping hand in its making. We cover a great range of topics, offer perfect quality work, always deliver on time and aim to leave our customers completely satisfied with what they ordered.

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How to Solve the Biggest Problems With Critical Thinking Exercises

• February 10, 2018

Have you ever wanted to evaluate situations like Sherlock Holmes, or present arguments like an undefeated lawyer? Sick of being the confused and out-of-place individual in any intellectual scrum?

Critical thinking is the art, skill, and practice of getting to the crux of any subject. It allows you to see the big picture and challenge what comes between you and the truth.

This doesn’t come easy; it requires a certain amount of practice before you can become the master of all that matters . It will require the use of critical thinking exercises and practice thereof.

Critical Thinking Exercise Types

Critical thinking starts with the three powerful skills of linking ideas, structuring arguments, and recognizing incongruences. Each area needs to be practiced and applied in order for you to become the best critical thinker you can be.

Below are the three major skills of critical thinking:

• Linking ideas
• Structuring argument s
• Recognizing incongruences

1. Linking ideas

This has to do with finding connections between the seemly unrelatable or irrelevant.

Exercise: Newspaper link up

Take today’s newspaper. Brush through all articles in each section (news, sports, business, etc.). Make a list of the articles as a basic concept.

Now find ways in which each article is linked to each other, in each section of the newspaper. Find the overall theme of each section and if you can, try to link the sections of the newspaper to each other.

Once you have done all of this, try to surmise the agenda or aim of this publication.

2. Structuring arguments

Structuring arguments are elements that are involved in creating a practical, relevant, and sound argument. Before doing this exercise you will have to know what a premise and conclusion of an argument are:

Premise:  A previous statement or proposition from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion. It is the base of an argument, theory, or undertaking.

Conclusion: The end of an argument, theory, or undertaking. A judgment or decision is reached by reasoning.

Exercise: Recognising the premise and conclusion

Look on YouTube or just on Google for some of the best theories, arguments, or speeches ever given or done.  Take the piece that you have chosen and determine what the premise of the topic is, and what the conclusion is. There can be several premises but they have to support the conclusion.

3. Recognizing incongruences

Recognizing incongruences is the ability to find holes in a theory or argument in order to find the real truth.

Exercise: Challenging the premise

Take the same information from the Recognising premise and conclusion exercise you have done above, and see if you can figure out if any of the premises do not support or link to the conclusion.

If all premises link with the conclusions, then look into the premises themselves. See if there are any false assumptions ( or fallacies ) in the premises and research their validity.

Analyze the premises to see that there has not been a statement that is assumed true but is actually false.

Critical Thinking Exercises for Adults

Too often as adults, we are steadfast and strong in our already formed, accepted, and practiced beliefs.

We often do not challenge what is just accepted as truth or “the way it is.” We could learn a thing or two from the younger side of humanity, especially the way that they question everything, even that which is considered logical.

Exercise: Tell a space alien

You can apply this to any information or theory, but in the interest of practice, you can look for the 10 most interesting theories on the internet.

You will play both the inquisitive space alien and yourself trying to answer and explain the topic.

Start by explaining the topic as if it were to a space alien who has no prior knowledge of Earth and it’s ways, but somehow the alien can speak English. Then become the alien (dress up if you wish) and ask questions about the topic from a completely uninformed perspective.

For example, you would explain a game of tennis, as two people who use a tool called a racquet to hit a ball over a net and into a certain square. The one who does not return the ball loses that round and the other gets a point, until the one has enough points to win.

You as the alien when then ask things such as: Why are there only two people playing? Why does the crowd get so excited? Why does the crowd not jump on the court and get involved? Why do they use racquets and not something else? Etcetera…

Critical Thinking Exercises for College Students

Due to the amount of information absorbed in a term or semester of college, college students don’t get much of a chance to look back on what they have learned. The river of information keeps flowing and the students keep swimming on.

It often happens that a year or two down the line, you will be looking up something that you did in the first year of college. It is thus very important to take at least one day once you are done with the term, to revise and clarify what you have achieved? What could you have done better? And how you could improve on the strategies you applied?

Exercise: Revising the term or semester

At the end of a term or semester of college, take each area of knowledge you have gone through in that time. You can divide this by subject, yet if you feel that certain subjects can be merged into one area of knowledge then do so.

Answer these questions about the college term and the knowledge you gain in that time:

• In your own perception (not the reports’) what was your performance like this term?
• How effective were your strategies in getting through the work? (Time management, studying strategies etc.)
• What would you like to get out of the next term that you didn’t get in this term?
• How could you improve on these strategies?
• What are the major practical skills you acquired from this term and how could they be put to use in future?

Don’t limit the answers to the study work only, but expand into what you learned from the environment or something you inadvertently learned.

For example you learned, useful social and networking skills by being a part of many events and social groups, or you learned how to respond to people of authority effectively when dealing with a difficult lecturer.

Critical Thinking Exercises for Children

Critical thinking Exercises work well for kids as they develop the application of critical thinking. Children are mostly really good at critical thinking questioning; asking why? Why? Why….

Where children usually fall short is self-evaluation and seeing other perspectives.

It is also important to note that there will be different exercises for different age groups. Smaller children do not have the capacity to think in a certain way, just by the way the human brain naturally develops.

Exercise for younger children: Interactive questioning

When children are very young, they won’t have the patience or concentration to stay engaged in a certain activity for too long. The best thing to do for these children is actively use critical thinking exercises in their daily lives.

Ask questions that will actively engage the children in critical thinking such as:

• Open-ended questions – Instead of the regular yes and no answers, inspire your children to elaborate on their answers to create understanding and validation to what they say.
• Encourage Explanations – Ask your child to explain a topic or something they saw with a bit more detail than they would usually give. Make sure they feel as if the question does not have a right or wrong answer, so they have the freedom to express themselves.
• Multiple Answers – This works especially well in situations that are challenging to them. Ask your child what they should do in a certain situation and ask them to come up with at least three different answers or responses.
• Evaluate Decisions – Once something has happened to the child, ask the child what they thought about the situation and how they would handle it differently.

On top of all of this, inspire your kids to question everything. It is absolutely crucial. Here is an inspiring video to help you with this action:

Exercise for older children: Image description Exercises

Older children are a little less inquisitive than the younger children and often get caught up on the right or wrong answer. This makes them less inclined to come up with multiple solutions and usually only give one answer at a time until they get validation that they are correct.

With the image description exercise you take any image (make sure it’s age appropriate) and make them describe what they see and elaborate about the subjects in the picture and the situation of the picture. Push them to give multiple answers and scenarios.

Exercise Your Critical Thought

Critical thinking is an art and a skill and can thus be honed and improved by constant practice and application. The best way to do this is through critical thinking exercises .

Take ten to twenty minutes a day to sharpen your critical thinking and you will soon notice that the rest of your life will be full of inspiration and better understanding.

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Chapter 2 Answer Key to Select Chapter Exercises

Exercise 2.1 2. The essential ingredients of critical thinking are a systematic approach, involving the evaluation or formulation of claims, based on rational standards. 3. Peer pressure is a kind of group pressure to accept a statement or act in a certain way. Specifically, such group pressure is called ‘peer pressure’ when the pressure to conform comes from one’s peers. 4. Fake news is false information masquerading as news. 9. A kind of biased thinking in which we notice certain things and ignore others, even though we should be noticing both. The remedy is to make a conscious effort to look for opposing evidence. 10. We may ignore facts that contradict our beliefs and search out facts that support them. 13. The fallacy of arguing that a claim must be true merely because a substantial number of people believe it. 19. The view that we know much less than we think we do or nothing at all. Exercise 2.2 2. Self-interested 5. Group pressure 8. Face-saving 9. Group pressure Exercise 2.3 2. B, C 5. D Exercise 2.4 2. Peer pressure. Possible negative consequence: Harm to Prathamesh’s self-esteem; risk of alienating a valuable player. 6. Appeal to popularity. Possible negative consequence: Damage to the politician’s reputation as a decisive decision-maker; establishment of a precedent in which politicians cave in to pressure. Exercise 2.5 3. Face-saving. Possible negative consequence: public opinion of Antonio may sink even lower, and political allies may choose to distance themselves from him. 5. Face-saving; possible negative consequences: Dishonesty, which misleads people and sets Justin up for self-deception or future dishonesty.

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Critical thinking Exercises with answers (PDF)

Critical thinking exercises with answers (+ free pdf).

These exercises are designed to challenge your critical thinking abilities and enhance your analytical skills.

By practicing these exercises and reviewing the provided answers, you’ll be better equipped to approach problems, evaluate arguments, and draw informed conclusions in various contexts.

Keep practicing and honing your critical thinking skills for continued growth and success.

Each exercise is followed by a detailed explanation and answer, allowing you to check your understanding and learn from the solutions provided.

Click here to download these exercises as a free PDF

Exercise 1: Analyzing Arguments

Read the following argument and determine whether it is valid or invalid. Provide a brief explanation to support your answer.

Argument : “All cats have fur. Fluffy is a cat. Therefore, Fluffy has fur.”

Answer : Valid. The argument follows the logical structure of a categorical syllogism, where the conclusion logically follows from the premises.

Exercise 2: Identifying Assumptions

Identify the underlying assumptions in the following scenario and explain why they are important to consider.

Scenario : “John is always late to work. Therefore, he must be lazy.”

Answer : Assumption: Being late to work is solely due to laziness. It’s important to consider assumptions because they can influence our interpretations and conclusions, leading to potential biases or inaccuracies.

Exercise 3: Evaluating Evidence

Evaluate the credibility of the following evidence and explain your reasoning.

Evidence : “According to a survey conducted by XYZ Research, 90% of participants prefer Product A over Product B.”

Answer : The evidence appears credible as it cites a specific source (XYZ Research) and provides quantitative data (90% preference). However, it’s important to consider factors such as sample size, methodology, and potential biases in the survey.

Exercise 4: Problem-Solving

Solve the following problem and explain your approach to reaching the solution.

Problem : “A train leaves Station A traveling at 60 mph. Another train leaves Station B traveling at 75 mph. If Station B is 150 miles away from Station A, how long will it take for the trains to meet? “

Answer : To solve this problem, we can use the formula Distance = Rate × Time. Let t be the time it takes for the trains to meet. For Train A, the distance traveled is 60t, and for Train B, the distance traveled is 75t. Since the total distance is 150 miles, we have the equation 60t + 75t = 150. Solving for t, we get t = 2 hours.

Exercise 5: Drawing Conclusions

Draw a logical conclusion based on the information provided in the following scenario.

Scenario : “All mammals are warm-blooded. Dogs are warm-blooded animals. Therefore, dogs are mammals.”

Answer : The conclusion is logically valid as it follows the principle of categorical syllogism, where the conclusion follows logically from the premises.

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Critical thinking puzzles for adults (with answers)

Critical thinking can help to better navigate the information-dense and complex world we live in. By thinking critically we can better identify priorities, take a sensible approach to problem-solving and reach conclusions logically in line with evidence. Puzzles are an excellent way both to learn and practice critical thinking skills.

If you’d like to learn more about critical thinking or simply practice your skills with some puzzles, then this is the article for you. Read a little bit more about critical thinking skills and how to apply them first, or just skip straight to the puzzles and see how you get on.

What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is a broad approach to problem solving and analysis based on logic and evidence. It brings together a wide range of intellectual competences and the ability to combine and cross-reference them. Some of the most important elements of a critical thinking approach include:

Analytical skills:

• understanding of questions and concepts
• differentiation of relevant / irrelevant evidence and information
• identification of similarities, connections and differences
• use of metaphors or analogies to communicate ideas

Powers of inference:

• extraction of meaning from data using inductive or deductive reasoning
• extrapolation of data or abstraction into concepts and patterns
• correct identification and deployment of analogies and assumptions
• grasp of causal relationships, allowing development of conclusions and theories.

Data and theory evaluation:

• assessment of how strong, important or credible a theory might be
• taking on board new data and new arguments which alter understanding of ideas and theory

Rational decision-making:

– application of all the skills and competences above in order to come to a rational conclusion.

Problem-solving attitude: In addition to being able to think critically, you must also be personally inclined to think critically when facing a difficult or complex challenge. Developing qualities including curiosity and fairness, while distancing yourself from ideologies and group-think, should all help to create the kind of psychological landscape where critical thinking can flourish.

How can I learn critical thinking?

Critical thinking skills are hard to develop from only reading books or listening to lectures. The most effective way to sharpen and deepen critical thinking faculties is to practice critical thinking . Critical thinking puzzles offer a fun way to learn and the eight critical thinking puzzles we’ve chosen for this article should help you make a good start.

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Eight critical thinking puzzles – with answers

Puzzle 1 – letter puzzles.

What common feature do the following words share?

Answer: All of these words begin with a vowel. This type of puzzle may send your mind off in the wrong direction, thinking about the objects or concepts described by the words, and the properties they might share. In fact, the solution lies in a far more simple consideration of the alphabet. Puzzle 1 is a simple example of a common type of letter or word puzzle.

Puzzle 2 – Commonalities and differences

What do the following items have in common and which is the odd one out?

Orange Juice

Answer: These items are all liquids and the odd one out is petrol, since all the others are drinkable liquids.

Puzzle 3 – Falling on his feet

A man who lives in a high-rise building decides to exit through the window one morning rather than using the door. Somehow he survives the fall without a scratch and walks away to work. How did this happen?

Answer: The man lived on the ground or first floor and merely stepped or jumped down to the pavement outside. By stating early on that the building in question was a high-rise building, it’s easy for someone reading quickly to assume that the man jumped from a window on a high store but this it s not necessarily the case.

Puzzle 4 – Walk this way

A group of five people enter a windowless meeting room together. An hour later when the meeting ends, four walk out of the door, leaving the room empty. What has happened to the fifth member of the group?

Answer: The fifth person was in a wheelchair and wheeled out of the room rather than walked. Solving this puzzle requires you to think laterally about the question and the possible solutions. The answer can be found by asking yourself whether the emphasis of the question is on the emptiness of the room or the means by which the other four people left.

Puzzle 5 – Shapes and symbols

When lying on my side, I am everything, but when cut in half, I am nothing. What am I?

Answer: The number 8. This puzzle requires that you think about a shape being repositioned or cut in a way that can change it to “everything” or “nothing”. Number 8 on its side is the mathematical symbol for infinity (i.e. everything) and also shaped like two small number 0s put together.

Puzzle 6 – Three hard options

The hero is escaping the lair of an evil super-villain and is faced with three possible exits:

• Door A leads into a pit of bubbling lava
• Door B leads to a room housing a deadly hitman
• Door C leads to the den full of lions that haven’t had a meal for a year.

Which door should the hero choose?

Answer: Door C. If the lion hasn’t eaten in a year, it will definitely be dead by now. This type of puzzle requires you to consider the full implications of the information given, rather than being drawn into a comparison of the relative dangers of lava, hitmen and lions…

Puzzle 7 – The bus driver’s eyes

You are a bus driver. Today the bus is empty at the start of your route but at the first stop, four people get onto the bus. Eight people get on at the second stop, while three alight. When the bus reaches the third stop, one more gets off, and three get on.

At the fourth stop, two people get off the bus and one gets on. The bus is traveling at an average speed of 30mph and its tires are new.  What color are the bus driver’s eyes?

Answer: You are the bus driver so the color will be the color of your own eyes. This type of puzzle tries to confuse you and obscure the single piece of relevant information by presenting large quantities of irrelevant information.

Puzzle 8 – Losing weight

A man walks into a room, closes the doors behind him and presses a button. In a matter of seconds the man is 20lb lighter. Despite this, he leaves the room at the same weight he entered it.

Answer: The room in question is actually an elevator. When the man gets in and presses the button, the elevator moves downwards with an acceleration that reduces the effect of gravity and makes the man temporarily 20lb lighter. Once the lift stops moving, the man’s weight is subject to normal gravity, just the same as before. Solving this puzzle requires a small piece of general physics knowledge.

A final word…

We hope you’ve enjoyed our critical thinking puzzles for adults and that your critical thinking skills are feeling refreshed and sharpened after reading our article. Whether at school, in the workplace, or in general life, critical thinking can be a valuable tool for success and anyone can learn to use it.

Get more critical thinking puzzles on our Youtube channel:

20 Challenging Lateral Thinking Puzzles That Are Harder Than They Seem

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