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How well do you understand critical thinking? You can take this quiz with critical thinking MCQs with answers to test your knowledge. Critical thinking is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue or situation in order to form an accurate or rightful judgment. A person with this skill is highly regarded and prospers under different conditions. Check out our critical thinking quiz with critical thinking MCQs with answers designed to test students' basic knowledge of critical thinking. It is worth giving a try!

Critical Thinking Questions and Answers

What is the exact problem with relativistic thinking .

There is no problem at all.

Relativistic thinking always promotes group opinions.

Relativistic thinking promotes a view that something is the truth because it is the truth in my point of view.

Relativistic thinking promotes absolute truth.

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What is the definition of critical thinking? 

Higher-level thinking that aims to solve a problem.

Finding faults and weaknesses in other people's arguments.

Logically analyzing arguments in a critical way.

Disciplined thinking and judgment.

Select the element which is not part of the critical thinking standards. 

Relativistic thinking

Completeness

Which is not the characteristic of a critical thinker among the following? 

They use logical skills in reasoning.

They refuse to recognize the limitations of his mind and consistently pursue excellence.

They think independently and do not always succumb to peer pressure.

He upholds the standards of critical thinking.

'For this entire semester, I've been playing and having fun every day. My studies are not going well. However, I believe I can score an A for the exam next week'.  What is the mistake that the person has committed here with respect to critical thinking? 

Wishful thinking

Egocentrism

Self-confident thinking

Moral subjectivism

Which of the following best defines critical thinking?

Accepting information at face value without questioning

Memorizing facts and details for later recall

Evaluating, analyzing, and synthesizing information to form a well-reasoned judgment

Agreeing with the majority opinion to avoid conflict

When you encounter information, what should be kept in mind?

Is it current?

Is it complete?

Is it accurate?

All of the above

What is the meaning of current information?

The topic is hot.

It is up to date.

It is complete information.

None of the above.

Which of these can be considered thinking critically?

Thinking emotionally

Thinking logically

Think actively and be aware of potential problems in the information you encounter.

None of the above

What is the worst thing for a critical thinker?

A logical mind

An emotional mind

Reaching to conclusion too soon.

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What is the Critical Thinking Test?

Critical thinking practice test, take a free practice critical thinking test, practice critical thinking test.

Updated November 16, 2023

Edward Melett

The Critical Thinking Test is a comprehensive evaluation designed to assess individuals' cognitive capacities and analytical prowess.

This formal examination, often referred to as the critical thinking assessment, is a benchmark for those aiming to demonstrate their proficiency in discernment and problem-solving.

In addition, this evaluative tool meticulously gauges a range of skills, including logical reasoning, analytical thinking, and the ability to evaluate and synthesize information.

This article will embark on an exploration of the Critical Thinking Test, elucidating its intricacies and elucidating its paramount importance. We will dissect the essential skills it measures and clarify its significance in gauging one's intellectual aptitude.

We will examine examples of critical thinking questions, illuminating the challenging scenarios that candidates encounter prompting them to navigate the complexities of thought with finesse.

Before going ahead to take the critical thinking test, let's delve into the realm of preparation. This segment serves as a crucible for honing the skills assessed in the actual examination, offering candidates a chance to refine their analytical blades before facing the real challenge. Here are some skills that will help you with the critical thinking assessment: Logical Reasoning: The practice test meticulously evaluates your ability to deduce conclusions from given information, assess the validity of arguments, and recognize patterns in logic. Analytical Thinking: Prepare to dissect complex scenarios, identify key components, and synthesize information to draw insightful conclusions—a fundamental aspect of the critical thinking assessment. Problem-Solving Proficiency: Navigate through intricate problems that mirror real-world challenges, honing your capacity to approach issues systematically and derive effective solutions. What to Expect: The Critical Thinking Practice Test is crafted to mirror the format and complexity of the actual examination. Expect a series of scenarios, each accompanied by a set of questions that demand thoughtful analysis and logical deduction. These scenarios span diverse fields, from business and science to everyday scenarios, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of your critical thinking skills. Examples of Critical Thinking Questions Scenario: In a business context, analyze the potential impacts of a proposed strategy on both short-term profitability and long-term sustainability. Question: What factors would you consider in determining the viability of the proposed strategy, and how might it affect the company's overall success? Scenario: Evaluate conflicting scientific studies on a pressing environmental issue.

Question: Identify the key methodologies and data points in each study. How would you reconcile the disparities to form an informed, unbiased conclusion?

Why Practice Matters

Engaging in the Critical Thinking Practice Test familiarizes you with the test format and cultivates a mindset geared towards agile and astute reasoning. This preparatory phase allows you to refine your cognitive toolkit, ensuring you approach the assessment with confidence and finesse.

We'll navigate through specific examples as we proceed, offering insights into effective strategies for tackling critical thinking questions. Prepare to embark on a journey of intellectual sharpening, where each practice question refines your analytical prowess for the challenges ahead.

This is a practice critical thinking test.

The test consists of three questions . 

After you have answered all the questions, you will be shown the correct answers and given full explanations.

Make sure you read and fully understand each question before answering. Work quickly, but don't rush. You cannot afford to make mistakes on a real test .

If you get a question wrong, make sure you find out why and learn how to answer this type of question in the future. 

Six friends are seated in a restaurant across a rectangular table. There are three chairs on each side. Adam and Dorky do not have anyone sitting to their right and Clyde and Benjamin do not have anyone sitting to their left. Adam and Benjamin are not sitting on the same side of the table.

If Ethan is not sitting next to Dorky, who is seated immediately to the left of Felix?

Job Test Prep

You might also be interested in these other PRT articles:

15 Free Psychometric Test Questions and Answers

Critical thinking puzzles for adults (with answers)

critical thinking puzzles

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.

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:

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

The aMAZEing PuzzleBox

Eight critical thinking puzzles – with answers, puzzle 1 – letter puzzles.

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

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?

Puzzle 4 – Walk this way

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

Puzzle 6 – three hard options.

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

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.

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.

A final word


20 Challenging Lateral Thinking Puzzles That Are Harder Than They Seem

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Creative Thinking Skills Self-Assessment

This quiz assesses how confident you are about being able to think creatively.

To get the most out of this quiz, it is important to respond as accurately as possible based on your actual behaviour now, rather than how you think you would like to behave in an ideal world.

For each statement, decide how often you do it using the following scale:

For these questions, tick the answer you feel applies most from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree .

You are very much just starting your journey into the realms of creative thinking skills.

That’s great news because there is lots to learn and plenty of room for improvement. We suggest you start by reading our page on Understanding Creative Thinking , as this will help you to address some of the myths and reasons why people think they cannot ‘do’ creative thinking. You could then have a look at our page on Creative Thinking to see some useful techniques to try.

You are fairly confident in your use of creative thinking and creative thinking techniques.

You are probably using at least a few techniques routinely and with thought, and want to move to the next level. Try our page on Creative Thinking for some useful techniques. Another good way to move forward is to look back at your answers to this self-assessment and see where you think you could improve. Conscious thought addressed to those areas will soon see improvement. If you want to understand more about how and why creative thinking works, read our page on Understanding Creative Thinking .

Congratulations! If you answered truthfully, you are very confident in your use of creative thinking. But there is always room for improvement.

Have a look at our page on Creative Thinking for some ideas of techniques that you might use, and also check your answers to see where you were less confident. If you want to understand more about how and why creative thinking works, and some of the science behind it, read our page on Understanding Creative Thinking .

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Chapter 2 Multiple Choice Questions

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Creative thinking is ?

Operating like a machine

Thinking outside the box

Being fresh

Why is Creative thinking important

To generate profit

To generate new ideas

Creative thinking can be encouraged

Brainstorming is one of the Problem-Solving techniques

Which best describes a mindmap?

A collection of sample materials and products related to a topic

A rough drawing or sketch

A diagram to arrange thoughts around a central node

An illustration of a series of moving images

  • 6. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Logical Thinkers most likely  are left brained domanate are right brained domanate use both sides of their brain have no brains
  • 7. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt A creative person is mostly likely Left Brained domanate Right Brained domanate using both sides of their brain have no brains
  • 8. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Analytical thinkers is a characteristic of right brain thinkers True False
  • 9. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt The right side of your brain controls the left side of your body. True False

The picture best describe ?

Thinking differently

Thinking new ideas

Coming up with new ideas

Creative thinking keeps the business innovative

  • 15. Multiple Choice Edit 5 minutes 1 pt Creative Is . . .   a.  The act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality  b.  The process of bringing something new into being c.  Requires passion and commitment. d. All of the above
  • 16. Multiple Choice Edit 5 minutes 1 pt Look at failure as a learning experience that will lead to success. TRUE FALSE

"Being open minded about new possibilities is critical to putting resourcefulness into action." What does it mean to be "open minded"?

Being a good listener

Being willing to consider new ideas

Which one of the following is the best to be creative?

Not looking outside the box

Being unknown to a subject

Looking at tasks from different P.O.V

Critical thinking is something we can learn.

Most creative people are artists.

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85 Critical Thinking Questions to Carefully Examine Any Information

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The ability to think critically will often determine your success in life.

Let’s face it. Every day, we are bombarded by news, social media updates, and an avalanche of information. If you take all of this at face value, it’s easy to be deceived, misled or ripped off.

That’s why it’s important to  develop a mindset that focuses on critical thinking . This is a skill that needs to be developed in the classroom. But it’s also a valuable life skill.

With that in mind, the following post will share 85 critical thinking questions you can use to increase your awareness about different problems by carefully examining available information. 

Let’s get started


Table of Contents

What Are Critical Thinking Questions?

Critical thinking questions are inquiries that help you think rationally and clearly by understanding the link between different facts or ideas. These questions create a seemingly endless learning process that lets you critique, evaluate, and develop a depth of knowledge about a given subject. Moreover, you get to reinforce your viewpoints or see things in a new way.

We make decisions every day, whether at work or home. Adopting logical, rational, and practical approaches in addressing various issues requiring critical thinking is essential in decision-making. Therefore, before arriving at a decision, always ask yourself relevant questions and carefully analyze the matter’s pros and cons.

Critical Thinking Questions When in an Argument

When you make an argument using a critical thinking approach, you focus on justified claims that are valid and based on evidence. It helps one establish a strong argument.

  • Do I disagree with the other person? Might the person I'm arguing with be misinformed on what they are saying?
  • Would I be comfortable saying what I am telling him/her if I was in front of a group of people? 
  • What would happen if I lose this argument? Is engaging in this argument worth my time and energy? How will I feel if I lose?
  • Is there room for ambiguity or misinterpretation? Are we arguing because I didn't make my point explicit? Should I take my time to understand his school of thought?
  • Do I need some rest before saying something? Am I arguing because of other reasons other than the issues at hand? Do I need to take some time and cool down?

critical thinking questions | critical thinking questions examples with answers | fun critical thinking questions with answers

  • Is it more important that I’m right? Am I trying to ask to prove an unnecessary point?
  • Is this argument inductive, deductive, or abductive? Is it a weak or strong argument that I need to engage in? Is it compelling or sound? 
  • Is my opponent sincere? Given that they are wrong, are they willing to admit that they are wrong? Can they depend on available evidence, wherever it leads?
  • Are my opponents only trying to shift their burden to me? What is the best way to prove them wrong without making them feel bad?
  • Are the people I'm arguing with only interested in winning, or are they trying to pass some information across and help me discover the truth?

Critical Thinking Questions When Reading a Book 

When you read a book, you probably ask yourself many “why” questions. Why is this a problem? Why did the character say that? Why is this important? The most challenging part of reading a book is assessing the information you are reading. These questions can help.

  • If I learn only two things from this book, what will they be? How will they help me? How will I apply them in my daily life?
  • What message are the authors trying to pass across? Are they making suggestions or providing evidence for their arguments?
  • Given that almost every book is about solving problems, what is the most prevalent issue that the author is trying to solve?
  • What is the author’s writing style? What strategy or master plan does the author employ to convey his/her main ideas throughout the book?
  • Do I have background information about the book’s topic? If so, how is what the author is saying different from what I already know?
  • What didn’t I understand from the book? Should I re-read the book to understand everything the writer is trying to convey?
  • Which sections of the book do I love the most, and why? Generally, do I like this book? Should I look for more books that are written by the same author?
  • If I had a chance to meet this book’s author, what questions would I ask him/her? What would I tell the writer about the book? Is it a great book worth recommending to your friends and family members?
  • Who are the main characters of the book? If there is only one main character, what overarching goal does the character accomplish?
  • In what ways did the protagonist change from the start of the book to the end? What caused the changes? Was the protagonist reckless in some ways? Which ways?

Critical Thinking Questions to Spot a Scam

Asking questions when you feel that a fraud or a scam is being presented to you is a good way to stretch your critical thinking muscles. Are you being emailed or messaged by a stranger? Or maybe there are other red flags you are unsure about. If so, ask these questions.

  • Does it seem to be too good to be true? Is this stranger pushy or trying to lure me into making a poor decision?
  • When trying out online dating: Is my new “friend” professing strong feelings towards me although we’ve only interacted for a few hours?
  • Why is a stranger calling me to ask about my Social Security Number (SSN), personal contact information, or bank details while claiming they are from the bank or a phone company? 
  • When buying products online, why does the seller ask me to pay for goods using an insecure payment option like Bitcoin or money order?
  • Does the email I have received have any spelling or grammatical errors? Is the language used overly formal or informal?
  • If I do a quick search about the exact words of the email I received, does Google indicate it's a fraud or scam?
  • Why should a stranger manipulate me using obvious questions like “Would you want to be rich or poor?” While they already know the answer?
  • Is the email asking me to download an attachment? Or click a link to some insecure website? 
  • Is the person trying to make me feel selfish or guilty for not sending them money, whether for a donation or buying a product? 
  • Is the stranger portraying a sense of urgency and using pressure tactics? Are they telling me that their family member needs urgent medical attention?

Critical Thinking Questions About Your Life

It can also help to ask yourself a few critical thinking questions about your life. This way, you can gather basic information and uncover solutions to problems you might not have otherwise thought of.

  • Where do I wish to be in a few years, probably two, three, or five years? What short-term and long-term goals should I set?
  • What have I achieved so far from the time I set my previous goals? What should I be grateful for?
  • Do I have any values that guide me in life? If so, what are these values? Am I always true to these values?
  • Am I always worried about what people around me think? Can I act independently without the need to meet social expectations?
  • What should people say about me at my funeral? Would they talk about how good I made them feel or how rich and flashy I was?
  • If I wasn't afraid of anyone or anything, what would I have done? What if I didn't have any fear in me?
  • If today was my last day, what extraordinary thing would I do? Can I do it right now?
  • What should I do with the things that matter the most to me? 
  • What things will make the greatest difference in my future life if I take action now?
  • How should I react when I feel unwanted by the people I love the most? Should I tell them?

critical thinking questions and answers pdf | critical thinking questions for students | critical thinking questions for adults

Critical Thinking Questions for a Debate or Discussion

When you are in the middle of a debate or discussion, you need to know that what you are saying is fact, have evidence to support your claim, and position yourself as an expert in what you are saying. Here are some critical thinking questions to ask when you are in a debate or discussion.

  • Is there fairness in this discussion? Is the moderator supporting one side? Do they want to make one side look stupid or wrong? 
  • What is the aim of this discussion? Is there a major problem that needs to be solved? If so, how can I help solve it?
  • Who are the people affected by this discussion? If they were here, what would they say?
  • Do my views on this discussion matter? If I raise my point, will I be redundant?
  • What am I supposed to learn from this debate, and how can I use what I have learned in my daily life?
  • Does the audience seem to be biased towards one side? Are they booing one side? What can I do even if it's our opponents being booed?
  • Who are the discussion panel members? What views have they held about this kind of discussion or any other related discussions in the past?
  • How can I make my point without being ambiguous? Before I speak, should I take down some notes to avoid any confusion during my speech?
  • Am I ready to apologize if I make a mistake during the discussion? If so, what are the limits?
  • What information does my team, or I need before this discussion? 

Critical Thinking Questions About Lying

Admitting when you are wrong, choosing not to cheat, and sharing constructive feedback are all ways to show your honesty. Here are some critical thinking skills to ask regarding lying.

  • Will the lie hurt those I am telling, or will it help them? What if being honest might cause my friend unnecessary pain?
  • Should I be the one telling this person a lie, or I let someone else do it? 
  • Will I be the one hurt if I tell this lie? Will my friend feel I am a betrayer? Will it affect our friendship?
  • Do they answer my questions in detail, or are they always trying to ignore and dodge the main problem?
  • What if I ask these people the same question using different terms and wording? Will they give me the same response?
  • Did the tone of my friend suddenly change after I asked him/her this question? Do they sound louder, faster, or slower compared to how they usually speak?
  • Does this person have something to gain by lying to me? What is their motive?
  • Does this person take a sudden pause or hesitate more than usual when responding to my question?
  • When I look at these people's faces, do their facial expressions match what they say?
  • Should I believe this person or not? What are my intuitions? Does it look like they are telling the truth?
  • Do they blink like other days when I ask them questions? Are they always trying to avoid direct eye contact?
  • Why do they seem uncomfortable when it’s just a normal conversation?  

Critical Thinking Questions When Presented With a Claim

Critical thinking is much more than just evaluating whether a claim is true or not. It also means a critical thinker reflects on what follows from true claims.

  • What does this claim mean, and what are its implications? What if it's a false claim?
  • Which of my morals, values, or beliefs do I have to give up to accept this claim?
  • Do professionals in this field agree or disagree with the claim that has been made?
  • Do they have evidence to back their claim? Which is the most robust evidence to support the claim?
  • What argument can I come up with to refute this claim? Or what is the best view that can support this claim?
  • Who is the primary source of the claim being made? Is the basis of the claim reliable?
  • Is it a claim, or it's just an opinion?
  • Is the claim likely to be 100% false, true, or partially true?
  • Am I allowed to refute the claim and table my evidence, or is it one-sided?

Critical Thinking Interview Questions

Critical thinking skills are valuable in any industry or field and for almost all roles. During a job interview, you will be asked questions so the potential employer can assess your skills and see how you use logic. Your critical thinking ability is just one vital part that can play into your professional development.

  • Is there a time you had to convince someone to use an alternate approach to solve a problem?
  • Have you ever had to make a difficult decision quickly?
  • How would you handle a situation where your supervisor handled something wrong or made a mistake?
  • What is one of the most difficult decisions you have ever had to make at work?
  • How would you solve a disagreement between coworkers when approaching a project?
  • Can you describe a time when you anticipated a problem ahead of time and took the appropriate steps to stop the problem from becoming an issue?
  • If you discover a cheaper way to do something or a better solution to a problem and try to explain it to your supervisor, but they don’t understand, what do you do?

Critical Thinking Questions for Kids

We can’t leave the kids out either. Critical thinking questions for kids get them thinking and talking. It also allows a parent to get to know their child better.

  • How many grains of sand do you think are on the beach?
  • What would happen if it stopped raining?
  • Do you think there is life on other planets?
  • Should children be able to set their own bedtimes?
  • How would you describe what a tree looks like without saying green or leaves?
  • Can you name five different emotions?
  • Can you talk for five minutes without uttering “um?”

What Are the Basic Principles of Critical Thinking?

Your critical thinking skills involve gathering complete information, understanding and defining terms, questioning the methods by which we get facts, questioning the conclusions, and looking for hidden assumptions and biases.

Additionally, we can’t expect to find all of the answers, and we need to take the time to examine the big picture of it all.

Here are the basic principles:

  • Disposition: Someone with critical thinking skills is often skeptical, open-minded, and practices fair-mindedness. They can look at different viewpoints and change positions if the evidence and reason lead them to do so.
  • Criteria: In order to think critically, one must also apply criteria. Certain conditions must be met before someone believes in something. The information needs to be from credible sources.
  • Argument: An argument is simply a statement or proposition that is shown with supporting evidence. When you use your critical thinking skills, you identify, evaluate, and construct your argument.
  • Reasoning: With critical thinking comes reasoning. You must examine logical relationships among the statements being made.
  • Point of View: Critical thinkers can see things from different perspectives and different points of view.

What Are Good Analysis Questions?

Analysis is a part of critical thinking that allows you to examine something carefully. Someone with analytical skills can examine the information presented, understand what that information means, and then properly explain that information to others. Analysis in critical thinking provides more clarity on the information you process.

When analyzing, you may ask yourself, “how do I know this,” how would I solve this problem,” and “why does it matter?”

Why Is Critical Thinking an Important Skill?

Critical thinking skills allow you to express thoughts, ideas, and beliefs in a better way. It also leads to improved communication while allowing others to understand you better. Critical thinking fosters creativity and encourages out-of-the-box thinking. This is a skill that can be applied to many different areas of your life.

For example, knowing the answers to critical thinking questions for a job interview will better prepare you for the interview. Many employers, during questioning, are likely to ask you critical thinking questions to assess if you have the ability to evaluate information effectively so you can make more informed decisions.

Final Thoughts on Critical Thinking Questions

Although it's common to get torn between making two or more choices, nobody wants to make the wrong decision. The only thing you can do to avoid this is use critical thinking questions to examine your situation. The answers to these questions will help you make informed decisions and help you comprehend crucial matters in your life. 

Want to learn more about critical thinking and decision-making using a real-life example? Here is  how Jeff Bezos uses critical thinking  to make some of the most challenging life decisions.

Finally, if you want to ask better questions, then watch this short, 20-minute course to learn how to have a great conversation with virtually anyone .

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Critical Thinking: Basic Questions & Answers




In this interview for Think magazine (April ’’92), Richard Paul provides a quick overview of critical thinking and the issues surrounding it: defining it, common mistakes in assessing it, its relation to communication skills, self-esteem, collaborative learning, motivation, curiosity, job skills for the future, national standards, and assessment strategies.

Critical thinking is essential to effective learning and productive living. Would you share your definition of critical thinking?

First, since critical thinking can be defined in a number of different ways consistent with each other, we should not put a lot of weight on any one definition. Definitions are at best scaffolding for the mind. With this qualification in mind, here is a bit of scaffolding: critical thinking is thinking about your thinking while you’re thinking in order to make your thinking better. Two things are crucial:

critical thinking is not just thinking, but thinking which entails self-improvement

this improvement comes from skill in using standards by which one appropriately assesses thinking. To put it briefly, it is self-improvement (in thinking) through standards (that assess thinking).

 

Could you give me an example?

Certainly, one of the most important distinctions that teachers need to routinely make, and which takes disciplined thinking to make, is that between reasoning and subjective reaction.

")

), systematically misleading the 150,000 or so teachers who read the publication.

Could this possibly be a rare mistake, not representative of teacher knowledge?

I don't think so. Let me suggest a way in which you could begin to test my contention. If you are familiar with any thinking skills programs, ask someone knowledgeable about it the "Where's the beef?" question. Namely, "What intellectual standards does the program articulate and teach?" I think you will first find that the person is puzzled about what you mean. And then when you explain what you mean, I think you will find that the person is not able to articulate any such standards. Thinking skills programs without intellectual standards are tailor-made for mis-instruction. For example, one of the major programs asks teachers to encourage students to make inferences and use analogies, but is silent about how to teach students to assess the inferences they make and the strengths and weaknesses of the analogies they use. This misses the point. The idea is not to help students to make more inferences but to make sound ones, not to help students to come up with more analogies but with more useful and insightful ones.

What is the solution to this problem? How, as a practical matter, can we solve it?

Well, not with more gimmicks or quick fixes. Not with more fluff for teachers. Only with quality long-term staff development that helps the teachers, over an extended period of time, over years not months, to work on their own thinking and come to terms with what intellectual standards are, why they are essential, and how to teach for them. The State Department in Hawaii has just such a long-term, quality, critical thinking program (see " "). So that's one model your readers might look at. In addition, the National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking Instruction is focused precisely on the articulation of standards for thinking. I am hopeful that eventually, through efforts such as these, we can move from the superficial to the substantial in fostering quality student thinking. The present level of instruction for thinking is very low indeed.

But there are many areas of concern in instruction, not just one, not just critical thinking, but communication skills, problem solving, creative thinking, collaborative learning, self-esteem, and so forth. How are districts to deal with the full array of needs? How are they to do all of these rather than simply one, no matter how important that one may be?

This is the key. Everything essential to education supports everything else essential to education. It is only when good things in education are viewed superficially and wrongly that they seem disconnected, a bunch of separate goals, a conglomeration of separate problems, like so many bee-bees in a bag. In fact, any well-conceived program in critical thinking requires the integration of all of the skills and abilities you mentioned above. Hence, critical thinking is not a set of skills separable from excellence in communication, problem solving, creative thinking, or collaborative learning, nor is it indifferent to one's sense of self-worth.

Could you explain briefly why this is so?

Consider critical thinking first. We think critically when we have at least one problem to solve. One is not doing good critical thinking, therefore, if one is not solving any problems. If there is no problem there is no point in thinking critically. The "opposite" is also true. Uncritical problem solving is unintelligible. There is no way to solve problems effectively unless one thinks critically about the nature of the problems and of how to go about solving them. Thinking our way through a problem to a solution, then, is critical thinking, not something else. Furthermore, critical thinking, because it involves our working out afresh our own thinking on a subject, and because our own thinking is always a unique product of our self-structured experience, ideas, and reasoning, is intrinsically a new "creation", a new "making", a new set of cognitive and affective structures of some kind. All thinking, in short, is a creation of the mind's work, and when it is disciplined so as to be well-integrated into our experience, it is a new creation precisely because of the inevitable novelty of that integration. And when it helps us to solve problems that we could not solve before, it is surely properly called "creative".

How do communication skills fit in?

Some communication is surface communication, trivial communication--surface and trivial communication don't really require education. All of us can engage in small talk, can share gossip. And we don't require any intricate skills to do that fairly well. Where communication becomes part of our educational goal is in reading, writing, speaking and listening. These are the four modalities of communication which are essential to education and each of them is a mode of reasoning. Each of them involves problems. Each of them is shot through with critical thinking needs. Take the apparently simple matter of reading a book worth reading. The author has developed her thinking in the book, has taken some ideas and in some way represented those ideas in extended form. Our job as a reader is to translate the meaning of the author into meanings that we can understand.

And self esteem? How does it fit in?

Healthy self-esteem emerges from a justified sense of self-worth, just as self-worth emerges from competence, ability, and genuine success. If one simply feels good about oneself for no good reason, then one is either arrogant (which is surely not desirable) or, alternatively, has a dangerous sense of misplaced confidence. Teenagers, for example, sometimes think so well of themselves that they operate under the illusion that they can safely drive while drunk or safely take drugs. They often feel much too highly of their own competence and powers and are much too unaware of their limitations. To accurately sort out genuine self-worth from a false sense of self-esteem requires, yes you guessed it, critical thinking.

And finally, what about collaborative learning? How does it fit in?

Collaborative learning is desirable only if grounded in disciplined critical thinking. Without critical thinking, collaborative learning is likely to become collaborative mis-learning. It is collective bad thinking in which the bad thinking being shared becomes validated. Remember, gossip is a form of collaborative learning; peer group indoctrination is a form of collaborative learning; mass hysteria is a form of speed collaborative learning (mass learning of a most undesirable kind). We learn prejudices collaboratively, social hates and fears collaboratively, stereotypes and narrowness of mind, collaboratively. If we don’t put disciplined critical thinking into the heart and soul of the collaboration, we get the mode of collaboration which is antithetical to education, knowledge, and insight.

One important aim of schooling should be to create a climate that evokes children’s sense of wonder and inspires their imagination to soar. What can teachers do to "kindle" this spark and keep it alive in education?

First of all, we kill the child's curiosity, her desire to question deeply, by superficial didactic instruction. Young children continually ask why. Why this and why that? And why this other thing? But we soon shut that curiosity down with glib answers, answers to fend off rather than to respond to the logic of the question. In every field of knowledge, every answer generates more questions, so that the more we know the more we recognize we don't know. It is only people who have little knowledge who take their knowledge to be complete and entire. If we thought deeply about almost any of the answers which we glibly give to children, we would recognize that we don't really have a satisfactory answer to most of their questions. Many of our answers are no more than a repetition of what we as children heard from adults. We pass on the misconceptions of our parents and those of their parents. We say what we heard, not what we know. We rarely join the quest with our children. We rarely admit our ignorance, even to ourselves. Why does rain fall from the sky? Why is snow cold? What is electricity and how does it go through the wire? Why are people bad? Why does evil exist? Why is there war? Why did my dog have to die? Why do flowers bloom? Do we really have good answers to these questions?

How does curiosity fit in with critical thinking?

To flourish, curiosity must evolve into disciplined inquiry and reflection. Left to itself it will soar like a kite without a tail, that is, right into the ground! Intellectual curiosity is an important trait of mind, but it requires a family of other traits to fulfill it. It requires intellectual humility, intellectual courage, intellectual integrity, intellectual perseverance, and faith in reason. After all, intellectual curiosity is not a thing in itself — valuable in itself and for itself. It is valuable because it can lead to knowledge, understanding, and insight; because it can help broaden, deepen, sharpen our minds, making us better, more humane, more richly endowed persons.

It is important for our students to be productive members of the work-force. How can schools better prepare students to meet these challenges?

The fundamental characteristic of the world students now enter is ever-accelerating change; a world in which information is multiplying even as it is swiftly becoming obsolete and out of date; a world in which ideas are continually restructured, retested, and rethought; where one cannot survive with simply one way of thinking; where one must continually adapt one's thinking to the thinking of others; where one must respect the need for accuracy and precision and meticulousness; a world in which job skills must continually be upgraded and perfected — even transformed. We have never had to face such a world before. Education has never before had to prepare students for such dynamic flux, unpredictability, and complexity for such ferment, tumult, and disarray.

National standards will result in national accountability. What is your vision for the future?

Most of the national assessment we have done thus far is based on lower-order learning and thinking. It has focused on what might be called surface knowledge. It has rewarded the kind of thinking that lends itself to multiple choice machine-graded assessment. We now recognize that the assessment of the future must focus on higher – not lower – order thinking; that it must assess more reasoning than recall; that it must assess authentic performances, students engaged in bona fide intellectual work.

by Richard Paul.}

 
 
 

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  1. Critical And Creative Thinking

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  4. Critical and Creative Thinking (Version 8.4)

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  5. The benefits of critical thinking for students and how to develop it

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VIDEO

  1. Stefany Rodriguez Creative Critical Reflection AICE Media Studies AS

  2. Creative & critical thinking- Assignment 1.2

  3. Creative & Critical Thinking At M J Public School Center dt 7/5/23

  4. Part 1: Creative & Critical Thinking From Islamic Perspective

  5. GMAT MOOC Session 2 Critical Reasoning Question Type

  6. Top Critical Thinking Skills

COMMENTS

  1. Critical And Creative Thinking MCQ Quiz

    Explanation Critical thinking involves analyzing problems and evaluating outcomes, which requires a logical and objective approach. On the other hand, creative thinking is more about discovering different perspectives and brainstorming ideas, which involves thinking outside the box and coming up with subjective and innovative solutions.

  2. Critical Thinking Quizzes, Questions & Answers

    The critical thinking quiz will help you understand when someone is right and acknowledged. Check out our online critical thinking MCQ quiz and see if you ace the art of actively and skillfully analyzing and evaluating information gathered through observation. We have a collection of critical thinking quizzes to help you analyze the facts and ...

  3. CCC1 Think Critically and Creatively Flashcards

    Military Problem Solving Process. 1. gather information (critical) 2. identify the problem (critical) 3. develop criteria (critical) 4. generate possible solutions (creative) 5. analyze possible solutions (creative) 6. compare possible solutions (creative) 7. make and implement the solution. military decision-making process.

  4. Critical Thinking: Multiple Choice Questions Flashcards

    1. Close all windows and doors to the classroom. 2. Look for an extinguisher to put out the fire. 3. Move quickly and orderly down the stairs to the parking lot. 4. Determine if it is a fire drill or a real fire. Move quickly and orderly down the stairs to the parking lot.

  5. Introduction to Critical Thinking (Quiz 1) Flashcards

    Steps in Critical Thinking. 1) focus on a question. 2) develop an argument. 3) analyze arguments. 4) ask and answer questions. 5) judge the credibility of the source. - repeat if needed. 1. Focus on a question.

  6. Test Your Knowledge: Critical Thinking Quiz

    Critical thinking is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue or situation in order to form an accurate or rightful judgment. A person with this skill is highly regarded and prospers under different conditions. Check out our critical thinking quiz with critical thinking MCQs with answers designed to test students' basic knowledge of ...

  7. Critical Thinking Test: Free Practice Questions

    PRT Critical Thinking Test: question 1 of 3. Six friends are seated in a restaurant across a rectangular table. There are three chairs on each side. Adam and Dorky do not have anyone sitting to their right and Clyde and Benjamin do not have anyone sitting to their left. Adam and Benjamin are not sitting on the same side of the table.

  8. Creative and Critical Thinking

    Creative and Critical Thinking quiz for Professional Development. Find other quizzes for and more on Quizizz for free! ... Critical thinking means evaluating ideas to find the one best answer. True. False. 2. Multiple Choice. Edit. 15 minutes. 1 pt. Creative thinking is very rare and can only be done by a few very special people. True. False. 3 ...

  9. Creative Thinking MCQ [Free PDF]

    Get Creative Thinking Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ Quiz) with answers and detailed solutions. Download these Free Creative Thinking MCQ Quiz Pdf and prepare for your upcoming exams Like Banking, SSC, Railway, UPSC, State PSC. ... Questions that carry single answers do not promote critical thinking because they are based on rote memorization ...

  10. CCC Module 2 Think Critically & Creatively Flashcards

    CCC Module 2 Think Critically & Creatively. _________ is the creative and skillful exercise of authority through timely decision-making and leadership. Commanders make decisions using judgment developed from experience, training, study, and creative and critical thinking. Click the card to flip 👆.

  11. Critical thinking puzzles for adults (with answers)

    2 The aMAZEing PuzzleBox. 3 Eight critical thinking puzzles - with answers. 3.1 Puzzle 1 - Letter puzzles. 3.2 Puzzle 2 - Commonalities and differences. 3.3 Puzzle 3 - Falling on his feet. 3.4 Puzzle 4 - Walk this way. 3.5 Puzzle 5 - Shapes and symbols. 3.6 Puzzle 6 - Three hard options.

  12. Creative Thinking Skills Self-Assessment

    For each statement, decide how often you do it using the following scale: For these questions, tick the answer you feel applies most from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree. Find out how good your creative thinking skills are in our self-assessment, and identify priority areas for improvement.

  13. Chapter 2 Multiple Choice Questions

    Chapter 2 Multiple Choice Questions What is critical thinking? Quiz Content ... Critical thinkers can be characterized by their approach to a persuasive argument, which is different from a quality argument. Which of the following is an example of a persuasive argument?

  14. Creative Thinking

    Analytical thinkers is a characteristic of right brain thinkers. The right side of your brain controls the left side of your body. a. The act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality. b. The process of bringing something new into being. Look at failure as a learning experience that will lead to success. "Being open minded about new ...

  15. 85 Critical Thinking Questions to Carefully Examine Any Information

    Analysis is a part of critical thinking that allows you to examine something carefully. Someone with analytical skills can examine the information presented, understand what that information means, and then properly explain that information to others. Analysis in critical thinking provides more clarity on the information you process.

  16. CH.11 Thinking Critically and Creatively Flashcards

    Critical thinking involves. identifying alternative views. To be a critical thinker it is important to. understand before criticizing. Construct your reasonable view by. first considering different answers. An internet site is legitimate if it. has an identifiable and reputable source. If you are offered something that is too good to be true,

  17. Creativity MCQ [Free PDF]

    Download Solution PDF. Creativity is the ability to come up with or generate creative ideas and possibilities. It involves thinking in new and original ways to reach a solution. It goes beyond the conventional ways of thinking and addresses the problem in a novel way.

  18. Thinking Styles MCQ Quiz

    Thinking Styles Question 3: In order to develop critical thinking among students a teacher should: give questions that involve inferences and explanations. avoid questions which need inference and analysis. ask only those questions which carry single answers. discourage the students from asking doubts and questions.

  19. WGU

    D. In thinking through a problem, the critical thinker does all of the following except: a) raises vital questions. b) gathers information that supports his/her presuppositions. c) thinks open-mindedly. d) reaches well-reasoned conclusions. B. Another term for critical thinking is: a) first-order thinking.

  20. Critical Thinking: Basic Questions & Answers

    Two things are crucial: 1) critical thinking is not just thinking, but thinking which entails self-improvement. 2) this improvement comes from skill in using standards by which one appropriately assesses thinking. To put it briefly, it is self-improvement (in thinking) through standards (that assess thinking).

  21. Critical Thinking Quiz

    Quiz yourself with questions and answers for Critical Thinking Quiz, so you can be ready for test day. Explore quizzes and practice tests created by teachers and students or create one from your course material.