Jenny is an A student who has always dreamed of studying theater at Yale University. However, she has heard they only accept students with performing arts experience. Because performing arts programs are offered after school when Jenny works, she has not participated in any and now worries she will not get into Yale, As a critical thinker, what should Jenny do?
1. apply to other colleges that do not require performing arts experience
2. ask her parents if she can see a therapist to overcome her depression
3. verify through her guidance counselor or Yale that experience is indeed a requirement
4. quit her job and get immediately involved in a performing arts program at her school

John is a high school freshman whose teacher has assigned an argumentative paper and has emphasized the importance of demonstrating critical thinking skills in the paper. In order to fulfill this requirement, John should do all of the following except
1. emphasize his personal beliefs that were shaped as a young child
2. provide reasons to support his thesis
3. consider other points of view
4. include supporting evidence from respected experts

Mia and her classmates are discussing the ethics of capital punishment. When Mia strongly asserts her position on the issue, her professor encourages her to consider and respond to her classmates' opposing views. Mia is upset because with an IQ of 145, she knows she is the smartest person in the room! Mia's barrier to critical thinking is
1. time
2. thinking that she is too smart
3. IQ philosophy
4. lack of understanding

Nancy is reading a speech on animal rights, but to ensure that she fully understands the speaker's ideas, she is breaking it down piece by piece. What stage of receiving and processing the message does this represent?
1. conceptualization
2. analysis
3. evaluation
4. synthesis

Sally is the office manager in a dental office, and her assistant has suggested that they stop sending mailed appointment reminders and use telephone reminders instead. As a critical thinker, what does Sally do?
1. begins making the switch to telephone reminders
2. dismisses the idea because her assistant is not the boss
3. decides that she will give it some more thought and do some research
4. changes her telephone provider

Sam is a high school junior who is considering applying to DePaul University next year. As a critical thinker, which of the following statements about DePaul University would Sam be most likely to act on?
1. DePaul University is an excellent school.
2. In 2o12, 85% of DePaul University graduates were employed or in graduate 6 months after graduation.
3. Undergraduate students love all the student services available at DePaul University.
4. The university cafeteria serves the most delicious food in Chicago.

The statement "Harvard University is better school that the University of Chicago" is an example of
1. a hypothesis
2. gossip
3. an opinion
4. a fact

The statement "Harvard University was established in the year 1636" is an example of
1. a hypothesis
2. gossip
3. an opinion
4. a fact

Which of the following is not a question that you might ask to judge whether you are demonstrating critical thinking?
1. Is my arguement clear?
2. Is my information accurate?
3. Have I provided good reasons to support my points?
4. Have I used enough sophisticated words?

What is the term that describes a person's tendency to discover information that supports his or her own pre-existing views?
1. critical thinking
2. narcissism
3. selective exposure
4. solipsism