Whether you’re a teacher looking to challenge your students to think critically, or you’re studying up in preparation for the LSAT, we’ve got the guide for you. Drawing on one’s analytical, judgmental, reflective, and communicative skills, these questions are sure to make people think deeper.
Some ideal critical thinking questions for quizzes include queries about the possible solutions to presented problems, questions that require you to stand in someone else’s point of view, and questions that test one’s quick judgment skills based on a set of information.
Below, we’ll give 10 specific examples of these kinds of questions, along with explanations of how they test one’s critical thinking skills. Keep reading to learn how these questions work and which critical thinking skills they each target. Now, let’s dive into the guide!
Overview
We’ll explore how the following 10 questions push the answerer to think critically:
- How would you improve upon a proposed solution?
- Is it an assertion or an argument?
- What is the purpose of solving the problem?
- How would you describe the tone that the speaker is using?
- Can you identify any magical thinking in the speaker’s words?
- Is the given statement true/false, and if true, is it relevant?
- What action could you take to create the biggest difference in your life?
- State your position, as well as the best arguments against it.
- Can you identify three weak points in the speaker’s given argument?
- What is the strongest piece of evidence in support of X claim?
1. If you agree with the proposed solution, how would you improve?
Let’s say you are provided with an example problem and solution. You may be asked to decide whether or not you agree with the proposed solution. And if you agree that it could be a good solution, you may need to think deeper to determine ways of improving the solution.
For example, you might find that the solution is a generally good idea, but it lacks practicality. Use your analytical skills to find a better solution.
2. Is the given statement an assertion or an argument?
Critical thinkers should be able to distinguish argumentative statements from assertive statements. This kind of question often arises on quizzes pertaining to debates and other scenarios where there are multiple points of view involved.
To take this critical question a step further, quiz-takers might also be asked to identify whether or not the argument is abductive, inductive, or deductive. Furthermore, is the argument cogent? Is it sound? What is the validity of the argument? What is the strength of the argument?
3. What is the purpose of solving the given problem?
This question tests one’s ability to consider the points of view of other people. If you can get inside the perspective of the person posing the problem, for example, then you can potentially understand the motivation for solving the problem.
From there, it is easier to find an appropriate solution based on the information you evaluate and reflect upon.
For example, you have a question such as which route should X person take to work? In this scenario, if would be important to critically consider why one route should be preferred over the other. Is the person looking for the fastest route? Are they looking for the route that avoids highways? Are they merely wanting a route with less traffic?
The answers to these questions indicate the purpose of presenting the problem in the first place. By answering these questions, you can better solve the problem.
4. How would you describe the speaker’s tone?
There are several critical thinking skills that this question draws upon:
- Ability to recognize patterns
- Ability to analyze information
- Ability to judge
- Ability to interpret information
You don’t necessarily pick up on the tone of a passage of writing until you start to question the placement of words, commas, etc. This requires critical thinking in order to arrive at a perceived tone.
5. Can you identify any magical thinking in the speaker’s words?
Magical thinking refers to thinking that is based on the belief that unrelated events are connected with causal links. One critical thinking question might involve asking the answerer to read a passage and detect moments of magical thinking.
This requires you to critically think about the passage via skepticism, judgment, and inferences based on knowledge of language.
6. If the given statement is true, is it also relevant?
If you’re trying to become a better debater or argumentative writer, you might take a quiz with questions that test your ability to interpret and analyze different aspects of statements.
For example, a statement may be true without being relevant to the full argument at hand. It’s simple enough to draw on research to determine the truth of a statement. But it requires critical thinking via reading context clues to determine whether it is also relevant.
7. What action could you take to create the biggest difference in your life?
Some of the critical thinking skills that this question tests include the ability to evaluate information and reflect.
You have to examine your own life and set aside biases in order to make valuable judgments.
8. State your position, as well as the best arguments against it.
Critical thinkers can make great arguers and debaters if they know how claims and counterclaims work.
If you’re presented with a sample problem, you want to be able to think several steps ahead (critical thinking) in order to rebut potential counterclaims.
9. Can you identify three weak points in the speaker’s given argument?
Critical thinkers should be able to pick apart other speakers’ arguments and point out the weaknesses and strengths. You must use skills like prediction, conceptualization, and open-mindedness to find these weak points.
10. What is the strongest piece of evidence in support of X claim?
Last but not least, you could also be asked about the strong points in an argument. Knowing the strengths in other people’s arguments is a good way to meet them with even stronger counterarguments.
It requires skills like prediction, reflection, attention to detail, and other problem-solving skills.
Final Thoughts
When you are quizzed on your critical thinking skills, you will be asked questions that test your ability to analyze, interpret, be open-minded, and be creative, among others.
The above 10 sample questions should give you a good idea of how these kinds of questions draw on critical reasoning skills.
References
https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/topic/critical-thinking
https://www.thoughtco.com/critical-thinking-definition-with-examples-2063745
