Problem Identification and Clarification

1.4 - Systematic Problem Solving

1. Which question describes a problem for which experts generally agree there is a single best solution?

Your Correct
Answer Answer
What is the best strategy to win a chess match?
What is the best way to maintain a comfortable temperature in a building?
What is the easiest way to stimulate economic growth?
What is the shortest route from New York to California by automobile?

2. A group of students is working on a research project based on the topic of ethical animal care.
They have decided that the first step is to clarify the problem they want to address.

Which of the following is a question of judgment that clarifies the problem?

Your Correct
Answer Answer
What is the best way to address the high number of unwanted pets?
How profitable is the pet care industry?
What percentage of households own pets?
What breed of animal is most commonly abandoned?

1.4 - Elements and Standards

3. A large urban school district spends more per pupil than any other district in the
state; yet this district’s graduation rate is the lowest.

Sharply declining state revenues have forced political leaders to consider cuts across
the entire state budget. Even so, Senator A argues that funding for the urban school
district should not be cut because more funding is needed to counter problems
particular to an urban setting. Senator B, meanwhile, argues that funding should be
cut because the urban district is not improving its graduation rate. Senator B’s
position is based on an incomplete survey conducted by personal staff members,
which indicates that cutting funding will make the district focus on basic academics.
This has also been the result after decreasing funding for public education in
suburban areas in other states.

For the last 12 years, an organization representing parents and teachers in the urban
district has argued for an increase in funds to support programs that encourage
students to stay in school and graduate. A public university conducted a study of the
urban school district and recommended that funding be increased to meet the needs
of the urban district. This year, funding for the public schools will be competing with
road funding, a priority for the business sector in the state. A private management
 Your Correct
Answer Answer
business has offered to take over the urban school district at a lower cost to
guarantee a higher graduation rate. Last year a private school in the same city
produced three National Merit Scholar finalists.

Note: Graduation rates do not include students who leave the district without
graduating, but who graduate from another district. Dropout rates in this district are
compiled for the twelfth-grade year only.

Which statements are both accurate and relevant in determining funding for this
urban district?

Choose 3 answers

Your Correct
Answer Answer
Even though the entire state budget will likely decrease for
the next year, an appeal for more funding for education is
relevant because a real need exists.
Graduation rates may be inaccurate because not all students
are tracked after leaving the district.
Graduation rates are accurate because dropout rates are
determined in the senior year.
It is irrelevant that three National Merit Scholars graduated
from a private school in the city this year.
It is irrelevant that the parent teacher organization argues
for a funding increase because they do that every year.
It is irrelevant that the business sector has placed a priority
on road construction, since this competes with education
funding.
It is relevant to compare the effects of reduced funding in
suburban districts in other states with an urban district.

1.4 - Systematic Problem Solving

4. An animal shelter, serving a low-income community, is experiencing a

dramatic increase in the number of homeless cats and dogs received at the
shelter. The shelter staff are worried because the increase is impacting their
ability to care equally for all their other animals and many people in the
community cannot afford to adopt a dog or cat. They decide to implement a
new promotion where they keep the current fee structure and reduce the
paperwork and forego the usual reference checks to encourage more adoptions.
 Your Correct
Answer Answer

Which of the below are implications of this proposed solution?

Your Correct
Answer Answer
Many people have no interest at all in adopting a dog or cat.
Other animals may not receive the care they need.
Adoption fees may prevent people from participating.
There are too many homeless cats and dogs at the shelter.
Pets may be matched with irresponsible owners.

1.4 - What is Critical Thinking

5. Which question requires critical thinking?

Your Correct
Answer Answer
What is the order of colors in a double rainbow?
What is an acronym for remembering the colors of the rainbow?
Which atmospheric conditions must exist for a rainbow to be visible?
What are ways to help ensure that rainbows will continue to be visible in the
future?

1.5 - Systematic Problem Solving

6. You are writing an essay on the proliferation of AIDS throughout the world. You have been asked to
document the problem and its possible solutions using evidence and reasoning.

Which of the following would be relevant sources for this topic?

Choose 3 answers

Your Correct
Answer Answer
An article that examines the cost of living with AIDS
A document that profiles individuals living with AIDS in Africa
A study on current AIDS treatments in various parts of the world
An essay by a medical doctor who has treated AIDS victims in other countries
A document that discusses the probable causes of AIDS in Africa
A speech given by a prominent researcher in the field of AIDS research
1.5 - Assumptions, Biases, and Fallacies

7. The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color,
religion, sex, disability, age, familial status, or national origin.
Your Correct
Which of the following ethical perspectives are relevant to this law?
Answer Answer
Choose 3 answers
 
Equal access to housing facilities requires accommodating all people.
All people should have access to adequate financing, regardless of income.
Children and adults should have equal access to recreational facilities in
multiple housing developments, such as condominium projects.
In multiple housing developments which have a "no pets" designation, blind
residents should be allowed to keep guide dogs.
Reasonable people should respect the rights and needs of others in regard to
housing.
Ethical concepts are impossible to apply to housing issues.

1.5 - Systematic Problem Solving

8. World food prices have hit an all-time high, driven up by price increases in wheat,
corn, sugar, and oils. The price of wheat has doubled within a six-month period.
While these soaring prices have had only a modest effect on U.S. inflation, they have
devastated the world’s poor who spend a majority of their income on basic food
staples.

Politicians and scientists continue to argue over the cause of rising food prices. Some
believe the jump in prices can be attributed to bad policies set by the U.S. Federal
Reserve, and others believe that commodities speculation is to blame. But most
Your Correct
scientists, including those from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, believe higher
Answer Answer
food prices were caused by two major factors: (1) low production due to severe
weather around the world, including extreme heat in Russia, drought in Brazil, and
flooding in Australia; and (2) a large portion of the world’s corn going toward ethanol
production instead of food. Regardless, the world’s poor continue to suffer.

Which of the following are plausible solutions to the given problem?

Choose 3 answers

Increase subsidies to encourage farmers to produce more of the basic crops

such as wheat and corn.
8. World food prices have hit an all-time high, driven up by price increases in wheat,
corn, sugar, and oils. The price of wheat has doubled within a six-month period.
While these soaring prices have had only a modest effect on U.S. inflation, they have
devastated the world’s poor who spend a majority of their income on basic food
staples.

Politicians and scientists continue to argue over the cause of rising food prices. Some
believe the jump in prices can be attributed to bad policies set by the U.S. Federal
Reserve, and others believe that commodities speculation is to blame. But most
Your Correct
scientists, including those from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, believe higher
Answer Answer
food prices were caused by two major factors: (1) low production due to severe
weather around the world, including extreme heat in Russia, drought in Brazil, and
flooding in Australia; and (2) a large portion of the world’s corn going toward ethanol
production instead of food. Regardless, the world’s poor continue to suffer.

Which of the following are plausible solutions to the given problem?

Choose 3 answers

Keep U.S.-produced crops in the United States to take care of the nation's
poor.
Develop ways of growing crops indoors so weather will no longer be a factor.
Rely on world food organizations to redistribute and ration the food in a fair
and equitable way so the poor get a share.
Consider the effects of greenhouse gases on climate change and set policies
accordingly.
Set government policies that will lower the cost of basic food staples to the
poorest people.
Reconsider tax incentives offered for production of alternative fuels.

9. A student is writing a research paper that investigates the relationship of higher education to
employment in the United States.

Match each source of information with the phrase that describes its sufficiency to the assignment.

Answer options may be used more than once or not at all. Select your answers from the pull-down list.

Your Correct
 
Answer Answer
A case study of one state's employment rates that shows
higher employment among those with a college Relies on
Exhibits bias
degree            inference

A university publication that describes a survey of 10 Demonstrates Exhibits bias

people with college degrees who report a high rate of variance
 Your Correct
 
Answer Answer
employment in their fields of study

A peer-reviewed journal article that shows that people with Provides

college degrees have a 20 percent better rate of Provides
scholarly
employment than those with a high school diploma scholarly support
support
A study that shows that people with college degrees are
more likely to engage in social activities Is irrelevant Is irrelevant