Grade 9

Life Orientation

Cycle Test Memorandum

21 Feb 2023

45 Minutes

(45 Marks)

Name: Surname:

Question 1: Plato’s Allegory of the Cave Total for Question 1: (10)

1.1)Reflecting on Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, provide a thorough and thoughtful response to the
question posed by Aristotle; “How are we like the prisoners in the cave?” (10)

The answer to this question is a subjective response. The mark out of 10 is divided as follows:
The response is connected to ideas presented in “the allegory”  (3)
The response is thoroughly explained  (3)
The response follows sound reasoning  (2)
The response is logically structured  (2)
Question 2: Three Basic Reasoning Competencies. Total for question 2: (12)

2.1. Provide a brief explanation of the first critical reasoning competency: ( thinking for yourself). (4)

a mandate of action.

To be passive in thought makes us mere recipients of information, getting fed only what other people
would have us know.

When we follow instructions of others thoughtlessly, accept the authority of others without question or
take things for granted, we are not thinking critically. 

Question everything in your restless pursuit of Truth. 

2.2. Provide a brief explanation of the second critical reasoning competency: ( informed reasoning). (4)

Questioning and opposing ideas is not enough. 

Understand exactly what you’re opposing, making sure that you have defined your terms 

Offer well informed and reasoned alternatives 

Opinions are often insufficiently supported 

An informed opinion is supported by sound and valid argument 

2.1 Provide a brief explanation of the third critical reasoning competency: ( critical self-reflection) (4)

It’s empowering to think for yourself and offer informed alternatives 

The most courageous thinkers question their own beliefs. 

Critical reasoning then, is deciding what to believe based on logic 

Removing our own biases and preconceived/ill-conceived conclusions 

Question 3: Obstacles to clear thinking; Preconceived ideas: Total for question 3: (16)

3.1 Provide a definition and an example of preconceived ideas (4)

Societal assumptions that have a decisive influence on our thinking.  Preconceived ideas pose obstacles
to clear thinking, simply because preconceived ideas, by their very nature, are ideas that that have not
been subject to critical reflection.

Example: Science is the only route to accessing Truth and furthering our understanding of the universe.

Or any other relevant and fitting example.

3.2 Go through the following list of ideas and decide which ones you think are preconceived ideas
and which ones are not. Mark each preconceived idea with a “P”. Mark ideas that are not preconceived
with an “N” (12)

a) Women are too emotional: P .

b) Men shouldn’t cry: P .

c) Jewish people are money-grabbers and therefore untrustworthy: P  .

d) The conventional nuclear family structure is better than any other kind of family: P  .

e) women are better at rearing children than men: P .

f) Hard work is always rewarded: P .

g) Critical reasoning is the careful consideration of beliefs or supposed forms of knowledge on the basis
of rationality: N 

h) Heterosexuality is the norm (statistically): N .

i) We are a multicultural society where all nations blend together like a rainbow: P .

j) Children cannot tell the difference between fantasy and reality: P  .

k) Not all employees are on time for work every day: N .

l) All human life is sacred: P .

Question 4: Obstacles to clear thinking; fallacies. Total for Question 4: (7)

4.1) Provide a definition of “fallacy” (2)

A deceptive argument that attempts to persuade us but contains a fundamental flaw in its reasoning

All fallacies are misleading arguments that try to persuade us to take positions that are not supported by
evidence or reasoned argumentation 

4.2) Provide an example of a straw man fallacy (1)

Any example that makes the arguer’s position appear to be strong by making the opposing position
appear to be outrageous , or weaker than it actually is. 

4.3) Provide an example of a begging the question fallacy (1)

Any example in which a premise expresses the same proposition or statement as the conclusion, so that
premise cannot establish or support that conclusion. 

4.4) Provide an example of an equivocation fallacy (1)

Any example in which a word or an expression shifts meaning from one premise to another 

4.5) Provide an example of an affirming the consequent fallacy (1)

Any example where the consequent in a conditional statement and the antecedent is taken to be true
on those grounds (P therefore Q is made fallacious if we say Q therefore P) 

4.6) Provide an example of denying the antecedent fallacy (1)

Any example where if the antecedent does not happen, the consequent cannot happen (P therefore Q is
made fallacious if we say not P therefore not Q) 