Question 1

Which of the following best describes the analogy between computers and human cognition as presented in the study materials?

Accepted Answer

Computers are often used as an analogy for human cognition, with the brain compared to hardware and cognition to software.

Question 2

According to the prototype model of concepts, how do people decide if an item belongs to a particular category?

Accepted Answer

By comparing the item to the most typical item(s) in the category and looking for a 'family resemblance' with those properties.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of overcoming functional fixedness in problem solving?

Accepted Answer

Using pliers as a weight to swing a string and create a pendulum in the Maier string problem.

Question 4

Which of the following best illustrates inductive reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Making a generalization based on specific observations, such as concluding that all swans are white after seeing only white swans.

Question 5

System 1 reasoning in decision making is characterized by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Rapid, heuristic, associative, and intuitive processing.

Question 6

A student is deciding whether to retake a final exam to improve their grade, but is reluctant to do so because they have already invested a lot of time studying. Which bias is most likely influencing their decision?

Accepted Answer

Sunk cost fallacy

Question 7

Which of the following is a defining property of concepts according to the study materials?

Accepted Answer

Concepts allow us to generalize and efficiently organize information.

Question 8

Which problem-solving strategy involves breaking a large problem into smaller, intermediate goals?

Accepted Answer

Subgoal

Question 9

What is the main difference between algorithms and heuristics in problem solving?

Accepted Answer

Algorithms are systematic procedures that guarantee a solution, while heuristics are shortcuts that may not always lead to the correct answer.

Question 10

Which of the following best describes confirmation bias?

Accepted Answer

The tendency to search for and use information that supports our ideas rather than refutes them.

Question 11

A person judges the likelihood of airplane crashes as higher than car accidents because airplane crashes are more memorable and reported in the media. Which heuristic is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

Availability heuristic

Question 12

Which of the following is most likely to occur if someone is experiencing fixation during problem solving?

Accepted Answer

They repeatedly use the same unsuccessful strategy and fail to consider alternative approaches.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of deductive reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Starting with the general principle that all mammals have hair and concluding that a whale, as a mammal, must have hair.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the availability heuristic?

Accepted Answer

Judging the probability of an event based on how easily examples come to mind.

Question 15

A student believes they knew the outcome of a hockey game all along, even though they did not predict it beforehand. Which bias does this illustrate?

Accepted Answer

Hindsight bias

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a step in the four-step problem-solving process described in the study materials?

Accepted Answer

Ignore feedback and avoid rethinking solutions

Question 17

Which of the following is most likely to improve critical thinking according to the study materials?

Accepted Answer

Being open-minded and willing to consider alternative viewpoints.

Question 18

Which of the following is a real-world consequence of loss aversion in decision making?

Accepted Answer

People may hold onto failing investments longer than is rational.

Question 19

Which of the following statements about heuristics is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Heuristics are mental shortcuts that can speed up decision making but may also lead to errors.

Chapter 8: what are thinking, intelligence, and language Part 1

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