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Critical Thinking Practice Questions with Answers

Practice with 30 sample questions organized by difficulty. Click “Show Answer” to reveal the correct answer and explanation.

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Easy

Easy #1
This medicine is natural, so it is safe for everyone.
A. Natural products are inherently safe
B. All medicines have side effects
C. Doctors do not approve natural products
D. The medicine is expensive

Answer: A

Explanation:

The argument assumes 'natural' equals 'safe,' ignoring that many natural substances are toxic or dangerous.
Easy #2
1. City air pollution levels have dropped 40%.
2. Hospital admissions for respiratory illness have dropped 25%.
A. Hospitals have closed
B. Nobody lives in the city
C. Improved air quality has likely contributed to reducing respiratory health issues
D. Air pollution doesn't affect health

Answer: C

Explanation:

The simultaneous drop in pollution and respiratory admissions suggests a public health benefit.
Easy #3
1. Country X's crops have failed for three consecutive seasons due to drought.
2. Country X's food imports have tripled during the same period.
A. Imported food is cheaper
B. Drought does not affect crops
C. Country X no longer grows food
D. Country X is increasingly dependent on food imports due to agricultural failures

Answer: D

Explanation:

Crop failures force increased imports to meet food demand.
Easy #4
1. E-book sales have plateaued.
2. Physical book sales have risen 5% annually.
A. Readers continue to value physical books despite digital availability
B. Nobody reads books
C. All bookstores are closed
D. E-books will disappear entirely

Answer: A

Explanation:

Digital stagnation alongside physical growth suggests a persistent preference for print.
Easy #5
Ice cream sales and drowning incidents both increase in summer. Ice cream must cause drowning.
A. Ice cream sales are declining
B. Ice cream is dangerous
C. Nobody swims in summer
D. Two things occurring together means one causes the other

Answer: D

Explanation:

Correlation does not imply causation. Both phenomena are related to a third factor: warm weather.
Easy #6
1. Renewable energy costs have dropped 80% in 10 years.
2. Coal plants are closing due to cost.
A. Coal will never be used again
B. Economics is driving the shift from coal to renewables
C. Energy is free
D. Renewables are unreliable

Answer: B

Explanation:

Both premises point to economic factors as the driver of the energy transition.
Easy #7
This medicine is natural, so it is safe for everyone.
A. Natural products are inherently safe
B. The medicine is expensive
C. Doctors do not approve natural products
D. All medicines have side effects

Answer: A

Explanation:

The argument assumes 'natural' equals 'safe,' ignoring that many natural substances are toxic or dangerous.
Easy #8
1. City housing costs have risen 50% in 5 years.
2. Suburban population has grown 30% in the same period.
A. Rising urban housing costs are likely pushing residents to the suburbs
B. Housing prices never change
C. Nobody lives in cities
D. Suburbs are empty

Answer: A

Explanation:

Rising city costs alongside suburban growth suggests price-driven migration.
Easy #9
Company X's profits rose 20%. Therefore, Company X is well-managed.
A. Rising profits indicate good management
B. Profits always rise
C. Company X is large
D. Management is important

Answer: A

Explanation:

The argument assumes a direct link between profits and management quality, but profits can rise due to external factors like market trends or luck.
Easy #10
1. Healthcare costs have risen 8% annually.
2. Corporate wellness programs reduce employee medical expenses by 15%.
A. Investing in corporate wellness programs can partially offset rising healthcare costs
B. Healthcare costs always decline
C. Healthcare should be free
D. Wellness programs don't work

Answer: A

Explanation:

If healthcare costs are rising but wellness programs reduce them, investing in such programs is a reasonable offsetting strategy.

Medium

Medium #11
1. City air pollution levels have dropped 40%.
2. Hospital admissions for respiratory illness have dropped 25%.
A. Nobody lives in the city
B. Improved air quality has likely contributed to reducing respiratory health issues
C. Hospitals have closed
D. Air pollution doesn't affect health

Answer: B

Explanation:

The simultaneous drop in pollution and respiratory admissions suggests a public health benefit.
Medium #12
We have found no evidence of side effects for this supplement. Therefore, it is safe.
A. All supplements are safe
B. Side effects are good
C. Evidence doesn't matter
D. Appeal to ignorance — absence of evidence is not evidence of absence

Answer: D

Explanation:

Not having found something does not prove it doesn't exist. The supplement may not have been studied sufficiently.
Medium #13
The candidate won in a landslide victory. Their policies must have broad public support.
A. Everyone votes
B. Candidates have no policies
C. Elections are unfair
D. Winning an election means voters support all of the candidate's policies

Answer: D

Explanation:

The argument assumes votes represent endorsement of specific policies, when voters may choose candidates for many reasons including party loyalty or opposition to the alternative.
Medium #14
1. City housing costs have risen 50% in 5 years.
2. Suburban population has grown 30% in the same period.
A. Housing prices never change
B. Rising urban housing costs are likely pushing residents to the suburbs
C. Suburbs are empty
D. Nobody lives in cities

Answer: B

Explanation:

Rising city costs alongside suburban growth suggests price-driven migration.
Medium #15
All successful people wake up early. John wakes up early. Therefore, John will be successful.
A. John doesn't exist
B. Affirming the consequent — just because successful people do X doesn't mean doing X makes you successful
C. The premise is false
D. Waking early is unhealthy

Answer: B

Explanation:

This reverses the logical direction. Success → early does not imply early → success. Many people who wake up early are not successful.
Medium #16
1. E-book sales have plateaued.
2. Physical book sales have risen 5% annually.
A. Readers continue to value physical books despite digital availability
B. E-books will disappear entirely
C. Nobody reads books
D. All bookstores are closed

Answer: A

Explanation:

Digital stagnation alongside physical growth suggests a persistent preference for print.
Medium #17
Robots will take all jobs. When that happens, people will stop working. Without work, the economy will collapse. Soon, civilization will end.
A. Robots already exist
B. Civilization cannot end
C. Slippery slope — assumes each step inevitably leads to the next without justification
D. People don't work

Answer: C

Explanation:

Each step in the chain of consequences is assumed without adequate justification. New jobs may emerge, economies may adapt, and societies may restructure.
Medium #18
City Y has more police officers per capita than City Z. Therefore, City Y is safer.
A. More police per capita leads to greater safety
B. Crime always decreases
C. City Z has no police
D. City Y is larger

Answer: A

Explanation:

The argument assumes police density directly translates to safety, ignoring crime rates, police effectiveness, and socioeconomic factors.
Medium #19
Students who eat breakfast score higher on tests. We should ensure all students eat breakfast to improve test scores.
A. All schools serve breakfast
B. Test scores are not important
C. All students like breakfast
D. Eating breakfast directly causes higher test scores

Answer: D

Explanation:

This confuses correlation with causation. Students who eat breakfast may have other advantages like stable homes and better study habits.
Medium #20
This medicine is natural, so it is safe for everyone.
A. The medicine is expensive
B. Natural products are inherently safe
C. All medicines have side effects
D. Doctors do not approve natural products

Answer: B

Explanation:

The argument assumes 'natural' equals 'safe,' ignoring that many natural substances are toxic or dangerous.

Hard

Hard #21
Dr. Garcia, a famous surgeon, says we should invest in this startup technology. We should invest.
A. Dr. Garcia is not real
B. Appeal to irrelevant authority — Dr. Garcia's expertise is not in investing
C. Startups always fail
D. Surgeons cannot invest

Answer: B

Explanation:

Surgical expertise does not translate into investment competence. The authority cited is not relevant to the domain in question.
Hard #22
1. 60% of new hires leave the company within their first year.
2. The company has no mentoring or onboarding program.
A. The lack of an onboarding program likely contributes to high early turnover
B. Mentoring doesn't work
C. All employees stay forever
D. Employee turnover is good

Answer: A

Explanation:

High early turnover combined with absent new-employee support suggests a connection between the two.
Hard #23
Everyone uses social media, so it must be good for society.
A. Social media doesn't exist
B. Society doesn't exist
C. Not everyone uses social media
D. Argumentum ad populum — popularity does not mean something is beneficial

Answer: D

Explanation:

The popularity of something does not determine its value or benefit. Many widely adopted practices have later been found harmful.
Hard #24
School uniforms improve academic performance.
A. Teachers report fewer clothing-related distractions in uniform schools
B. Uniform sales have increased 15% this year
C. None of the above directly addresses the claim
D. Multiple studies tracking thousands of students found no significant correlation between wearing uniforms and academic performance

Answer: D

Explanation:

A large, long-term study finding no effect directly undermines the claim.

✗ Weakens: Multiple studies tracking thousands of students found no significant correlation between wearing uniforms and academic performance
✓ Strengthens: Teachers report fewer clothing-related distractions in uniform schools
— Irrelevant: Uniform sales have increased 15% this year
Hard #25
1. City air pollution levels have dropped 40%.
2. Hospital admissions for respiratory illness have dropped 25%.
A. Nobody lives in the city
B. Improved air quality has likely contributed to reducing respiratory health issues
C. Hospitals have closed
D. Air pollution doesn't affect health

Answer: B

Explanation:

The simultaneous drop in pollution and respiratory admissions suggests a public health benefit.
Hard #26
Homework improves primary school student performance.
A. Parents report that homework helps establish study routines
B. Primary school students are between ages 6 and 12
C. A meta-analysis of 60 studies found zero correlation between homework and performance in primary school students
D. None of the above directly addresses the claim

Answer: C

Explanation:

A broad meta-analysis finding no correlation directly undermines the claim.

✗ Weakens: A meta-analysis of 60 studies found zero correlation between homework and performance in primary school students
✓ Strengthens: Parents report that homework helps establish study routines
— Irrelevant: Primary school students are between ages 6 and 12
Hard #27
Cutting taxes always stimulates economic growth. Country X cut taxes and its economy grew. This proves it always works.
A. Circular reasoning — uses the conclusion as a premise, and relies on a single example
B. Taxes don't exist
C. Economies never grow
D. Country X doesn't exist

Answer: A

Explanation:

The argument assumes what it's trying to prove and supports it with a single case that could be explained by other factors.
Hard #28
1. Traffic congestion has doubled in 5 years.
2. Public transit has cut service by 30%.
A. Nobody drives anymore
B. Public transit is too expensive
C. The reduction in public transit has likely contributed to increased traffic congestion
D. Congestion doesn't exist

Answer: C

Explanation:

Less public transit pushes people to drive, increasing congestion.
Hard #29
Social media causes anxiety in teenagers.
A. None of the above directly addresses the claim
B. Longitudinal studies show that teenagers with pre-existing anxiety are more likely to use social media excessively
C. Teenagers who quit social media for 30 days reported lower anxiety
D. Social media companies have high stock valuations

Answer: B

Explanation:

If anxiety precedes excessive social media use, the causal direction may be reversed.

✗ Weakens: Longitudinal studies show that teenagers with pre-existing anxiety are more likely to use social media excessively
✓ Strengthens: Teenagers who quit social media for 30 days reported lower anxiety
— Irrelevant: Social media companies have high stock valuations
Hard #30
1. City air pollution levels have dropped 40%.
2. Hospital admissions for respiratory illness have dropped 25%.
A. Hospitals have closed
B. Nobody lives in the city
C. Improved air quality has likely contributed to reducing respiratory health issues
D. Air pollution doesn't affect health

Answer: C

Explanation:

The simultaneous drop in pollution and respiratory admissions suggests a public health benefit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Critical thinking tests assess your ability to analyze arguments objectively. You evaluate whether conclusions follow from premises, identify hidden assumptions, spot logical fallacies, and determine which evidence strengthens or weakens a claim. Common formats include the Watson Glaser test used by law firms and consulting companies.
Critical thinking tests are widely used by law firms, management consulting companies (McKinsey, Bain, BCG), financial services, and graduate programs. The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal is one of the most common formats, testing recognition of assumptions, evaluation of arguments, and deduction.
Practice identifying common logical fallacies (ad hominem, straw man, false dilemma). When reading arguments, ask: What assumptions are being made? Does the evidence actually support the conclusion? Are there alternative explanations? Regular practice with structured exercises like these builds the habit of systematic analysis.