Thinking Skills: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Answers to assignments 311

Critical thinking is a way of being as

sure as possible about which claims

to believe, and which to question or

mistrust. Also, arguments consist of

claims: reasons, conclusions, etc.

2.2 Judging claims

1,  2 Variable responses

3    The first is stronger, because it sets a precise

date for the predicted extinction. It could

easily turn out to be unfounded. The

second claim would still be justified even if

polar bears live on for centuries, provided

there is some threat now to their existence.

2.3 Argument

1    There are several conclusions which could

be drawn from this passage. But there is

one obvious point to which it seems to be

leading: that minor crimes are as serious

as or more serious than traffic offences

(despite the consequences). A plausible

answer to the question could be that the

police should not neglect minor crime; or

perhaps even make it the priority. Note

that you do not have to agree with the

conclusion or the resulting argument.

You are looking for a claim which the

passage appears to support.

2–4 Variable responses

2.4 Identifying arguments

1    B is the only argument out of the three

passages. Its conclusion is that the public

should not expect the safety of drugs to be

guaranteed by animal testing. We can see

that the next two sentences express reasons

for making this claim. The clue is the phrase

‘These examples show that.. .’, which could

be understood as ‘It follows that.. .’ or just

‘So.. .’ In neither of the other passages is

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Cambridge International Examinations bears no
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2.1 Claims, assertions, statements
1 A fact is a true claim. There is no such
thing as a false fact, but many false
claims are made.
2 ‘Assertion’ and ‘claim’ are very close in
meaning. The difference is in when you
use them. ‘Assertion’ is a bit stronger
and more emphatic; it is more active.
A claim may be asserted, but we would
not naturally say that an assertion was
claimed.
3 Variable responses
4 A theory is perhaps more firmly
established than a hypothesis; a
conjecture is more tentative than either.
Guessing and speculating are very
similar, and can be quite random, or
made without much thought. But all five
words have some meaning in common.
5 An allegation is a claim that is open to
challenge. An accusation is an allegation
usually made against someone; it is
normally negative or disapproving.
Insinuations are allegations, but the
word also suggests something a bit sly or
suggestive, rather than direct and open.
Confirmation is agreement or approval of
some claim already made. A denial is an
assertion that something is not so. A verdict
is a decision or judgement: for example, a
‘guilty’ verdict, or acquittal, in a legal trial.
6 Claims are presented as expressions
of truth, yet they are not always true.

Answers to assignments