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Quizzes > General Knowledge & Mixed

Critical Thinking Quiz: Test Your Reasoning Skills

Quick, free critical thinking test with instant answers and explanations.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Tijana PopovicUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration with puzzle pieces question marks lightbulb, arrows on sky blue background for critical thinking quiz

This critical thinking quiz helps you analyze clues, question assumptions, and choose the best answer. See where your reasoning is strong with instant results, then try a critical thinking practice quiz, or build related skills with an analytical skills test and an analytical thinking test.

In the argument 'Because regular study habits improve retention, students who review daily get better grades.' which statement is the conclusion?
Retention is key to learning.
Regular study habits improve retention.
Students who review daily get better grades.
Good grades are important for academic success.
The conclusion is the main claim that the argument supports, which here is that students who review daily get better grades. The premise provides the reason for this claim, stating that regular study habits improve retention. Identifying conclusions helps focus on the claim the author intends to prove. For more on recognizing conclusions, see .
Which of the following examples best illustrates an ad hominem fallacy?
If we allow this rule, next we'll have no rules at all.
My opponent's data is outdated and irrelevant.
That proposal is wrong because the person who made it is untrustworthy.
The evidence presented is weak and needs more support.
An ad hominem fallacy attacks the person making an argument rather than addressing the argument itself. Option A discredits the proposal by insulting the proposer, rather than examining the proposal's merits. Recognizing personal attacks helps you avoid flawed reasoning. For details on ad hominem, see .
What is the next number in the series 2, 4, 6, 8, ...?
10
12
16
9
This is a simple arithmetic sequence increasing by 2 each time, so the next term after 8 is 10. Recognizing basic numerical patterns is a component of analytical thinking. Such sequences appear in many reasoning tests. For more on number patterns, see .
Which statement best defines critical thinking?
Memorizing facts for later recall.
Relying solely on intuition.
Accepting information without question.
Analyzing and evaluating information to form a reasoned judgment.
Critical thinking involves actively analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing information to reach a reasoned conclusion. It is neither passive nor based only on memory or intuition. Engaging with evidence and logic distinguishes it from simple acceptance. Learn more at .
Given the statements 'All mammals are warm-blooded. All whales are mammals.' what logically follows?
All whales are warm-blooded.
All warm-blooded animals are whales.
No whales are warm-blooded.
Some whales are warm-blooded.
This is a classic syllogism: if all mammals are warm-blooded and all whales are mammals, then all whales must be warm-blooded. It follows the valid form of deductive reasoning. Recognizing syllogistic structures is key to analytical thinking. See for more.
Which scenario best illustrates confirmation bias?
Seeking out only news articles that support your existing beliefs.
Refusing to form any opinion on an issue.
Changing your opinion when new evidence appears.
Considering both supporting and opposing evidence equally.
Confirmation bias occurs when people favor information that confirms their existing beliefs and ignore contradictory evidence. Option A describes selecting only supportive articles, which exemplifies this bias. Awareness of such tendencies improves critical evaluation. More on confirmation bias at .
Which of the following best exemplifies circular reasoning?
All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
I'm right because I say I'm right, and you should believe me because I'm correct.
If we stop regulation we'll have chaos, and chaos is never good.
She failed the test because she is bad at tests.
Circular reasoning uses its own conclusion as a premise without offering independent proof. The correct option repeats the claim as its justification. Identifying such loops prevents accepting unsupported arguments. More on circular reasoning at .
Moving from specific observations to general conclusions exemplifies which type of reasoning?
Deductive reasoning
Analogical reasoning
Inductive reasoning
Abductive reasoning
Inductive reasoning starts with specific cases and infers broader generalizations. While deductive reasoning begins with general premises, inductive works in the opposite direction. Recognizing reasoning types helps structure sound arguments. Learn more at .
Identify the logical fallacy in the argument: 'If it rains, the picnic will be ruined. The picnic was ruined, so it must have rained.'
Affirming the consequent
Denying the antecedent
Modus tollens
Modus ponens
Affirming the consequent is the fallacy of assuming that since the result occurred, the initial condition must have occurred. Here the picnic being ruined doesn't necessarily prove it rained. Distinguishing valid from invalid conditional forms is crucial in logic. See .
What is the next number in the sequence: 3, 6, 11, 18, ?
31
29
30
27
The increments between terms are +3, +5, +7, +9, so the next increase is +11 (18 + 11 = 29). Recognizing non-linear numeric patterns tests analytical skills. Such sequences often appear in advanced puzzles. More at .
Which approach best evaluates evidence from a known biased source?
Assess its credibility, cross-check with neutral sources, and consider context.
Trust it fully because it supports your view.
Accept or reject it based solely on first impressions.
Dismiss it entirely without review.
Critical thinking requires evaluating the credibility of sources, cross-checking facts, and accounting for potential bias. Blindly accepting or rejecting information undermines analytical rigor. Contextual evaluation leads to more reliable conclusions. Guidance at .
Given 'All artists are creative. Some creative people struggle with self-doubt.' can you validly conclude 'Some artists struggle with self-doubt'?
No, because the overlapping groups aren't guaranteed.
No, because creativity and self-doubt are unrelated.
Yes, the conclusion necessarily follows.
Yes, because self-doubt is common among artists.
The premises don't guarantee that the subset of creative people who struggle with self-doubt includes artists, so the conclusion doesn't necessarily follow. Recognizing the limits of syllogistic inference is critical. Avoid assuming overlap without explicit linkage. More at .
On an island of knights (always truthful) and knaves (always lie), A says 'B is a knave.' B says 'A and I are opposite types.' What are A and B?
Both are knaves.
A is a knave, B is a knight.
A is a knight, B is a knave.
Both are knights.
If A were truthful (knight), then B is a knave, but B's statement that they're opposite would be true, which a knave cannot say. Only if A lies (knave) is B a knight telling the truth that they are opposite. Recognizing truth - lie constraints solves these puzzles. See for more.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Key Critical Thinking Concepts -

    Learn foundational principles of the critical thinking quiz. Recognize biases, assumptions, and logical fallacies in everyday reasoning.

  2. Analyze Sample Critical Thinking Questions -

    Break down a variety of sample critical thinking questions to identify effective strategies for evaluating arguments and drawing logical conclusions.

  3. Apply Problem-Solving Techniques -

    Use proven methods to tackle challenging questions about critical thinking and develop systematic approaches to complex scenarios.

  4. Evaluate Your Reasoning Skills -

    Assess your performance on critical thinking practice questions and interpret detailed explanations to pinpoint areas for improvement.

  5. Compare Answer Strategies -

    Review critical thinking questions with answers to understand different solution paths. Refine and optimize your analytical toolkit for future challenges.

  6. Measure Your Progress -

    Gauge your cognitive strengths and weaknesses with a scored quiz challenge. Set clear goals and track improvements to steadily boost your brainpower.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Identifying Assumptions -

    Critical thinking often begins by uncovering hidden premises that shape an argument's direction. For example, a sample critical thinking question may assert "All experts agree," prompting you to ask whether dissenting evidence exists. Practicing this skill sharpens your ability to challenge "common sense" beliefs and perform better on a critical thinking quiz.

  2. Deductive vs. Inductive Reasoning -

    Deductive reasoning moves from general rules to specific conclusions (e.g., "All mammals are warm-blooded; whales are mammals; therefore whales are warm-blooded"), while inductive reasoning generalizes from observations (e.g., seeing many white swans and inferring "all swans are white"). Recognizing the difference helps you tackle questions about critical thinking practice with precision. A quick mnemonic: "DIversify" your approach - Deduce for certainty, Induce for probability.

  3. Evaluating Evidence Quality -

    Strong evidence comes from reputable sources like peer-reviewed journals and university research repositories; anecdotal claims often rank low on the evidence hierarchy. When you encounter critical thinking practice questions, ask: "Is this data empirical, expert-verified, or purely anecdotal?" Remember the 3 C's - Credibility, Currency, and Corroboration - to assess each source swiftly.

  4. Spotting Logical Fallacies -

    Familiarize yourself with common fallacies - such as straw man (misrepresenting an argument) and ad hominem (attacking the person, not the idea) - to dismantle flawed reasoning. In many critical thinking questions with answers, identifying the fallacy is half the battle toward a correct solution. A helpful trick is the "FALLS" acronym: Focus on Argument, Label the error, List reason why, Learn pattern, Solve correctly.

  5. Employing Socratic Questioning -

    Use open-ended probes - "What evidence supports this claim?", "What alternative views exist?", "What are the implications?" - to deepen your analysis and uncover biases. This method, rooted in classical philosophy and endorsed by top universities, elevates your critical thinking quiz performance by promoting reflective reasoning. Applying Bloom's Taxonomy (Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate, Create) ensures each question challenges your highest thinking level.

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