Creating Multiple Choice Questions That Test For Critical Thinking
Creating Multiple Choice Questions That Test For Critical Thinking
Creating Multiple Choice Questions That Test For Critical Thinking
Devising multiple choice questions that measure higher level cognitive skills will enable you to test such skills
in large classes without spending enormous amounts of time grading.
In an evaluation question, a situation is described in a short paragraph and then a problem is posed as the
stem of the question. All the rules for writing multiple choice items described above also apply to writing
evaluation questions, but students must use judgment and critical thinking to answer them correctly.
In the example below (adapted from Welsh, 1978), students must understand the concepts of price inflation,
aggregate private demand, and tight monetary policy. They must also be able to analyze the information
presented and, based on projected effects, choose the most appropriate policy. This question requires critical
thinking and the complex application of economic principles learned in the course.
Instructors have developed similar questions for analysis and interpretation of poetry, literature, historical
documents, and various kinds of scientific data.
From http://cfe.unc.edu/pdfs/FYC8.pdf University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
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From CLASSROOM TEST OF SCIENTIFIC REASONING Multiple Choice Version Revised
Edition: August 2000 by Anton E. Lawson, Arizona State University. Based on: Lawson, A.E. 1978. Development and validation of
the classroom test of formal reasoning. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 15(1): 11-24.
1. Suppose you are given two clay balls of equal size and shape. The two clay balls also
weigh the same. One ball is flattened into a pancake-shaped piece.
2. because
a. the flattened piece covers a larger area.
b. the ball pushes down more on one spot.
c. when something is flattened it loses weight.
d. clay has not been added or taken away.
e. when something is flattened it gains weight.
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19. Farmer Brown was observing the mice that live in his field. He discovered that all
of them were either fat or thin. Also, all of them had either black tails or white
tails. This made him wonder if there might be a link between the size of the mice
and the color of their tails. So he captured all of the mice in one part of his field
and observed them. Below are the mice that he captured.
Do you think there is a link between the size of the mice and the color of their tails?
a. appears to be a link
b. appears not to be a link
c. cannot make a reasonable guess
20. because
a. there are some of each kind of mouse.
b. there may be a genetic link between mouse size and tail color.
c. there were not enough mice captured.
d. most of the fat mice have black tails while most of the thin mice have white
tails.
e. as the mice grew fatter, their tails became darker.
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MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST – ETHICS/PHILSOPHY University of Kansas, Fall2004
Philosophy 160: Introduction to Ethics Ben Eggleslon—egglestongkuedu Tuesday, September 28,2004
III. Utilitarianism
7. Why, according to utilitarianism, should laws not impose unnecessary restrictions on individuals' freedom?
(A) because individuals have a natural right to freedom
(B) because restrictions on freedom tend to diminish happiness
(C) because it is expensive to hire police officers to enforce freedom-restricting laws
(D) because the laws are based on a social contract, and the idea of the social contract entails
maximizing individuals' freedom
8. Suppose that a dangerous defendant who will otherwise be acquitted can be convicted through the giving
of false testimony. In the following dialogues, which statement is inconsistent with utilitarianism?
(A) Eric; "Giving false testimony is unjust and, therefore, immoral."
(B) Fred: "Not all conduct traditionally regarded as unjust is immoral."
(C) Eric: "Well, giving false testimony is illegal in nearly every society."
(D) Fred: "Well, that does not necessarily mean it's immoral."
9. Which of the following statements is the strongest evidence that the person saying it is a utilitarian?
(A) Ginny; "Violations of rights are very serious, from the moral point of view."
(B) Helen: "I agree. It is always immoral to violate someone's rights."
(C) Ginny: "Well, I wouldn't say 'always'. It's o.k, to violate rights whenever the good you can produce
by doing so outweighs the harm you do by violating the person's rights."
(D) Kate: "I disagree with both of you. In my opinion, it's immoral to violate someone's rights unless
doing so is the only way to prevent that person from violating others' rights."
10. Consider the question, "What is meant by the charge that utilitarianism is too demanding?" Now suppose
the following answer is given:
"Utilitarianism requires moral people to respond to important moral concerns such as helping the
less fortunate, while allowing immoral people to pursue their careers, family lives, and personal
projects." What is wrong with this answer?
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Two part question using one scenario (used for discussion in a large lecture class) [from Dr. Sam Swindell,
Psychology, WSU]: