Quiz 09 | Higher Education | Oxford University Press Canada

Instructions: For each question, click on the radio button beside your answer. When you have completed the entire quiz, click the Submit my answers button at the bottom of the page to receive your results.

Question 1:

Fruitful theories are not testable.
a) True
b) False

Question 2:

The best theory is the eligible theory that meets the criteria of adequacy better than any of its competitors.
a) True
b) False

Question 3:

Inference to the best explanation is used only in science.
a) True
b) False

Question 4:

In inference to the best explanation, we reason from premises about a state of affairs to an explanation for that state of affairs.
a) True
b) False

Question 5:

There is no strict formula or protocol for applying the criteria of adequacy.
a) True
b) False

Question 6:

Our established beliefs can never be shown to be false.
a) True
b) False

Question 7:

Other things being equal, the best theory is the one that fits best with our established beliefs.
a) True
b) False

Question 8:

An ad hoc hypothesis is one that cannot be
a) verified independently of the phenomenon it's supposed to explain.
b) understood without explanation.
c) verified without several tests.
d) advocated.

Question 9:

The simplest theory is the one that
a) refers to the fewest physical entities.
b) makes the fewest assumptions.
c) is untestable.
d) is easiest to understand.

Question 10:

If a theory is untestable, then it is
a) extremely useful.
b) useful only in science.
c) worthless.
d) uncommon.

Question 11:

In the evaluation of theories, the criteria of adequacy are
a) false.
b) essential tools.
c) optional.
d) never explicit.

Question 12:

Before applying the criteria of adequacy to a theory, we must make sure that it
a) is the only theory we need to consider.
b) meets the minimum requirement of consistency.
c) is true.
d) is false.

Question 13:

In inference to the best explanation, if an explanation is the best among competitors, then the argument is
a) inductively weak.
b) inconclusive.
c) valid.
d) inductively strong.

Question 14:

If a theory predicts something other than what it was introduced to explain, it is
a) fruitful.
b) conservative.
c) testable.
d) superfluous.

Question 15:

A theory that fits with our established beliefs is
a) testable.
b) simple.
c) conservative.
d) fruitful.

Higher Education

The Power of Critical Thinking, Second Canadian Edition: Chapter 09