Exam One Sample Question

You will have one hour (sixty minutes) to answer forty multiple choice questions. 

 The test is structured in the following manner:

• Cover of Book + Prologue:                                     Six               (6)   Questions
• Chapter One                                                           Fourteen    (14)   Questions
• Chapter Two                                                          Ten            (10)   Questions
• Chapter Three                                                        Nine             (9)   Questions
• Class Presentation by             Zero Tolerance         One              (1)   Question

 Questions may vary in format and length.  The following is a sample question.

Justin T and Kelly C are well known and popular entertainers who have unfortunately “booked” a concert performance in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota) during February.  Both have been caught in a raging blizzard in 20 below weather.  Kelly C is ardent follower of the Neo Body, a well known health guru.  Neo Body’s followers do not claim to be a religion, but are known as fanatics. Neo Body espouses perfection in ALL areas of life by means of aerobic exercise, weight lifting, and “proper diet.”  Kelly has read all of Body’s books, has all of his CD’s, etc.  Kelly also organizes a Neo Body “support group.”

Justin T has symptoms of “the flu.”  (Influenza)  Asking Kelly C for advice, she speaks with an authoritative tone of voice and persuasive demeanor.  She states that she is an “expert” because she has participated in the activities of her group for a number of years.  Based on the teachings of NB, she tells Justin T that the solution to his “flu” is to “run it out” by repeatedly running “windsprints” outside in the sub-zero weather wearing only a pair of shorts. 

 Kelly’s epistemological basis for her advice is best described as:

     a.                   the scientific method

b.                  authority (authoritarianism)

c.                   logical reasoning

d.                  insanity

 The correct answer, here, is “b”  (Although an argument could be made for “d”)

 We didn’t cover epistemology in class (though the material on hindsight bias and “overconfidence” touches upon it indirectly), so you might not have had the knowledge necessary to answer this sample question.  But, this sample question demonstrates that some questions may be answered by “test taking skills.”  Answer “a” can be ruled out because we have no mention of the scientific method (covered in class) in the fact pattern.  Answer “d” may be ruled out as a “gag” or an attempt to relieve “test anxiety.”  That leaves B & C.  No evidence of logic (such as a syllogism) is present in the question. 

 By process of elimination, only “b” is left.  Even without any background in epistemology, you can guess (correctly) “b.”

Most Recent Site Update: 09/14/2007