Chapter 2 Answer Key to Select Chapter Exercises

Exercise 2.1
2. The essential ingredients of critical thinking are a systematic approach, involving the evaluation or formulation of claims, based on rational standards.
3. Peer pressure is a kind of group pressure to accept a statement or act in a certain way. Specifically, such group pressure is called ‘peer pressure’ when the pressure to conform comes from one’s peers.
4. Fake news is false information masquerading as news.
9. A kind of biased thinking in which we notice certain things and ignore others, even though we should be noticing both. The remedy is to make a conscious effort to look for opposing evidence.
10. We may ignore facts that contradict our beliefs and search out facts that support them.
13. The fallacy of arguing that a claim must be true merely because a substantial number of people believe it.
19. The view that we know much less than we think we do or nothing at all.

Exercise 2.2
2. Self-interested
5. Group pressure
8. Face-saving
9. Group pressure

Exercise 2.3
2. B, C
5. D

Exercise 2.4
2. Peer pressure. Possible negative consequence: Harm to Prathamesh’s self-esteem; risk of alienating a valuable player.
6. Appeal to popularity. Possible negative consequence: Damage to the politician’s reputation as a decisive decision-maker; establishment of a precedent in which politicians cave in to pressure.

Exercise 2.5
3. Face-saving. Possible negative consequence: public opinion of Antonio may sink even lower, and political allies may choose to distance themselves from him.
5. Face-saving; possible negative consequences: Dishonesty, which misleads people and sets Justin up for self-deception or future dishonesty.