Critical Thinking - Free Printable

Let’s solve this step by step.

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VOCABULARY SECTION:

We are given scrambled letters and need to unscramble them to fit the sentence meaningfully.

1. I must admit your argument is really __________ (PLECMOILNG), but I still hold my position on this matter.
→ Scrambled: PLECMOILNG
→ Unscramble: “compelling” — makes sense because it means convincing, which fits with admitting someone’s argument is strong even if you disagree.
✔ Answer: compelling

2. Before forming an opinion, we need to __________ (SSASES) all this information.
→ Scrambled: SSASES
→ Unscramble: “assess” — means to evaluate or judge, which fits perfectly here.
✔ Answer: assess

3. We should avoid debates __________ (NGIOCNRECN) topics such as religion and politics.
→ Scrambled: NGIOCNRECN
→ Unscramble: “controversial” — these are topics that cause disagreement, like religion and politics.
✔ Answer: controversial

4. Get rid of any __________ (YTFLAU) reasoning and you’ll see better results.
→ Scrambled: YTFLAU
→ Unscramble: “faulty” — means flawed or incorrect, which fits with getting rid of bad reasoning.
✔ Answer: faulty

5. She thought her arguments were __________ (NOUSD) and we could not __________ (ISMSIDS) them.
→ First word: NOUSD → “sound” — meaning logically valid or solid.
→ Second word: ISMSIDS → “dismiss” — meaning to reject or ignore.
So: She thought her arguments were sound and we could not dismiss them.
✔ Answers: sound, dismiss

6. They thought this would be an argument we couldn’t __________ (RETUOCN)
→ Scrambled: RETUOCN
→ Unscramble: “counter” — meaning to oppose or respond to an argument.
✔ Answer: counter

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GRAMMAR SECTION:

We need to choose the best word/phrase to complete each sentence logically. Since no options are given in the image, we’ll use common connectors/adverbs/prepositions that make grammatical and logical sense.

1. I believe my argument is sound. __________, I don’t dismiss others.
→ Needs a contrast connector. “However” works well.
✔ Answer: However

2. __________ this topic is concerning sensitive areas, I think we should leave it out from our debate.
→ Needs a reason/concession. “Since” or “Because” fits. Let’s pick “Since”.
✔ Answer: Since

3. Her argument was compelling. __________, we couldn’t counter it.
→ Shows result. “Therefore” or “So” — “Therefore” sounds more formal/appropriate.
✔ Answer: Therefore

4. __________ his faulty arguments, many people bought into his idea.
→ Contrast — despite bad arguments, people believed him. “Despite” fits.
✔ Answer: Despite

5. __________ they dismissed all my proposals, I decided to stop the negotiation.
→ Reason for stopping. “Because” or “Since” — let’s use “Since”.
✔ Answer: Since

6. They said they would be open to any suggestions, __________ they barely allowed us to speak during the meeting.
→ Contrast between what they said and what they did. “but” or “yet” — “yet” is slightly more formal.
✔ Answer: yet

7. I am going through all of the sources __________ to assess the situation more effectively.
→ Purpose — why go through sources? “in order” or “so as” — simplest is “in order”.
✔ Answer: in order

8. We regarded his arguments as a personal attack __________ the emphasis on “you” he placed in his speech.
→ Explaining the reason — “because of” or “due to” — “because of” is simpler.
✔ Answer: because of

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Final Answer:

Vocabulary:
1. compelling
2. assess
3. controversial
4. faulty
5. sound, dismiss
6. counter

Grammar:
1. However
2. Since
3. Therefore
4. Despite
5. Since
6. yet
7. in order
8. because of