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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is Paulos' forte?
(a) Solving riddles.
(b) Devising new calculating systems.
(c) Explaining coincidences.
(d) Creating word problems.

2. What did the Italian scientist discover?
(a) Pluto.
(b) Atom.
(c) Combustible fuel.
(d) Bubonic plague.

3. People seem to have the most trouble when dealing with what area of numbers?
(a) Hundreds.
(b) Thousands.
(c) Millions.
(d) Tens.

4. What news professional makes common errors in predictions?
(a) Meteorologist.
(b) Political reporter.
(c) Science analyst.
(d) Anchor.

5. What item in the stadium is used as an example?
(a) Bases.
(b) Seats.
(c) Vendors.
(d) Players.

Short Answer Questions

1. What percentage of possible fatality is almost always incorrect?

2. What item of clothing is used in an example?

3. How many seats are there in the stadium?

4. Paulos believes that most people fall where in their mathematical understanding?

5. What is one of the most common mistakes in math?

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss the first of the most famous examples of coincidence.

2. The author believes that people are often obsessed by what topics?

3. How was the situation in the story handled? How did it involve probability?

4. How does Paulos compare misuse of language to the misuse of calculating probability?

5. How does Paulos feel when people attempt to diagnose his personality by his astrological sign?

6. How is that encounter explained?

7. Why do people tend to be fascinated by coincidences?

8. What do doctors often do that is mathematically incorrect?

9. What is the last principle discussed in chapter 1?

10. How would embracing scientific notation help people with large numbers?

(see the answer keys)

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