View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who is the first doctor mentioned?
(a) Einstein.
(b) Salk.
(c) Jung.
(d) Freud.

2. Which of the following is not in the list of things over which people become obsessed?
(a) Coincidence.
(b) Fate.
(c) Synchronicity.
(d) Irony.

3. What is one of the most misunderstood items according to Paulos?
(a) Large numbers.
(b) Scientific notation.
(c) Calculators.
(d) Multiplication tables.

4. What number is used in the joke about the population of the city?
(a) 6.
(b) 1,000.
(c) 18.
(d) 120.

5. Each person knows approximately how many people?
(a) 2,000.
(b) 1,800.
(c) 1,500.
(d) 1,000.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the probability of 2 people being linked by 2 intermediates?

2. The author believes people need to learn how to understand _______.

3. What is the name of the mathematician who sees everything in numbers?

4. What news professional makes common errors in predictions?

5. Where is the stadium located?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the Archimedes Principle?

2. What would be one of the easiest ways to reduce or eliminate errors?

3. What amusing example does Paulos use to illustrate the misunderstanding of numbers?

4. Which famous doctor does Paulos introduce first? What is the doctor's opinion?

5. Why does Paulos argue about the existence of coincidences?

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

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

8. Examine the first story told by Paulos in this chapter.

9. How is that encounter explained?

10. The first example Paulos uses about percentages relates to weather forecasters. What is the mistake?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 518 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample