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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is not mentioned as something being estimated?

2. What famous doctor does Paulos consider to be an innumerate?

3. Which is an incorrect statement in science?

4. In elementary school, math is rarely _______.

5. Which is taught in elementary schools?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is estimation important? Who does it affect?

2. What is the downfall of technology in regards to innumeracy?

3. What is Paulos' assertion regarding the principle of threes?

4. What are the most obvious causes of innumeracy?

5. Explain Paulos' example about Ronald Regan and the incorrect use of substitution values.

6. How does Paulos explain the famous monkey/Shakespeare probability example?

7. What other fallacies were contributed by Freud?

8. Why is the innumeracy in this case surprising to many?

9. What is one of the largest errors in integrating math into a student's life? What is a common result?

10. How does Paulos relate this theory to Freud and the prediction of the great doctor's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the common practice of teaching logic in elementary school? To what does Paulos compare the study of logic? Do you agree or disagree? How could logic be best employed in the classroom? How does it apply to every day life? How might one make the study of logic fun? How did you learn about logic?

Essay Topic 2

Paulos takes issue with the lack of proper focus on the skill of estimation. Examine Paulos' reasoning about the importance of estimation. In your eyes, is estimating an important skill? Explain. What can be gained by making estimations? How do you know when your sample group is large enough? Is it determined by the activity or question or are all sample groups the same size? What are the most common mistakes made when estimating? Can you prove the answer arrived upon is correct or incorrect? How? Create at least five examples of estimation as they might be found in every day situations.

Essay Topic 3

Explain Paulos' definition of "Extreme Intellectual Lethargy." What is it? How is it described? Do you or anyone you know suffer from EIL? Explain. What are the symptoms? Are there any remedies for EIL? Explain.

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