Art of Thinking Assessment Blueprint

Alex has a big test tomorrow but forgot to bring their textbook home. What is the BEST problem-solving approach to ensure they can still study effectively?

• Stay up late worrying about the test and hope to remember the material

• Ask a friend for notes or use online resources to review the topics

• Skip studying and rely on memory from class discussions

• Complain about the mistake and assume there’s nothing that can be done

Sam and Taylor are arguing about how to divide responsibilities for a group project. They both want to be in charge of the same task and are starting to get frustrated. What is the BEST way to resolve the conflict?

• Let one person take over the task without discussing it further

• Avoid the conversation and hope the problem resolves itself

• Agree to disagree and continue with the project without any further discussion

• Both people should explain their reasons for wanting the task and find a compromise

You are facing a conflict with a colleague at work. Which of the following actions demonstrate effective problem-solving and critical thinking skills to resolve the issue?

• Discuss the issue calmly with your colleague to understand their perspective.

• Avoid the colleague and hope the problem resolves itself over time.

• Seek advice from a trusted mentor or supervisor on how to handle the situation.

• Blame the colleague for the conflict and refuse to cooperate with them.

• Spread rumors about the colleague to make others aware of the issue.

How can you break a complex problem, such as planning a big event or completing a difficult project, into smaller, manageable steps?

• By ignoring the problem until it goes away

• By breaking it down into smaller tasks and tackling them one at a time

• By doing everything at once

• By waiting for someone else to solve it

To successfully implement a community clean-up event, volunteers would need essential resources such as trash bags, gloves, and to safely collect and dispose of waste.

• bottles of water

• healthy snacks

• recycle bins
• a parking lot

A city launches a new public transportation program, but it only adds bus routes to wealthier neighborhoods, leaving lower-income areas with limited access. How might this decision impact the community?

• It ensures equal transportation opportunities for all residents.

• It may create inequity by benefiting only certain groups.

• It solves the transportation problem for everyone in the city.

• It has no effect since people can find other ways to travel.

A city installs a temporary water filtration system to provide clean drinking water after a flood, but it does not invest in long-term infrastructure improvements. What is the most likely outcome of this decision?

• The water will remain clean permanently without any further action.

• The filtration system will become a permanent solution without additional costs.

• The temporary system will help for now, but water issues may return.

• The city will no longer need to worry about water quality in the future.

A middle school notices that many students struggle to find quiet places to study after school. Which is the BEST solution, along with a plan for implementation?

• Ask students to study at home and hope they find a quiet space on their own.

• Tell students to use empty classrooms but provide no schedule or oversight.

• Encourage students to form study groups without providing a meeting location.

• Create a designated study hall in the library and assign a teacher to supervise.

Maria's school is experiencing overcrowded hallways between classes, causing delays and frustration among students. Which of the following represents the correct first step in solving this problem?

• Identify that overcrowding in the hallways is causing delays and frustration.

• Create a schedule with staggered passing periods without considering other options.

• Analyze whether the new schedule improved hallway movement after implementation.

• List several possible solutions, such as one-way hallways or extended passing periods.

Which of the following are reliable sources of information, each serving different communication purposes?

• A social media post with no cited sources or expert verification.

• A news website that follows journalistic standards and fact-checking.

• A personal blog that shares opinions without supporting evidence.

• A fictional novel that tells a story based on made-up events.

• A scientific journal article that publishes peer-reviewed researchագր