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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. Who was a giant in psychiatry?

2. Paulos often has people ask him about what?

3. Which staff member is mentioned?

4. Paulos believes that the theory may seem:

5. Notation makes more sense than?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What is the example used to separate numerates from innumerates?

5. Who is the second famous doctor introduced by Paulos? Which topic was this doctor fascinated by?

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

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

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

9. What is the coincidence surrounding Christopher Columbus?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss how technology affects a person's math skills. Is it okay to use technology at any time? What does Paulos believe technology encourages? Do you agree or disagree? Explain. What is the most effective way to use technology in regards to math? What do you think has been the most effective and/or significant invention in regards to technology and mathematics?

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

List at least three incorrect examples of grammar and three incorrect examples of math. Compare and contrast the problems. Which is more severe? Which is most likely to be noticed? Before reading this book would you have noticed either or both? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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