Grove English Communication Ⅲ
LESSON 10
The Way You Look at a Problem
Look at the four cards. The backs of all even-numbered cards are red. Which cards would you choose to check the back sides and prove the statement to be right? You can turn over only two cards.
Can you figure out the above puzzle? If you choose the 8 card and the red card, for example, then your answer is half wrong. The above statement does not mention anything about odd-numbered cards, so the backs of odd-numbered cards could be red, too. That means you do not have to confirm the back of the 5 card or the red card.
How about the 8 card? If its back is blue, then the statement “the backs of all even-numbered cards are red” is wrong. So you need to turn it over. How about the blue card? To turn over the blue card means to confirm that the back is NOT even-numbered. So the correct answer is the 8 card and the blue card.
People tend to seek information that confirms their existing beliefs. Unfortunately, this type of bias can prevent you from looking at situations objectively. It is called confirmation bias. We all have confirmation bias from time to time.