UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) Practice Test

What characteristic is most associated with someone being termed "gullible"?

1. Critical thinking skills

2. A tendency to question others' motives

3. Readiness to accept claims at face value

4. Ability to detect deception

The correct answer is: Readiness to accept claims at face value

Being termed "gullible" primarily refers to a person's readiness to accept claims at face value without sufficient skepticism or questioning. This characteristic indicates a lack of critical assessment when faced with information or assertions made by others. Gullible individuals tend to trust what they are told and are more likely to believe statements or offers without demanding evidence or considering alternative explanations, which is the essence of being easily deceived. Critical thinking skills, questioning others' motives, and the ability to detect deception are all attributes that suggest a more analytical and skeptical approach to information. In contrast, a gullible person lacks these protective skills and doesn't engage in the necessary evaluative processes that promote discernment and protect against manipulation. Therefore, the characteristic most inherently linked to gullibility is indeed a readiness to accept claims at face value.