Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) Practice Exam

Which of the following provides the best example of functional fixedness?

1. Using a knife as a lever

2. Using a juice glass as a container for orange juice

3. Using a book as a doorstop

4. Using a coat hanger to fix a car problem

The correct answer is: Using a juice glass as a container for orange juice

The best example of functional fixedness is found in the option that describes using a juice glass as a container for orange juice. This reflects a conventional use for a glass, as its primary purpose is recognized as a vessel for liquids. Functional fixedness is a cognitive bias that limits a person’s ability to use an object for a purpose other than the one for which it is typically intended. In this scenario, the glass is being thought of exclusively in its usual function, highlighting the characteristic of functional fixedness where one cannot see the possibility of alternative uses for the object. The other options illustrate instances where objects are used in innovative or unconventional ways, representing a break from functional fixedness. For example, using a knife as a lever or a coat hanger to fix a car problem demonstrates creativity in finding new purposes for those objects.