I disagree. You are only allowed to agree with the article using the articles own statements. If article states the sky was always red without mentioning anything else, then you’d have to agree or fail.

No other views, facts, opinions, perspectives, etc was allowed.

That is not critical thinking.

That was how Missouri taught “critical thinking”

The problem was it forced you to agree with that opinion. There was no thinking involved, only blind belief

Critical thinking would allow you to understand opposing opinions while respectfully disagreeing

I really hope it’s not the same kind of critical thinking that some other states pushed.

Missouri’s version was to assign a controversial and biased news article and the students had to write an essay agreeing with the article while citing that same article. Outside sources were not allowed and neither was disagreeing with the article. Anything but full agreement resulted in a 0% and put marks against the school since it was state assessment.