certain questions force the mind to evaluate, compare, justify, and analyze instead of merely remembering facts.

"By what criteria could we determine whether this principle is justified?"

That itself is a key question.

Instead of accepting

Present stewardship should outweigh ancient occupancy,

it asks

Why?

According to what standard?

Compared with which alternatives?

What evidence supports it?

Are there counterexamples?

Those questions "unlock" critical thinking because they require evaluation rather than acceptance.