WGU D265 - WGU - CRITICAL THINKING - REASON AND EVIDENCE ALREADY
GRADED A+
Question 1
Which of the following attitudes best reflects the core of strong critical thinking?
A) Being committed to one’s position because it feels right.
B) Avoiding all disagreements to maintain social harmony.
C) Recognizing that issues are often complex and acknowledging the difficulty in finding a
perfect solution.
D) Using rhetoric to convince others of a predetermined conclusion.
E) Only reading sources that confirm what one already believes to be true.
Correct Answer: C) Recognizing that issues are often complex and acknowledging the
difficulty in finding a perfect solution.
Rationale: Critical thinking involves intellectual humility. Strong critical thinkers
understand that truth is rarely simple and that many perspectives may contain valid
points. Acknowledging complexity is a safeguard against oversimplification and binary
(black-and-white) thinking.
Question 2
Which of the following is an example of a proposition?
A) Do you think it will rain today?
B) Please close the door on your way out.
C) Mangino’s has the best pizza in the city.
D) Wow, look at that sunrise!
E) Let’s go to the gym at five o’clock.
Correct Answer: C) Mangino’s has the best pizza in the city.
Rationale: A proposition is a statement that has a truth value—meaning it is either true or
false. Questions, commands, and exclamations do not make claims about the world that can
be verified as true or false, whereas a claim about the quality of a pizza is an assertion of
fact or opinion that functions as a proposition.
Question 3
In the sentence "Because I was tired, I went to bed early," what is the function of the word
"Because"?
A) Conclusion indicator
B) Premise indicator
C) Propositional modifier
D) Inference marker
E) Rhetorical flourish
Correct Answer: B) Premise indicator
Rationale: "Because" signals that a reason or evidence is being provided for a claim. In an
, 2
argument, the statements following "because" act as the premises that support the
conclusion (in this case, the conclusion is "I went to bed early").
Question 4
Which type of reasoning moves from specific observations to a general conclusion that is
probably, but not certainly, true?
A) Deductive reasoning
B) Valid reasoning
C) Inductive reasoning
D) Abductive reasoning
E) Formal logic
Correct Answer: C) Inductive reasoning
Rationale: Inductive reasoning relies on patterns and observations. It does not guarantee
the truth of the conclusion; instead, it establishes a degree of probability. If the premises
are true, the conclusion is likely to be true.
Question 5
"All humans are mortal. Socrates is a human. Therefore, Socrates is mortal." This is an example
of:
A) Inductive reasoning
B) Abductive reasoning
C) Deductive reasoning
D) Hasty generalization
E) Fallacious reasoning
Correct Answer: C) Deductive reasoning
Rationale: Deductive reasoning is "top-down" logic. It moves from general premises to a
specific, necessary conclusion. In a valid deductive argument, if the premises are true, the
conclusion must be true by necessity.
Question 6
Which of the following phrases is a conclusion indicator?
A) Since
B) Given that
C) Therefore
D) For the reason that
E) Seeing as
Correct Answer: C) Therefore
Rationale: "Therefore" signals that the speaker is about to state the final claim or result of
, 3
the preceding evidence. Other conclusion indicators include "thus," "hence," "so," and "it
follows that."
Question 7
A "simple proposition" is defined as a statement that:
A) Contains at least two different ideas joined by "and."
B) Expresses only one single claim or factual assertion.
C) Is always true regardless of the context.
D) Use "if-then" logic to connect two events.
E) Is easy for most people to understand.
Correct Answer: B) Expresses only one single claim or factual assertion.
Rationale: Simple propositions do not contain other propositions as parts. For example,
"The sun is shining" is simple. "The sun is shining and it is hot" is a complex proposition
because it joins two distinct claims.
Question 8
What is the "Principle of Charity" in argumentation?
A) Giving money to opponents to ensure a fair debate.
B) Ignoring an opponent's argument if it seems weak.
C) Interpreting an opponent's argument in its strongest possible form before addressing it.
D) Using emotional appeals to make an audience feel sorry for you.
E) Always agreeing with the majority opinion.
Correct Answer: C) Interpreting an opponent's argument in its strongest possible form
before addressing it.
Rationale: The Principle of Charity requires a critical thinker to avoid "straw manning" an
opponent. By addressing the best version of an opposing view, you ensure your own
counter-argument is robust and that the overall pursuit of truth is maintained.
Question 9
Which cognitive bias describes the tendency to search for, interpret, and recall information in a
way that confirms one’s pre-existing beliefs?
A) Availability bias
B) Representativeness bias
C) Confirmation bias
D) Anchoring bias
E) Selection bias
Correct Answer: C) Confirmation bias
Rationale: Confirmation bias is one of the most common obstacles to critical thinking. It
, 4
leads individuals to ignore contradictory evidence and overvalue information that supports
their current "echo chamber."
Question 10
If an argument is "valid," it means that:
A) The premises are definitely true in the real world.
B) The conclusion is a very popular opinion.
C) The structure is such that if the premises were true, the conclusion would have to be true.
D) The argument is emotionally moving to the audience.
E) The speaker is a highly credible expert.
Correct Answer: C) The structure is such that if the premises were true, the conclusion
would have to be true.
Rationale: Validity refers strictly to the logical structure of a deductive argument. An
argument can be valid even if the premises are false (e.g., "All dogs are green; Ginger is a
dog; therefore Ginger is green"). If it is valid AND the premises are true, the argument is
then "sound."
Question 11
A student concludes that because a specific professor is a "hard grader," the entire university is
too difficult. This is an example of which fallacy?
A) Slippery slope
B) Hasty generalization
C) Red herring
D) False dichotomy
E) Ad hominem
Correct Answer: B) Hasty generalization
Rationale: A hasty generalization occurs when a conclusion is drawn from a sample size that
is too small or unrepresentative of the whole. One professor does not provide enough
evidence to judge the difficulty of an entire institution.
Question 12
Which heuristic involves making a decision based on how easily examples come to mind?
A) Representativeness heuristic
B) Anchoring and adjustment
C) Availability heuristic
D) Satisficing
E) Elimination by aspects
Correct Answer: C) Availability heuristic
Rationale: The availability heuristic leads us to overestimate the probability of events that
GRADED A+
Question 1
Which of the following attitudes best reflects the core of strong critical thinking?
A) Being committed to one’s position because it feels right.
B) Avoiding all disagreements to maintain social harmony.
C) Recognizing that issues are often complex and acknowledging the difficulty in finding a
perfect solution.
D) Using rhetoric to convince others of a predetermined conclusion.
E) Only reading sources that confirm what one already believes to be true.
Correct Answer: C) Recognizing that issues are often complex and acknowledging the
difficulty in finding a perfect solution.
Rationale: Critical thinking involves intellectual humility. Strong critical thinkers
understand that truth is rarely simple and that many perspectives may contain valid
points. Acknowledging complexity is a safeguard against oversimplification and binary
(black-and-white) thinking.
Question 2
Which of the following is an example of a proposition?
A) Do you think it will rain today?
B) Please close the door on your way out.
C) Mangino’s has the best pizza in the city.
D) Wow, look at that sunrise!
E) Let’s go to the gym at five o’clock.
Correct Answer: C) Mangino’s has the best pizza in the city.
Rationale: A proposition is a statement that has a truth value—meaning it is either true or
false. Questions, commands, and exclamations do not make claims about the world that can
be verified as true or false, whereas a claim about the quality of a pizza is an assertion of
fact or opinion that functions as a proposition.
Question 3
In the sentence "Because I was tired, I went to bed early," what is the function of the word
"Because"?
A) Conclusion indicator
B) Premise indicator
C) Propositional modifier
D) Inference marker
E) Rhetorical flourish
Correct Answer: B) Premise indicator
Rationale: "Because" signals that a reason or evidence is being provided for a claim. In an
, 2
argument, the statements following "because" act as the premises that support the
conclusion (in this case, the conclusion is "I went to bed early").
Question 4
Which type of reasoning moves from specific observations to a general conclusion that is
probably, but not certainly, true?
A) Deductive reasoning
B) Valid reasoning
C) Inductive reasoning
D) Abductive reasoning
E) Formal logic
Correct Answer: C) Inductive reasoning
Rationale: Inductive reasoning relies on patterns and observations. It does not guarantee
the truth of the conclusion; instead, it establishes a degree of probability. If the premises
are true, the conclusion is likely to be true.
Question 5
"All humans are mortal. Socrates is a human. Therefore, Socrates is mortal." This is an example
of:
A) Inductive reasoning
B) Abductive reasoning
C) Deductive reasoning
D) Hasty generalization
E) Fallacious reasoning
Correct Answer: C) Deductive reasoning
Rationale: Deductive reasoning is "top-down" logic. It moves from general premises to a
specific, necessary conclusion. In a valid deductive argument, if the premises are true, the
conclusion must be true by necessity.
Question 6
Which of the following phrases is a conclusion indicator?
A) Since
B) Given that
C) Therefore
D) For the reason that
E) Seeing as
Correct Answer: C) Therefore
Rationale: "Therefore" signals that the speaker is about to state the final claim or result of
, 3
the preceding evidence. Other conclusion indicators include "thus," "hence," "so," and "it
follows that."
Question 7
A "simple proposition" is defined as a statement that:
A) Contains at least two different ideas joined by "and."
B) Expresses only one single claim or factual assertion.
C) Is always true regardless of the context.
D) Use "if-then" logic to connect two events.
E) Is easy for most people to understand.
Correct Answer: B) Expresses only one single claim or factual assertion.
Rationale: Simple propositions do not contain other propositions as parts. For example,
"The sun is shining" is simple. "The sun is shining and it is hot" is a complex proposition
because it joins two distinct claims.
Question 8
What is the "Principle of Charity" in argumentation?
A) Giving money to opponents to ensure a fair debate.
B) Ignoring an opponent's argument if it seems weak.
C) Interpreting an opponent's argument in its strongest possible form before addressing it.
D) Using emotional appeals to make an audience feel sorry for you.
E) Always agreeing with the majority opinion.
Correct Answer: C) Interpreting an opponent's argument in its strongest possible form
before addressing it.
Rationale: The Principle of Charity requires a critical thinker to avoid "straw manning" an
opponent. By addressing the best version of an opposing view, you ensure your own
counter-argument is robust and that the overall pursuit of truth is maintained.
Question 9
Which cognitive bias describes the tendency to search for, interpret, and recall information in a
way that confirms one’s pre-existing beliefs?
A) Availability bias
B) Representativeness bias
C) Confirmation bias
D) Anchoring bias
E) Selection bias
Correct Answer: C) Confirmation bias
Rationale: Confirmation bias is one of the most common obstacles to critical thinking. It
, 4
leads individuals to ignore contradictory evidence and overvalue information that supports
their current "echo chamber."
Question 10
If an argument is "valid," it means that:
A) The premises are definitely true in the real world.
B) The conclusion is a very popular opinion.
C) The structure is such that if the premises were true, the conclusion would have to be true.
D) The argument is emotionally moving to the audience.
E) The speaker is a highly credible expert.
Correct Answer: C) The structure is such that if the premises were true, the conclusion
would have to be true.
Rationale: Validity refers strictly to the logical structure of a deductive argument. An
argument can be valid even if the premises are false (e.g., "All dogs are green; Ginger is a
dog; therefore Ginger is green"). If it is valid AND the premises are true, the argument is
then "sound."
Question 11
A student concludes that because a specific professor is a "hard grader," the entire university is
too difficult. This is an example of which fallacy?
A) Slippery slope
B) Hasty generalization
C) Red herring
D) False dichotomy
E) Ad hominem
Correct Answer: B) Hasty generalization
Rationale: A hasty generalization occurs when a conclusion is drawn from a sample size that
is too small or unrepresentative of the whole. One professor does not provide enough
evidence to judge the difficulty of an entire institution.
Question 12
Which heuristic involves making a decision based on how easily examples come to mind?
A) Representativeness heuristic
B) Anchoring and adjustment
C) Availability heuristic
D) Satisficing
E) Elimination by aspects
Correct Answer: C) Availability heuristic
Rationale: The availability heuristic leads us to overestimate the probability of events that
