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WGU D265 Critical Thinking Reason and Evidence
Exam Actual Exam 2026/2027 | Updated Test Bank
with 100% Correct Verified Answers | Complete
Critical Thinking OA Prep | A+ Graded
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL THINKING
Q1: Which of the following best describes the concept of intellectual humility in critical
thinking?
A. Being willing to admit when you are wrong and recognizing the limits of your knowledge.
[CORRECT]
B. Always defending your position regardless of contrary evidence
C. Accepting all claims as equally valid regardless of evidence
D. Relying on expert opinion without question
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Intellectual humility involves being aware of the limits of your knowledge, being
willing to admit mistakes, and being open to new information (A). Option B describes
intellectual arrogance. Option C describes intellectual relativism. Option D describes undue
reliance on authority without critical evaluation.
Q2: Which intellectual standard of critical thinking requires that information be directly related
to the matter at hand?
A. Clarity
B. Accuracy
C. Relevance [CORRECT]
D. Breadth
Correct Answer: C
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Rationale: Relevance (C) requires that information, concepts, and evidence directly relate to the
issue being considered. Clarity (A) concerns understandability. Accuracy (B) concerns
truthfulness. Breadth (D) requires considering multiple perspectives.
Q3: A student refuses to consider evidence that contradicts their political beliefs because
"everyone in my family votes this way." This demonstrates which barrier to critical thinking?
A. Egocentrism
B. Sociocentrism [CORRECT]
C. Wishful thinking
D. Relativism
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sociocentrism (B) is the tendency to view one's own social group (family, nation,
culture) as superior and to conform to group beliefs without question. Egocentrism (A) focuses
on self-centered thinking. Wishful thinking (C) involves believing what is comforting rather than
what is true. Relativism (D) holds that all beliefs are equally valid.
Q4: Which characteristic distinguishes a critical thinker from an uncritical thinker?
A. Always seeking consensus with the majority opinion
B. Evaluating beliefs based on evidence and reasoning [CORRECT]
C. Accepting information from authority figures without question
D. Avoiding complex issues to prevent confusion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Critical thinkers evaluate beliefs and claims based on relevant evidence and sound
reasoning (B), rather than accepting them at face value. Options A, C, and D describe
characteristics of uncritical thinking—conformity, blind obedience to authority, and intellectual
cowardice.
Q5: Which of the following best describes intellectual perseverance?
A. Giving up when an issue becomes too complex
B. Persisting through intellectual challenges despite difficulties [CORRECT]
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C. Accepting simple answers to avoid confusion
D. Relying on intuition rather than analysis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Intellectual perseverance (B) is the disposition to work through intellectual
complexities and confusion to achieve deeper understanding. Options A, C, and D represent the
opposite of perseverance—giving up, seeking simplicity over truth, and avoiding rigorous
analysis.
Q6: A person believes that "truth is whatever feels right to me personally." This reflects which
problematic tendency?
A. Intellectual humility
B. Intellectual relativism/subjective relativism [CORRECT]
C. Intellectual courage
D. Intellectual empathy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Subjective relativism (B) holds that truth depends solely on individual belief or
feeling, which undermines the objective evaluation central to critical thinking. Intellectual
humility (A) involves recognizing one's limitations. Intellectual courage (C) involves challenging
popular beliefs. Intellectual empathy (D) involves understanding opposing viewpoints.
Q7: Which intellectual trait involves being aware of the need to entertain all viewpoints
sympathetically?
A. Intellectual autonomy
B. Intellectual empathy [CORRECT]
C. Intellectual integrity
D. Intellectual confidence
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Intellectual empathy (B) is the ability to reconstruct others' reasoning and viewpoints
accurately and fairly. Intellectual autonomy (A) involves thinking independently. Intellectual
integrity (C) involves holding oneself to consistent standards. Intellectual confidence (D)
involves trusting one's reasoning abilities.
WGU D265 Critical Thinking Reason and Evidence
Exam Actual Exam 2026/2027 | Updated Test Bank
with 100% Correct Verified Answers | Complete
Critical Thinking OA Prep | A+ Graded
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL THINKING
Q1: Which of the following best describes the concept of intellectual humility in critical
thinking?
A. Being willing to admit when you are wrong and recognizing the limits of your knowledge.
[CORRECT]
B. Always defending your position regardless of contrary evidence
C. Accepting all claims as equally valid regardless of evidence
D. Relying on expert opinion without question
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Intellectual humility involves being aware of the limits of your knowledge, being
willing to admit mistakes, and being open to new information (A). Option B describes
intellectual arrogance. Option C describes intellectual relativism. Option D describes undue
reliance on authority without critical evaluation.
Q2: Which intellectual standard of critical thinking requires that information be directly related
to the matter at hand?
A. Clarity
B. Accuracy
C. Relevance [CORRECT]
D. Breadth
Correct Answer: C
,2
Rationale: Relevance (C) requires that information, concepts, and evidence directly relate to the
issue being considered. Clarity (A) concerns understandability. Accuracy (B) concerns
truthfulness. Breadth (D) requires considering multiple perspectives.
Q3: A student refuses to consider evidence that contradicts their political beliefs because
"everyone in my family votes this way." This demonstrates which barrier to critical thinking?
A. Egocentrism
B. Sociocentrism [CORRECT]
C. Wishful thinking
D. Relativism
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sociocentrism (B) is the tendency to view one's own social group (family, nation,
culture) as superior and to conform to group beliefs without question. Egocentrism (A) focuses
on self-centered thinking. Wishful thinking (C) involves believing what is comforting rather than
what is true. Relativism (D) holds that all beliefs are equally valid.
Q4: Which characteristic distinguishes a critical thinker from an uncritical thinker?
A. Always seeking consensus with the majority opinion
B. Evaluating beliefs based on evidence and reasoning [CORRECT]
C. Accepting information from authority figures without question
D. Avoiding complex issues to prevent confusion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Critical thinkers evaluate beliefs and claims based on relevant evidence and sound
reasoning (B), rather than accepting them at face value. Options A, C, and D describe
characteristics of uncritical thinking—conformity, blind obedience to authority, and intellectual
cowardice.
Q5: Which of the following best describes intellectual perseverance?
A. Giving up when an issue becomes too complex
B. Persisting through intellectual challenges despite difficulties [CORRECT]
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C. Accepting simple answers to avoid confusion
D. Relying on intuition rather than analysis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Intellectual perseverance (B) is the disposition to work through intellectual
complexities and confusion to achieve deeper understanding. Options A, C, and D represent the
opposite of perseverance—giving up, seeking simplicity over truth, and avoiding rigorous
analysis.
Q6: A person believes that "truth is whatever feels right to me personally." This reflects which
problematic tendency?
A. Intellectual humility
B. Intellectual relativism/subjective relativism [CORRECT]
C. Intellectual courage
D. Intellectual empathy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Subjective relativism (B) holds that truth depends solely on individual belief or
feeling, which undermines the objective evaluation central to critical thinking. Intellectual
humility (A) involves recognizing one's limitations. Intellectual courage (C) involves challenging
popular beliefs. Intellectual empathy (D) involves understanding opposing viewpoints.
Q7: Which intellectual trait involves being aware of the need to entertain all viewpoints
sympathetically?
A. Intellectual autonomy
B. Intellectual empathy [CORRECT]
C. Intellectual integrity
D. Intellectual confidence
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Intellectual empathy (B) is the ability to reconstruct others' reasoning and viewpoints
accurately and fairly. Intellectual autonomy (A) involves thinking independently. Intellectual
integrity (C) involves holding oneself to consistent standards. Intellectual confidence (D)
involves trusting one's reasoning abilities.
