WGU D265 - WGU - CRITICAL THINKING - REASON AND EVIDENCE ALREADY GRADED A+
Question 1
Which of the following sentences reflects the critical thinking trait of intellectual humility?
A) "I am committed to my position because I have researched it thoroughly and know I am
right."
B) "Unlike my opponents, I am capable of objective analysis and do not suffer from personal
bias."
C) "I know that issues can be complicated, and it is often difficult to determine the best approach
to a problem."
D) "I jump to conclusions quickly because my intuition is highly developed through years of
experience."
E) "The most important part of an argument is winning the debate at any cost."
Correct Answer: C) "I know that issues can be complicated, and it is often difficult to
determine the best approach to a problem."
Rationale: Critical thinking requires recognizing the limits of one's own knowledge.
Intellectual humility is the awareness that one's beliefs might be wrong and that complex
problems often lack simple, singular solutions. Options A and B reflect intellectual
arrogance or a "blind spot" regarding one's own biases.
Question 2
Which of the following is an example of a "proposition" in logic?
A) "Please pass the salt."
B) "Where did you park the car?"
C) "Ouch! That hurts."
D) "Mangino’s has the best pizza in town."
E) "Let’s go to the movies tonight."
Correct Answer: D) "Mangino’s has the best pizza in town."
Rationale: A proposition is a statement that expresses a claim that can be either true or
false. Options A, E are commands/suggestions; Option B is a question; and Option C is an
exclamation. None of those have a "truth value."
Question 3
Which statement is a "simple" proposition as opposed to a complex or compound one?
A) "I went to the store and I bought some milk."
B) "If it rains today, then the game will be cancelled."
C) "By noon, the sun was shining."
D) "Because I was tired, I took a nap."
E) "Either we go to dinner now, or we skip it entirely."
Correct Answer: C) "By noon, the sun was shining."
Rationale: A simple proposition contains only one distinct claim. Option A is a conjunction
, 2
(two claims), Option B is a conditional (if/then), and Option E is a disjunction (either/or).
Option C makes a single, standalone claim about the sun.
Question 4
In the context of an argument, which of the following is a "premise indicator" word?
A) Therefore
B) Thus
C) Hence
D) Because
E) Consequently
Correct Answer: D) Because
Rationale: Premise indicators signal that a reason is being provided to support a conclusion.
Words like "because," "since," and "given that" point to the evidence. "Therefore,"
"thus," "hence," and "consequently" are conclusion indicators.
Question 5
"Flying cars will relieve traffic congestion. Since the research and development of such vehicles
will be expensive, it follows that the government should encourage industry to develop them."
What is the conclusion of this argument?
A) Flying cars will relieve traffic congestion.
B) Research and development will be expensive.
C) Industry should fund its own research.
D) The government should encourage industry to develop flying cars.
E) Traffic congestion is a major problem.
Correct Answer: D) The government should encourage industry to develop flying cars.
Rationale: The phrase "it follows that" is a conclusion indicator. The statement about traffic
congestion is a premise (a reason why we should want them), and the expense is a premise
(a reason why the government needs to help). The final claim being advocated for is the
government's encouragement.
Question 6
Which type of reasoning is used when the conclusion is intended to follow with absolute
certainty if the premises are true?
A) Inductive Reasoning
B) Abductive Reasoning
C) Deductive Reasoning
D) Conductive Reasoning
E) Reductive Reasoning
Correct Answer: C) Deductive Reasoning
Rationale: Deductive arguments are structured so that the truth of the premises guarantees
, 3
the truth of the conclusion. Inductive reasoning deals with probability, and abductive
reasoning deals with the "best explanation."
Question 7
"All dogs are mammals. Ginger is a dog. Therefore, Ginger is a mammal." This is an example of
which type of reasoning?
A) Inductive
B) Abductive
C) Valid Deductive
D) Invalid Deductive
E) Weak Inductive
Correct Answer: C) Valid Deductive
Rationale: This follows the logical form "All A are B; X is A; therefore X is B." Because the
structure is perfect, it is a valid deductive argument. If the premises are true, the
conclusion MUST be true.
Question 8
"Most students at this university drink coffee. Sarah is a student here. Therefore, Sarah probably
drinks coffee." This is an example of:
A) A valid deductive argument
B) An inductive argument
C) An abductive argument
D) A sound argument
E) A formal fallacy
Correct Answer: B) An inductive argument
Rationale: The word "probably" indicates that the conclusion is based on likelihood rather
than certainty. Inductive arguments move from specific observations or statistical
majorities to a probable conclusion.
Question 9
What is a "sound" argument?
A) An inductive argument that is strong.
B) A deductive argument that is valid and has all true premises.
C) Any argument that sounds convincing to an audience.
D) An argument that avoids all informal fallacies.
E) A valid argument with at least one false premise.
Correct Answer: B) A deductive argument that is valid and has all true premises.
Rationale: For an argument to be sound, it must satisfy two conditions: it must be logically
valid (the structure is correct) AND the premises must actually be true in reality.
Question 1
Which of the following sentences reflects the critical thinking trait of intellectual humility?
A) "I am committed to my position because I have researched it thoroughly and know I am
right."
B) "Unlike my opponents, I am capable of objective analysis and do not suffer from personal
bias."
C) "I know that issues can be complicated, and it is often difficult to determine the best approach
to a problem."
D) "I jump to conclusions quickly because my intuition is highly developed through years of
experience."
E) "The most important part of an argument is winning the debate at any cost."
Correct Answer: C) "I know that issues can be complicated, and it is often difficult to
determine the best approach to a problem."
Rationale: Critical thinking requires recognizing the limits of one's own knowledge.
Intellectual humility is the awareness that one's beliefs might be wrong and that complex
problems often lack simple, singular solutions. Options A and B reflect intellectual
arrogance or a "blind spot" regarding one's own biases.
Question 2
Which of the following is an example of a "proposition" in logic?
A) "Please pass the salt."
B) "Where did you park the car?"
C) "Ouch! That hurts."
D) "Mangino’s has the best pizza in town."
E) "Let’s go to the movies tonight."
Correct Answer: D) "Mangino’s has the best pizza in town."
Rationale: A proposition is a statement that expresses a claim that can be either true or
false. Options A, E are commands/suggestions; Option B is a question; and Option C is an
exclamation. None of those have a "truth value."
Question 3
Which statement is a "simple" proposition as opposed to a complex or compound one?
A) "I went to the store and I bought some milk."
B) "If it rains today, then the game will be cancelled."
C) "By noon, the sun was shining."
D) "Because I was tired, I took a nap."
E) "Either we go to dinner now, or we skip it entirely."
Correct Answer: C) "By noon, the sun was shining."
Rationale: A simple proposition contains only one distinct claim. Option A is a conjunction
, 2
(two claims), Option B is a conditional (if/then), and Option E is a disjunction (either/or).
Option C makes a single, standalone claim about the sun.
Question 4
In the context of an argument, which of the following is a "premise indicator" word?
A) Therefore
B) Thus
C) Hence
D) Because
E) Consequently
Correct Answer: D) Because
Rationale: Premise indicators signal that a reason is being provided to support a conclusion.
Words like "because," "since," and "given that" point to the evidence. "Therefore,"
"thus," "hence," and "consequently" are conclusion indicators.
Question 5
"Flying cars will relieve traffic congestion. Since the research and development of such vehicles
will be expensive, it follows that the government should encourage industry to develop them."
What is the conclusion of this argument?
A) Flying cars will relieve traffic congestion.
B) Research and development will be expensive.
C) Industry should fund its own research.
D) The government should encourage industry to develop flying cars.
E) Traffic congestion is a major problem.
Correct Answer: D) The government should encourage industry to develop flying cars.
Rationale: The phrase "it follows that" is a conclusion indicator. The statement about traffic
congestion is a premise (a reason why we should want them), and the expense is a premise
(a reason why the government needs to help). The final claim being advocated for is the
government's encouragement.
Question 6
Which type of reasoning is used when the conclusion is intended to follow with absolute
certainty if the premises are true?
A) Inductive Reasoning
B) Abductive Reasoning
C) Deductive Reasoning
D) Conductive Reasoning
E) Reductive Reasoning
Correct Answer: C) Deductive Reasoning
Rationale: Deductive arguments are structured so that the truth of the premises guarantees
, 3
the truth of the conclusion. Inductive reasoning deals with probability, and abductive
reasoning deals with the "best explanation."
Question 7
"All dogs are mammals. Ginger is a dog. Therefore, Ginger is a mammal." This is an example of
which type of reasoning?
A) Inductive
B) Abductive
C) Valid Deductive
D) Invalid Deductive
E) Weak Inductive
Correct Answer: C) Valid Deductive
Rationale: This follows the logical form "All A are B; X is A; therefore X is B." Because the
structure is perfect, it is a valid deductive argument. If the premises are true, the
conclusion MUST be true.
Question 8
"Most students at this university drink coffee. Sarah is a student here. Therefore, Sarah probably
drinks coffee." This is an example of:
A) A valid deductive argument
B) An inductive argument
C) An abductive argument
D) A sound argument
E) A formal fallacy
Correct Answer: B) An inductive argument
Rationale: The word "probably" indicates that the conclusion is based on likelihood rather
than certainty. Inductive arguments move from specific observations or statistical
majorities to a probable conclusion.
Question 9
What is a "sound" argument?
A) An inductive argument that is strong.
B) A deductive argument that is valid and has all true premises.
C) Any argument that sounds convincing to an audience.
D) An argument that avoids all informal fallacies.
E) A valid argument with at least one false premise.
Correct Answer: B) A deductive argument that is valid and has all true premises.
Rationale: For an argument to be sound, it must satisfy two conditions: it must be logically
valid (the structure is correct) AND the premises must actually be true in reality.
