WGU EKO1 D256 CRITICAL THINKING REASON AND
EVIDENCE PA AND OA 2026/2027 | 124 Questions and
Answers | 100% Correct with Detailed Rationales | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Domain 1: Foundations of Critical Thinking (22 Questions)
Q1: Which of the following best defines critical thinking?
A. The ability to memorize large amounts of information quickly
B. The intellectual process of actively conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing,
and evaluating information to guide belief and action [CORRECT]
C. Emotional reasoning based on personal feelings and intuitions
D. Accepting expert opinions without questioning their basis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Critical thinking is fundamentally an active, skillful intellectual process
involving multiple cognitive operations (conceptualizing, applying, analyzing,
synthesizing, evaluating) used to inform beliefs and actions. Option A confuses critical
thinking with rote memorization. Option C describes emotional reasoning, which critical
thinking specifically aims to transcend. Option D describes intellectual passivity or
appeal to authority, contrary to critical thinking's emphasis on independent evaluation.
Q2: In the argument "All humans are mortal. Socrates is human. Therefore, Socrates is
mortal," what is the conclusion?
A. All humans are mortal
B. Socrates is human
C. Socrates is mortal [CORRECT]
D. Mortality is universal
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The conclusion is the statement being supported by the premises. Here,
"Socrates is mortal" follows from the two premises. "All humans are mortal" and
"Socrates is human" are the premises providing support. Option D is not stated in the
,argument. Identifying conclusions requires recognizing indicator words ("therefore") and
understanding that conclusions are the claims being argued for, not the evidence
provided.
Q3: Which statement represents a claim as opposed to a non-assertive expression?
A. "Close the door!"
B. "Is it raining outside?"
C. "The Earth orbits the Sun." [CORRECT]
D. "Ouch! That hurt!"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A claim is an assertive statement that can be true or false, serving as a
candidate for belief or disbelief. "The Earth orbits the Sun" makes an assertion about
reality that can be evaluated as true or false. Option A is a command (imperative), B is a
question (interrogative), and D is an exclamation expressing pain—none make
truth-evaluable assertions. Critical thinking requires distinguishing assertions from
other speech acts.
Q4: What is the primary difference between a deductive and an inductive argument?
A. Deductive arguments are always true; inductive arguments are always false
B. Deductive arguments claim necessity; inductive arguments claim probability
[CORRECT]
C. Deductive arguments use statistics; inductive arguments use logic
D. Deductive arguments are longer than inductive arguments
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The essential distinction concerns the claimed relationship between
premises and conclusion. Deductive arguments claim that if premises are true, the
conclusion must be true (necessity). Inductive arguments claim that if premises are
true, the conclusion is probably true (probability). Option A is incorrect because validity
doesn't guarantee truth. Option C reverses the typical pattern. Option D confuses length
with logical structure.
Q5: An argument is valid if and only if:
A. All its premises are actually true
,B. Its conclusion is actually true
C. It is impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false [CORRECT]
D. It persuades most reasonable people
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Validity is a structural property concerning the logical relationship between
premises and conclusion, not the actual truth of statements. A valid argument can have
false premises and a false conclusion (e.g., "All cats are dogs. All dogs are reptiles.
Therefore, all cats are reptiles" is valid but unsound). Option A describes soundness
requirement. Option B is irrelevant to validity. Option D confuses validity with rhetorical
persuasiveness.
Q6: Which of the following best describes a sound argument?
A. An argument that convinces the majority
B. An argument that is valid and has all true premises [CORRECT]
C. An argument that uses emotional appeal effectively
D. An argument that is long and detailed
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Soundness requires both validity (proper logical form) and true premises. An
argument can be valid but unsound (if premises are false) or invalid (regardless of
premise truth). Option A confuses soundness with popularity. Option C describes
rhetorical effectiveness, not logical soundness. Option D mistakes verbosity for quality.
Sound arguments guarantee true conclusions because they combine valid structure
with true premises.
Q7: Consider this argument: "90% of surveyed WGU students prefer online learning.
Maria is a WGU student. Therefore, Maria probably prefers online learning." This
argument is best described as:
A. Deductive and valid
B. Deductive and invalid
C. Inductive and strong [CORRECT]
D. Inductive and weak
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This is inductive because the conclusion is probable rather than necessary
given the premises. It's strong because 90% represents a high probability, making the
, conclusion likely if premises are true. It's not deductive (A, B) because the conclusion
isn't guaranteed. It's not weak (D) because the statistical support is substantial.
Inductive strength depends on the probability the premises confer on the conclusion.
Q8: A cogent argument is one that is:
A. Valid with false premises
B. Strong and has all true premises [CORRECT]
C. Weak but emotionally compelling
D. Valid but unsound
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cogency is the inductive analogue to deductive soundness: it requires both
inductive strength (high probability conferred by premises) and actually true premises.
Option A describes an invalid combination (validity requires true premises for
soundness, but this describes validity with false premises, which is unsound). Option C
confuses cogency with emotional manipulation. Option D describes unsound deductive
arguments.
Q9: Which of the following is an example of an empirical claim?
A. "Murder is morally wrong."
B. "2 + 2 = 4."
C. "Water boils at 100°C at sea level." [CORRECT]
D. "All bachelors are unmarried."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Empirical claims are verifiable through observation, experience, or scientific
investigation. Water's boiling point is discoverable through measurement. Option A is a
normative/moral claim requiring ethical reasoning, not empirical observation alone.
Option B is a mathematical/analytic truth knowable through reason alone. Option D is
true by definition (analytic), not requiring empirical verification.
Q10: What distinguishes a statement from a sentence?
A. Statements are always true; sentences can be false
B. A statement is the propositional content; a sentence is the linguistic expression
[CORRECT]
C. Statements are written; sentences are spoken
EVIDENCE PA AND OA 2026/2027 | 124 Questions and
Answers | 100% Correct with Detailed Rationales | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Domain 1: Foundations of Critical Thinking (22 Questions)
Q1: Which of the following best defines critical thinking?
A. The ability to memorize large amounts of information quickly
B. The intellectual process of actively conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing,
and evaluating information to guide belief and action [CORRECT]
C. Emotional reasoning based on personal feelings and intuitions
D. Accepting expert opinions without questioning their basis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Critical thinking is fundamentally an active, skillful intellectual process
involving multiple cognitive operations (conceptualizing, applying, analyzing,
synthesizing, evaluating) used to inform beliefs and actions. Option A confuses critical
thinking with rote memorization. Option C describes emotional reasoning, which critical
thinking specifically aims to transcend. Option D describes intellectual passivity or
appeal to authority, contrary to critical thinking's emphasis on independent evaluation.
Q2: In the argument "All humans are mortal. Socrates is human. Therefore, Socrates is
mortal," what is the conclusion?
A. All humans are mortal
B. Socrates is human
C. Socrates is mortal [CORRECT]
D. Mortality is universal
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The conclusion is the statement being supported by the premises. Here,
"Socrates is mortal" follows from the two premises. "All humans are mortal" and
"Socrates is human" are the premises providing support. Option D is not stated in the
,argument. Identifying conclusions requires recognizing indicator words ("therefore") and
understanding that conclusions are the claims being argued for, not the evidence
provided.
Q3: Which statement represents a claim as opposed to a non-assertive expression?
A. "Close the door!"
B. "Is it raining outside?"
C. "The Earth orbits the Sun." [CORRECT]
D. "Ouch! That hurt!"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A claim is an assertive statement that can be true or false, serving as a
candidate for belief or disbelief. "The Earth orbits the Sun" makes an assertion about
reality that can be evaluated as true or false. Option A is a command (imperative), B is a
question (interrogative), and D is an exclamation expressing pain—none make
truth-evaluable assertions. Critical thinking requires distinguishing assertions from
other speech acts.
Q4: What is the primary difference between a deductive and an inductive argument?
A. Deductive arguments are always true; inductive arguments are always false
B. Deductive arguments claim necessity; inductive arguments claim probability
[CORRECT]
C. Deductive arguments use statistics; inductive arguments use logic
D. Deductive arguments are longer than inductive arguments
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The essential distinction concerns the claimed relationship between
premises and conclusion. Deductive arguments claim that if premises are true, the
conclusion must be true (necessity). Inductive arguments claim that if premises are
true, the conclusion is probably true (probability). Option A is incorrect because validity
doesn't guarantee truth. Option C reverses the typical pattern. Option D confuses length
with logical structure.
Q5: An argument is valid if and only if:
A. All its premises are actually true
,B. Its conclusion is actually true
C. It is impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false [CORRECT]
D. It persuades most reasonable people
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Validity is a structural property concerning the logical relationship between
premises and conclusion, not the actual truth of statements. A valid argument can have
false premises and a false conclusion (e.g., "All cats are dogs. All dogs are reptiles.
Therefore, all cats are reptiles" is valid but unsound). Option A describes soundness
requirement. Option B is irrelevant to validity. Option D confuses validity with rhetorical
persuasiveness.
Q6: Which of the following best describes a sound argument?
A. An argument that convinces the majority
B. An argument that is valid and has all true premises [CORRECT]
C. An argument that uses emotional appeal effectively
D. An argument that is long and detailed
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Soundness requires both validity (proper logical form) and true premises. An
argument can be valid but unsound (if premises are false) or invalid (regardless of
premise truth). Option A confuses soundness with popularity. Option C describes
rhetorical effectiveness, not logical soundness. Option D mistakes verbosity for quality.
Sound arguments guarantee true conclusions because they combine valid structure
with true premises.
Q7: Consider this argument: "90% of surveyed WGU students prefer online learning.
Maria is a WGU student. Therefore, Maria probably prefers online learning." This
argument is best described as:
A. Deductive and valid
B. Deductive and invalid
C. Inductive and strong [CORRECT]
D. Inductive and weak
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This is inductive because the conclusion is probable rather than necessary
given the premises. It's strong because 90% represents a high probability, making the
, conclusion likely if premises are true. It's not deductive (A, B) because the conclusion
isn't guaranteed. It's not weak (D) because the statistical support is substantial.
Inductive strength depends on the probability the premises confer on the conclusion.
Q8: A cogent argument is one that is:
A. Valid with false premises
B. Strong and has all true premises [CORRECT]
C. Weak but emotionally compelling
D. Valid but unsound
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cogency is the inductive analogue to deductive soundness: it requires both
inductive strength (high probability conferred by premises) and actually true premises.
Option A describes an invalid combination (validity requires true premises for
soundness, but this describes validity with false premises, which is unsound). Option C
confuses cogency with emotional manipulation. Option D describes unsound deductive
arguments.
Q9: Which of the following is an example of an empirical claim?
A. "Murder is morally wrong."
B. "2 + 2 = 4."
C. "Water boils at 100°C at sea level." [CORRECT]
D. "All bachelors are unmarried."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Empirical claims are verifiable through observation, experience, or scientific
investigation. Water's boiling point is discoverable through measurement. Option A is a
normative/moral claim requiring ethical reasoning, not empirical observation alone.
Option B is a mathematical/analytic truth knowable through reason alone. Option D is
true by definition (analytic), not requiring empirical verification.
Q10: What distinguishes a statement from a sentence?
A. Statements are always true; sentences can be false
B. A statement is the propositional content; a sentence is the linguistic expression
[CORRECT]
C. Statements are written; sentences are spoken
