WGU D265 CRITICAL THINKING REASON AND EVIDENCE
FINAL ASSESSMENT 2026/2027 | Graded A+ | Complete Q&A
| Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Basic Concepts - Propositions, Arguments & Non-Arguments (Q1-12)
Q1. A statement reads: "The capital of France is Paris." Which logical classification best
describes this statement?
A. A question
B. A command
C. A proposition
D. An explanation
C. A proposition [CORRECT]
Rationale: A proposition is a statement that can be true or false; "The capital of France
is Paris" asserts something capable of truth value. Questions, commands, and
explanations are not propositions because they do not assert truth-bearing claims.
Correct Answer: C
Q2. In the argument "All humans are mortal. Socrates is human. Therefore, Socrates is
mortal," which term best describes "Therefore"?
A. Premise indicator
B. Conclusion indicator
C. Non-argument marker
D. Description signal
B. Conclusion indicator [CORRECT]
Rationale: "Therefore" is a standard conclusion indicator that signals the statement
following it is the claim being supported by the premises. Premise indicators include
"because" and "since," while description signals are not argument markers.
Correct Answer: B
Q3. In the statement "Since the road is icy, driving conditions are dangerous," which
word functions as a premise indicator?
A. Dangerous
,B. Since
C. Driving
D. Conditions
B. Since [CORRECT]
Rationale: "Since" is a premise indicator that introduces the reason or evidence
supporting the conclusion that driving conditions are dangerous. "Dangerous" is part of
the conclusion, and "driving" and "conditions" are content words.
Correct Answer: B
Q4. A politician states: "We must reduce carbon emissions because climate change
threatens coastal cities. Coastal flooding will displace millions, and displacement
causes economic collapse." How many conclusions does this passage contain?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
B. Two [CORRECT]
Rationale: This complex argument contains two conclusions: the main conclusion ("We
must reduce carbon emissions") supported by the intermediate conclusion ("climate
change threatens coastal cities"), which itself is supported by premises about flooding
and displacement. The final two statements are premises, not conclusions.
Correct Answer: B
Q5. A mechanic says to a customer: "Your car won't start because the battery is dead.
The battery is dead because you left the headlights on overnight." Which classification
best fits this passage?
A. Argument
B. Explanation
C. Description
D. Report
B. Explanation [CORRECT]
Rationale: This passage explains why the car won't start by citing the cause (dead
battery) and the cause of that cause (headlights left on); it assumes the customer
already accepts that the car won't start and seeks to explain why. An argument would
attempt to prove a disputed claim.
, Correct Answer: B
Q6. A travel brochure states: "The ancient city of Rome features the Colosseum, the
Pantheon, and the Vatican. The streets are lined with cobblestones, and the cuisine is
world-renowned." Which classification best fits this passage?
A. Argument
B. Explanation
C. Description
D. Proposition only
C. Description [CORRECT]
Rationale: This passage merely describes features of Rome without attempting to prove
a conclusion or explain a cause; it provides information without argumentative or
explanatory intent. Descriptions are non-arguments that characterize persons, places, or
things.
Correct Answer: C
Q7. In the argument "Taxes should be raised because the national debt is growing, and
growing debt threatens economic stability," which statements are the premises?
A. "Taxes should be raised" and "the national debt is growing"
B. "The national debt is growing" and "growing debt threatens economic stability"
C. "Taxes should be raised" only
D. "Economic stability" only
B. "The national debt is growing" and "growing debt threatens economic stability"
[CORRECT]
Rationale: The premises are the statements providing reasons or evidence: the national
debt is growing, and growing debt threatens economic stability. "Taxes should be
raised" is the conclusion supported by these premises.
Correct Answer: B
Q8. A passage reads: "Given that exercise reduces stress, and stress causes illness, it
follows that exercise reduces illness." Which statement is the conclusion?
A. Exercise reduces stress
B. Stress causes illness
C. Exercise reduces illness
D. Given that exercise reduces stress
FINAL ASSESSMENT 2026/2027 | Graded A+ | Complete Q&A
| Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Basic Concepts - Propositions, Arguments & Non-Arguments (Q1-12)
Q1. A statement reads: "The capital of France is Paris." Which logical classification best
describes this statement?
A. A question
B. A command
C. A proposition
D. An explanation
C. A proposition [CORRECT]
Rationale: A proposition is a statement that can be true or false; "The capital of France
is Paris" asserts something capable of truth value. Questions, commands, and
explanations are not propositions because they do not assert truth-bearing claims.
Correct Answer: C
Q2. In the argument "All humans are mortal. Socrates is human. Therefore, Socrates is
mortal," which term best describes "Therefore"?
A. Premise indicator
B. Conclusion indicator
C. Non-argument marker
D. Description signal
B. Conclusion indicator [CORRECT]
Rationale: "Therefore" is a standard conclusion indicator that signals the statement
following it is the claim being supported by the premises. Premise indicators include
"because" and "since," while description signals are not argument markers.
Correct Answer: B
Q3. In the statement "Since the road is icy, driving conditions are dangerous," which
word functions as a premise indicator?
A. Dangerous
,B. Since
C. Driving
D. Conditions
B. Since [CORRECT]
Rationale: "Since" is a premise indicator that introduces the reason or evidence
supporting the conclusion that driving conditions are dangerous. "Dangerous" is part of
the conclusion, and "driving" and "conditions" are content words.
Correct Answer: B
Q4. A politician states: "We must reduce carbon emissions because climate change
threatens coastal cities. Coastal flooding will displace millions, and displacement
causes economic collapse." How many conclusions does this passage contain?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
B. Two [CORRECT]
Rationale: This complex argument contains two conclusions: the main conclusion ("We
must reduce carbon emissions") supported by the intermediate conclusion ("climate
change threatens coastal cities"), which itself is supported by premises about flooding
and displacement. The final two statements are premises, not conclusions.
Correct Answer: B
Q5. A mechanic says to a customer: "Your car won't start because the battery is dead.
The battery is dead because you left the headlights on overnight." Which classification
best fits this passage?
A. Argument
B. Explanation
C. Description
D. Report
B. Explanation [CORRECT]
Rationale: This passage explains why the car won't start by citing the cause (dead
battery) and the cause of that cause (headlights left on); it assumes the customer
already accepts that the car won't start and seeks to explain why. An argument would
attempt to prove a disputed claim.
, Correct Answer: B
Q6. A travel brochure states: "The ancient city of Rome features the Colosseum, the
Pantheon, and the Vatican. The streets are lined with cobblestones, and the cuisine is
world-renowned." Which classification best fits this passage?
A. Argument
B. Explanation
C. Description
D. Proposition only
C. Description [CORRECT]
Rationale: This passage merely describes features of Rome without attempting to prove
a conclusion or explain a cause; it provides information without argumentative or
explanatory intent. Descriptions are non-arguments that characterize persons, places, or
things.
Correct Answer: C
Q7. In the argument "Taxes should be raised because the national debt is growing, and
growing debt threatens economic stability," which statements are the premises?
A. "Taxes should be raised" and "the national debt is growing"
B. "The national debt is growing" and "growing debt threatens economic stability"
C. "Taxes should be raised" only
D. "Economic stability" only
B. "The national debt is growing" and "growing debt threatens economic stability"
[CORRECT]
Rationale: The premises are the statements providing reasons or evidence: the national
debt is growing, and growing debt threatens economic stability. "Taxes should be
raised" is the conclusion supported by these premises.
Correct Answer: B
Q8. A passage reads: "Given that exercise reduces stress, and stress causes illness, it
follows that exercise reduces illness." Which statement is the conclusion?
A. Exercise reduces stress
B. Stress causes illness
C. Exercise reduces illness
D. Given that exercise reduces stress
