D265 - WGU - Critical Thinking - Reason
and Evidence
"All dogs have four legs. Grover is a dog, because Grover barks like a dog. So Grover
has four legs." Which statement represents indirect support? - ansGrover barks like a
dog.
"If magicians can pull rabbits out of hats, then magic is real. Magicians can pull rabbits
out of hats. Therefore, I know that magic is real." Which two statements represent
conjoint support when mapping this example to a body of propositions? - ansIf
magicians can pull rabbits out of hats, then magic is real. & Magicians can pull rabbits
out of hats.
"Peyton is an excellent dentist, so she sings well." Which statement represents the
hidden assumption that would make this argument valid? - ansAll excellent dentists sing
well.
"Products manufactured in our country are the best because we make the best
automobiles," declared Kennedy. Which two descriptors best characterize Kennedy's
comments? - ansAn inference & A weak argument & A proposition
"There are not any good seafood restaurants in this city. I tried two, and they were both
terrible." Which fallacy of weak induction best describes this example? - ansHasty
generalization
95% of American citizens are billionaires. Sam is an American citizen. Therefore, Sam
is a billionaire. Which set of terms classify this argument? - ansValid and unsound &
Strong and uncogent
A flight attendant accidentally spills a drink on a passenger. The passenger tells a friend
that the flight attendants for the airline are incompetent.Which fallacy of weak induction
best describes this example? - ansHasty generalization
A FORMAL FALLACY IS A TYPE OF - ansBad Argument Structure
A news outlet issues a correction and an apology for incorrect information it published.
In the absence of further information, what does this news outlet's action suggest about
its credibility? - ansThe source appears credible because it is concerned with accuracy.
A person encounters an internet source with a headline of "This is NOT a hoax!" Which
conclusion would be reasonable for this person to make? - ansThe content is
sensationalized.
A person is buying a car. The car salesperson initially quotes a base price. The buyer
relies on this initial quote to make a purchasing decision despite the subsequent
,D265 - WGU - Critical Thinking - Reason
and Evidence
addition of options that significantly increase the final price. Which cognitive bias is the
buyer exhibiting? - ansAnchoring and adjustment
A person is considering what transportation to use when visiting a friend in a different
city. The first thing that comes to mind is a recent news story about a train crash. They
decide that the train is not a safe travel option. What kind of bias are they exhibiting? -
ansAvailability bias
A person notices that many of the news articles, blogs, social media posts, and other
information he sees on the internet mirror his personal likes and dislikes. Based on this
information, what can this person reasonably conclude? - ansAlgorithms may be linking
him with like-minded information.
A soccer fan buys a jersey with his favorite player's name and number on the back.
When the player's performance decreases, the fan attributes it to the jersey he bought.
Which fallacy of weak induction best describes this argument? - ansPost hoc, ergo
propter hoc
A teacher talks with a student about failing to turn in homework. The student replies by
expressing a desire to dress up as a superhero for Halloween. Which response best
matches this fallacy of relevance? - ansRed herring
A university student surveys incoming freshmen to understand how students at the
university feel about a proposed tuition increase. Which statements are true regarding
this statistical sample? - ansIt is not representative. & It is not random.
Affirming the Consequent - ansis a logical fallacy that involves taking a true statement
and assuming the converse form would be true as well. Formally, we can represent this
fallacy as follows: If X is the case, then Y is also the case. Y is true, so X must be true
as well.
Alex notices that many of the news articles, blogs, social media posts, and other
information she sees on the internet reinforce her belief that the government is
conspiring against her. Based on this information, which conclusion can Alex
reasonably have regarding her view on the issue? - ansHer suspicion is correct. & She
cannot conclude anything.
All bears are wild. Smokey is a bear. Therefore, Smokey is wild. Which term describes
the argument? - ansDeductive
An individual read a report that professional athletes spend an average of thirty hours
per week exercising at the gym. Based on this report, the individual concludes that
people who belong to a gym spend an average of thirty hours per week exercising.
Which concept does this conclusion illustrate? - ansSelection bias & Anchoring
,D265 - WGU - Critical Thinking - Reason
and Evidence
anchoring and adjustment - ansthe tendency to judge the frequency or likelihood of an
event by using a starting point (called an anchor) and then making adjustments up or
down (a cognitive heuristic where a person starts off with an initial idea and adjusts their
beliefs based on this starting point.)
Anchoring bias - ansAnchoring bias is a cognitive bias that causes us to rely too heavily
on the first piece of information we are given about a topic. When we are setting plans
or making estimates about something, we interpret newer information from the
reference point of our anchor, instead of seeing it objectively.
appeal to ignorance fallacy - ansThis fallacy occurs when you argue that your
conclusion must be true, because there is no evidence against it.
availability - ansestimating the likelihood of events based on their availability in memory;
if instances come readily to mind (perhaps because of their vividness), we presume
such events are common EX: two girls saw a plane crash on the news and cancel their
flight presuming they will meet the same fate.
cogent argument - ansA cogent argument is an inductive argument that is both strong
and all of its premises are true.
COGNITIVE BIAS - ansa systematic thought process caused by the tendency of the
human brain to simplify information processing through a filter of personal experience
and preferences.
COMPLEX PROPOSITIONS - ansHave internal logic structure, meaning they are
composed of simple propositions. Whether they are true or false depends on whether
their parts are true or false. (Example: The sky is blue, but it does not look blue to me
right now. The cat ate the food, but he did not like it. The GDP of Canada is either $3
trillion or $12 trillion.)
CONCLUSION INDICATORS - ansTHEREFORE, SO, IT FOLLOWS THAT, HENCE,
THUS, ENTAILS THAT, WE MAY CONCLUDE THAT, IMPLIES THAT, WHEREFORE,
AND AS A RESULT.
Confirmation bias - ansConfirmation bias is the tendency of people to favor information
that confirms their existing beliefs or hypotheses. Confirmation bias happens when a
person gives more weight to evidence that confirms their beliefs and undervalues
evidence that could disprove it.
CONFIRMATION BIAS - ansthe tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of
one's existing beliefs or theories.
, D265 - WGU - Critical Thinking - Reason
and Evidence
DEDUCTIVE ARGUMENTS - ansArguments where the premises guarantee or
necessitate the conclusion.
-mathematical arguments, logical arguments, arguments from definition.
Denying the Antecedent - ansalso known as inverse error and fallacy of the inverse, is a
logical fallacy whereby someone fallaciously makes an inverse deduction in a
conditional statement. It takes one cause as a condition for something else to occur and
then states that the latter won't occur when the condition is observed to be untrue.
Either everyone will devour this pecan pie, or they will choose another dessert. Which
two statements accurately describe this proposition? - ansThe proposition mistakes
causation for correlation. & The proposition contains black and white thinking. & The
proposition includes a false dichotomy.
Equivocation Fallacy - ansThe fallacy of equivocation occurs when a key term or phrase
in an argument is used in an ambiguous way, with one meaning in one portion of the
argument and then another meaning in another portion of the argument.
For which two reasons do critical thinkers follow the principle of charity? - ansTo
discover the truth & To present a more convincing argument
FORMAL FALLACY - ansConcerns the structure of an argument
hasty generalization fallacy - ansThe hasty generalization fallacy is sometimes called
the over-generalization fallacy. It is basically making a claim based on evidence that it
just too small. Essentially, you can't make a claim and say that something is true if you
have only an example or two as evidence.
HEURISTICS - ansare practical rules of thumb that manifest as mental shortcuts in
judgment and decision-making.
How could podcasts, newscasts, and talk radio be less biased? - ansBy featuring
experts who offer contrary viewpoints
I have grown bored since last week. Which descriptor accurately characterizes this
sentence? - ansProposition
I have seen the sun rise every day for many years. I, therefore, conclude that the sun
will rise again tomorrow. Which term describes this argument? - ansCogent
If Bo is kind, then Bo is wealthy. Bo is wealthy. Therefore, Bo is kind. This is an example
of which type of logic error? - ansAffirming the consequent
and Evidence
"All dogs have four legs. Grover is a dog, because Grover barks like a dog. So Grover
has four legs." Which statement represents indirect support? - ansGrover barks like a
dog.
"If magicians can pull rabbits out of hats, then magic is real. Magicians can pull rabbits
out of hats. Therefore, I know that magic is real." Which two statements represent
conjoint support when mapping this example to a body of propositions? - ansIf
magicians can pull rabbits out of hats, then magic is real. & Magicians can pull rabbits
out of hats.
"Peyton is an excellent dentist, so she sings well." Which statement represents the
hidden assumption that would make this argument valid? - ansAll excellent dentists sing
well.
"Products manufactured in our country are the best because we make the best
automobiles," declared Kennedy. Which two descriptors best characterize Kennedy's
comments? - ansAn inference & A weak argument & A proposition
"There are not any good seafood restaurants in this city. I tried two, and they were both
terrible." Which fallacy of weak induction best describes this example? - ansHasty
generalization
95% of American citizens are billionaires. Sam is an American citizen. Therefore, Sam
is a billionaire. Which set of terms classify this argument? - ansValid and unsound &
Strong and uncogent
A flight attendant accidentally spills a drink on a passenger. The passenger tells a friend
that the flight attendants for the airline are incompetent.Which fallacy of weak induction
best describes this example? - ansHasty generalization
A FORMAL FALLACY IS A TYPE OF - ansBad Argument Structure
A news outlet issues a correction and an apology for incorrect information it published.
In the absence of further information, what does this news outlet's action suggest about
its credibility? - ansThe source appears credible because it is concerned with accuracy.
A person encounters an internet source with a headline of "This is NOT a hoax!" Which
conclusion would be reasonable for this person to make? - ansThe content is
sensationalized.
A person is buying a car. The car salesperson initially quotes a base price. The buyer
relies on this initial quote to make a purchasing decision despite the subsequent
,D265 - WGU - Critical Thinking - Reason
and Evidence
addition of options that significantly increase the final price. Which cognitive bias is the
buyer exhibiting? - ansAnchoring and adjustment
A person is considering what transportation to use when visiting a friend in a different
city. The first thing that comes to mind is a recent news story about a train crash. They
decide that the train is not a safe travel option. What kind of bias are they exhibiting? -
ansAvailability bias
A person notices that many of the news articles, blogs, social media posts, and other
information he sees on the internet mirror his personal likes and dislikes. Based on this
information, what can this person reasonably conclude? - ansAlgorithms may be linking
him with like-minded information.
A soccer fan buys a jersey with his favorite player's name and number on the back.
When the player's performance decreases, the fan attributes it to the jersey he bought.
Which fallacy of weak induction best describes this argument? - ansPost hoc, ergo
propter hoc
A teacher talks with a student about failing to turn in homework. The student replies by
expressing a desire to dress up as a superhero for Halloween. Which response best
matches this fallacy of relevance? - ansRed herring
A university student surveys incoming freshmen to understand how students at the
university feel about a proposed tuition increase. Which statements are true regarding
this statistical sample? - ansIt is not representative. & It is not random.
Affirming the Consequent - ansis a logical fallacy that involves taking a true statement
and assuming the converse form would be true as well. Formally, we can represent this
fallacy as follows: If X is the case, then Y is also the case. Y is true, so X must be true
as well.
Alex notices that many of the news articles, blogs, social media posts, and other
information she sees on the internet reinforce her belief that the government is
conspiring against her. Based on this information, which conclusion can Alex
reasonably have regarding her view on the issue? - ansHer suspicion is correct. & She
cannot conclude anything.
All bears are wild. Smokey is a bear. Therefore, Smokey is wild. Which term describes
the argument? - ansDeductive
An individual read a report that professional athletes spend an average of thirty hours
per week exercising at the gym. Based on this report, the individual concludes that
people who belong to a gym spend an average of thirty hours per week exercising.
Which concept does this conclusion illustrate? - ansSelection bias & Anchoring
,D265 - WGU - Critical Thinking - Reason
and Evidence
anchoring and adjustment - ansthe tendency to judge the frequency or likelihood of an
event by using a starting point (called an anchor) and then making adjustments up or
down (a cognitive heuristic where a person starts off with an initial idea and adjusts their
beliefs based on this starting point.)
Anchoring bias - ansAnchoring bias is a cognitive bias that causes us to rely too heavily
on the first piece of information we are given about a topic. When we are setting plans
or making estimates about something, we interpret newer information from the
reference point of our anchor, instead of seeing it objectively.
appeal to ignorance fallacy - ansThis fallacy occurs when you argue that your
conclusion must be true, because there is no evidence against it.
availability - ansestimating the likelihood of events based on their availability in memory;
if instances come readily to mind (perhaps because of their vividness), we presume
such events are common EX: two girls saw a plane crash on the news and cancel their
flight presuming they will meet the same fate.
cogent argument - ansA cogent argument is an inductive argument that is both strong
and all of its premises are true.
COGNITIVE BIAS - ansa systematic thought process caused by the tendency of the
human brain to simplify information processing through a filter of personal experience
and preferences.
COMPLEX PROPOSITIONS - ansHave internal logic structure, meaning they are
composed of simple propositions. Whether they are true or false depends on whether
their parts are true or false. (Example: The sky is blue, but it does not look blue to me
right now. The cat ate the food, but he did not like it. The GDP of Canada is either $3
trillion or $12 trillion.)
CONCLUSION INDICATORS - ansTHEREFORE, SO, IT FOLLOWS THAT, HENCE,
THUS, ENTAILS THAT, WE MAY CONCLUDE THAT, IMPLIES THAT, WHEREFORE,
AND AS A RESULT.
Confirmation bias - ansConfirmation bias is the tendency of people to favor information
that confirms their existing beliefs or hypotheses. Confirmation bias happens when a
person gives more weight to evidence that confirms their beliefs and undervalues
evidence that could disprove it.
CONFIRMATION BIAS - ansthe tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of
one's existing beliefs or theories.
, D265 - WGU - Critical Thinking - Reason
and Evidence
DEDUCTIVE ARGUMENTS - ansArguments where the premises guarantee or
necessitate the conclusion.
-mathematical arguments, logical arguments, arguments from definition.
Denying the Antecedent - ansalso known as inverse error and fallacy of the inverse, is a
logical fallacy whereby someone fallaciously makes an inverse deduction in a
conditional statement. It takes one cause as a condition for something else to occur and
then states that the latter won't occur when the condition is observed to be untrue.
Either everyone will devour this pecan pie, or they will choose another dessert. Which
two statements accurately describe this proposition? - ansThe proposition mistakes
causation for correlation. & The proposition contains black and white thinking. & The
proposition includes a false dichotomy.
Equivocation Fallacy - ansThe fallacy of equivocation occurs when a key term or phrase
in an argument is used in an ambiguous way, with one meaning in one portion of the
argument and then another meaning in another portion of the argument.
For which two reasons do critical thinkers follow the principle of charity? - ansTo
discover the truth & To present a more convincing argument
FORMAL FALLACY - ansConcerns the structure of an argument
hasty generalization fallacy - ansThe hasty generalization fallacy is sometimes called
the over-generalization fallacy. It is basically making a claim based on evidence that it
just too small. Essentially, you can't make a claim and say that something is true if you
have only an example or two as evidence.
HEURISTICS - ansare practical rules of thumb that manifest as mental shortcuts in
judgment and decision-making.
How could podcasts, newscasts, and talk radio be less biased? - ansBy featuring
experts who offer contrary viewpoints
I have grown bored since last week. Which descriptor accurately characterizes this
sentence? - ansProposition
I have seen the sun rise every day for many years. I, therefore, conclude that the sun
will rise again tomorrow. Which term describes this argument? - ansCogent
If Bo is kind, then Bo is wealthy. Bo is wealthy. Therefore, Bo is kind. This is an example
of which type of logic error? - ansAffirming the consequent
