WGU D265 Critical Thinking: Reasoning and Evidence - Practice Assessment

Which indicator is a premise indicator? Hence Because Thus Therefore

Because

Critical thinkers are constantly alert for possible biases in their own thinking. When the potential for bias is present, which two actions may strong critical thinkers take to help minimize bias in their thinking? Choose 2 answers. - Employ heuristics for decision-making - Look for consensus on social media - Broaden their sources of information - Slow their thought process

- Broaden their sources of information - Slow their thought process

Which sentences reflect strong critical thinking? Choose 2 answers. - I disagree with my opponent's position on this issue, but I respect my opponents and I am curious to hear their thoughts on the matter. - I know that issues can be complicated, and that it is often difficult to determine the best approach to a problem. - Unlike some others, I do not jump to conclusions, nor am I biased. - While I am open to discussion on the topic, I am committed to my position because I know it is right.

- I disagree with my opponent's position on this issue, but I respect my opponents and I am curious to hear their thoughts on the matter. - I know that issues can be complicated, and that it is often difficult to determine the best approach to a problem.

Which sentences are propositions? Choose 2 answers. - Hey, let's go to lunch at noon today. - Mangino's has the best pizza. - They will likely put the other restaurants out of business. - Do you like Mangino's pizza?

- Mangino's has the best pizza. - They will likely put the other restaurants out of business.

Which two statements depict the fallacy of presumption called begging the question? Choose 2 answers. - The universe could not have been created from nothing, so it must have been created by the big bang. - People who lack humility have no sense of beauty, because everyone who has a sense of beauty also has humility. - Real estate is the best investment because every other type of investment is inferior. - Washington DC is the capital city of the United States of America.

- People who lack humility have no sense of beauty, because everyone who has a sense of beauty also has humility. - Real estate is the best investment because every other type of investment is inferior.

Which two errors represent cognitive biases? Choose 2 answers. - Representativeness - Cogency - Validity - Availability

- Representativeness - Availability

"If you are not at the game rooting for our high school football team, then you must not have any school spirit." Which two statements accurately describe this argument? Choose 2 answers. - The argument includes a false dichotomy. - The argument assumes the truth of the conclusion in the premise. - The argument contains black-and-white thinking. - The argument mistakes causation for correlation.

- The argument includes a false dichotomy. - The argument contains black-and-white thinking.

Because flying cars will relieve traffic congestion, and since the research and development of such vehicles will be expensive, it follows that the government should encourage industry to develop flying cars and banks should help fund industry research. Which phrases contain conclusions of this argument? Choose 2 answers. - Flying cars will relieve traffic congestion - The research and development of such vehicles will be expensive - The government should encourage industry to develop flying cars - Banks should help fund industry research

- The government should encourage industry to develop flying cars - Banks should help fund industry research

Which two statements are true with respect to heuristics? Choose 2 answers. - They are problematic because they represent formal logic fallacies. - They are problematic because they can lead to cognitive biases. - They are helpful because they enable fast, efficient decisions. - They are problematic because they lack validity.

- They are problematic because they can lead to cognitive biases. - They are helpful because they enable fast, efficient decisions.

Jordan says, "I am the best student at our high school; I am the tallest and most athletic, and I have the best car." Taylor, Jordan's best friend, totally agrees. Which two descriptors best characterize Jordan's comments? Choose two answers. Weak argument Proposition Inference Strong argument

- Weak argument - Inference

Which statement is the burden of proof fallacy? - A mother tells her child it is time to go to bed, and when the child asks why, the mother responds, "Because I said so." - Proponents of sex education want to give kids license to have sex with no consequences. - A hiker claims that Big Foot is real. When asked for evidence of Big Foot's existence, the hiker replies, 'prove Big Foot is not real. - "Since you have not been able to prove you did not steal the bicycle, I will assume you are guilty."

A hiker claims that Big Foot is real. When asked for evidence of Big Foot's existence, the hiker replies, 'prove Big Foot is not real.

Since I received high marks in the course, I conclude that Professor Murdock is a good teacher. What is the unstated assumption in this argument? - Students like and respect Mrs. Murdock. - Mrs. Murdock's class is lacking in educational rigor. - Students who do homework and study for exams get good grades. - A teacher is good if the teacher gives good grades.

A teacher is good if the teacher gives good grades.

If I am bald, then I am old. I am old. Therefore, I am bald. Which type of logic error is this an example of? Begging the question The fallacy fallacy Denying the antecedent Affirming the consequent

Affirming the consequent

All dogs are cute. Ginger is a dog. Therefore, Ginger is cute. Which type of reasoning is illustrated in this example? Deductive Invalid Inductive Abductive

Deductive

Elliott notices that many of the news articles, blogs, social media postings, and other information she sees on the internet support her view on a particular issue. Based on this information, what can Elliott reasonably conclude with respect to their view on the issue? Most people likely agree with Elliott's view. Elliott's view is most likely incorrect. Elliott's view is most likely correct. Algorithms may be linking Elliott with like-minded information.

Algorithms may be linking Elliott with like-minded information.

One should never cheat on a test, since cheating is wrong. Which type of logic error is this an example of? Affirming the consequent Denying the antecedent Begging the question The fallacy fallacy

Begging the question

Which action can simply be taken in many instances to gain a clearer, more accurate understanding of a situation? Checking social media Affirming the consequent Narrowing the topic Broadening our perspective

Broadening our perspective

Which statement is a simple proposition? 1. Because I was dressed for work, I took an umbrella and ran to my car. 2. I had a work deadline approaching, so I ate lunch at my desk and finished my work. 3. I stopped at the grocery store and bought some milk. 4. By noon, the sun was shining.

By noon, the sun was shining.

All dogs can fly. Ginger is a dog. Therefore, Ginger can fly. Which types of reasoning are illustrated in this example? Choose 2 answers. Deductive Valid True Sound

Deductive Valid

An individual does not believe the moon landing ever occurred. She claims there are plenty of internet postings that agree with this idea, and while photos, documentation, witness accounts, and physical evidence of a moon landing may exist, these are all things that can easily be manufactured by the government, which cannot be trusted. Which argumentation concept does this passage illustrate? Anchoring and adjustment Confirmation bias Denying the antecedent Representativeness

Confirmation bias

Which error may the principle of charity help minimize? Representativeness Confirmation bias Denying the antecedent Anchoring and adjustment

Confirmation bias

If I am a soldier, then I am brave. I am not a soldier. Therefore, I am not brave. Which type of logic error is this an example of? Affirming the consequent Denying the antecedent Begging the question The fallacy fallacy

Denying the antecedent

"A recent study found that dairy milk is healthier than soy milk. But that finding is obviously false because the study was conducted by the dairy industry." Which fallacy of relevance is depicted in this example? Post hoc ergo propter Irrelevant appeal Begging the question Genetic fallacy

Genetic fallacy

Reese's partner was unfaithful, and this led to the end of their relationship; Reese has decided to avoid relationships because people cannot be trusted. Which fallacy of weak induction is exemplified in this argument? Slippery slope Hasty generalization Equivocation Appeal to ignorance

Hasty generalization

Usually when the audience comes out of a theater laughing, that means the film was funny. The audience leaving the theater after this film is laughing. So the film probably is funny. Which type of reasoning is illustrated in this example? Valid Sound Inductive Deductive

Inductive

While researching a topic on the internet, a student encounters two different websites, one of that looks more official than the other and includes tables, charts, and statistics, while the other does not. What is the line of reasoning this student should employ to determine which site is more credible? - Neither site is credible, unless one of the two is truly an official government website run by a government agency. - The site that looks more official with tables, charts, and statistics is more credible because it reflects professionalism and objectivity. - It is not feasible to determine which site is more credible from the information provided. - The site that looks less official and does not include tables, charts, and statistics is more credible because it is more straightforward and objective.

It is not feasible to determine which site is more credible from the information provided.

To understand how people in a county feel about a proposed increase in property taxes, a person walks door-to-door in his neighborhood, asking people to complete a survey. Which two statements are true with regard to this statistical sample? Choose 2 answers. Not good because it lacks validity Good because it is sound Not good because it is not representative Not good because it is not random

Not good because it is not representative Not good because it is not random

An anonymous survey is conducted to determine what percentage of the population of married couples lies to their spouse, so the following survey question is formulated: "I don't lie to my spouse because that would be wrong," and participants are asked to select "true" or "false." Which statement is true with respect to this study question? - Not good, because the question may lead participants to answer in a certain way. - Not good, because it fails to consider the participant's motives. - Good, because it addresses the central issue in the study. - Good, because the study is anonymous.

Not good, because the question may lead participants to answer in a certain way.

A military veteran is engaged in a heated debate about national security with a reporter who has never served in the military. Which response best enables the veteran to undermine the reporter's argument? - Pointing out that the premise of the reporter's argument is flawed - Pointing out the reporter's well-known reputation for taking faulty positions - Pointing out the reporter's affiliation with news networks that are known to have a political slant to their coverage - Pointing out that the reporter has never served in the military

Pointing out that the premise of the reporter's argument is flawed

People have fought for freedom since the beginning of time. Which descriptor best characterizes this sentence? Proposition Inference Weak argument Strong argument

Proposition

There is a conversation in which a woman expresses disappointment with her friend for not picking her up at the airport. In response, the friend says, "Well, you never returned the wheelbarrow I let you borrow." Which response best matches this fallacy of relevance? Red herring False cause Genetic fallacy Straw figure

Red herring

A young person is wearing a tie-dyed shirt and driving a Volkswagen (VW) bus. Based on this, another individual concludes that this person has liberal political views. Which bias does this reasoning reflect? Availability bias Anchoring and adjustment bias Confirmation bias Representativeness bias

Representativeness bias

A report concludes that people who drive red cars get more speeding tickets than people who drive other color cars. Based on this report, an individual concludes that red cars encourage people to drive fast. Which concept does this conclusion illustrate? The principle of charity Anchoring Selection bias Representativeness

Selection bias

In which way should an information source be approached if it is stating that it is the only source of real information and that other sources cannot be trusted? - Confidently, because the source likely has exclusive information. - Skeptically, because the source may lack credibility. - Confidently, because the source is concerned with telling the true story. - Skeptically, because the source reflects a formal fallacy.

Skeptically, because the source may lack credibility.

An individual drops hundreds of objects, and each time they fall to the ground. The individual therefore concludes that if someone drops a pencil, it will fall. Which terms describe the argument? Choose 2 answers. Deductive Valid Strong Cogent

Strong Cogent

n a political science debate, Student A says she supports raising the national minimum wage to $15 an hour. Student B disagrees with Student A's position. Which response from Student B is a red herring fallacy? - Student B stating her concern about international policy - Student B stating the $15 rate would not help to lift poor families above the poverty line - Student B stating businesses cannot offset the hourly wage increase by raising the cost of goods and services - Student B stating Student A does not have a background in economics

Student B stating her concern about international policy

Aircraft and ships have gone missing all over the planet under unknown circumstances, but a number of these disappearances have occurred in an area of the North Atlantic Ocean known as the Bermuda Triangle. So the claim that the Bermuda Triangle is haunted must be true. Which fallacy of weak induction best describes this argument? Burden of proof shifting Slippery slope Appeal to ignorance Texas sharpshooter

Texas sharpshooter

My opponent argues that the earth is round because Dr. Evil shaped it that way using his satellite mounted laser. Since Dr. Evil is a fictitious character, you must reject the argument that the earth is round. This is an example of which type of logic error? Denying the antecedent Affirming the consequent Begging the question The fallacy fallacy

The fallacy fallacy

Politician A proposes new tax cuts for large corporations. Initially Politician B opposes these tax cuts. However, instead of quickly dismissing the proposal as a mere favor to powerful interests, Politician B first considers the strongest available evidence for the argument that Politician A's proposal could create new jobs and stimulate the economy. Which argumentation concept does this passage illustrate? Confirmation bias The principle of charity Availability Heuristics

The principle of charity

Which piece of information would be the most helpful to know in assessing the credibility of a news story? Whether the political party affiliation of the author is identified Whether the article contains video footage Whether the name of the author and the publication are identified Whether there is widespread agreement with the story on social media

Whether the name of the author and the publication are identified

Dogs are bred for many different purposes. Poodles, for example, make good house pets, while German shepherds and other large breeds can be used for home protection. Therefore, because it is important to select the right breed for your needs, you should carefully research dog breeds to make the right choice. Which statement is the conclusion of the argument? - German shepherds and other large breeds can be used for home protection. - Dogs are bred for many different purposes. - You should carefully research dog breeds to make the right choice. - It is important to select the right breed for your needs.

You should carefully research dog breeds to make the right choice.

Texas Sharpshooter

an informal fallacy that is committed when similarities in data are overemphasized.

Everyone should vote ___________________. Which phrase would form an argument when added to this sentence? - because it is their duty - for the most honest candidate - in their assigned district - before the deadline

because it is their duty