Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Applying Deductive Reasoning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Either the project will be completed on time or the client will receive a penalty waiver. The project was not completed on time. What follows?
- The client will receive a penalty waiver. (Correct answer)
- The client will not receive a penalty waiver.
- The project team will be penalized.
- No conclusion can be drawn.
Correct answer: The client will receive a penalty waiver.
This is a disjunctive syllogism: with one option eliminated, the other must be true.
Question 2: All critical thinking tests measure reasoning ability. The Watson-Glaser is a critical thinking test. Therefore:
- The Watson-Glaser measures reasoning ability. (Correct answer)
- The Watson-Glaser is the best reasoning test available.
- Only the Watson-Glaser measures reasoning ability.
- Reasoning ability can only be measured by critical thinking tests.
Correct answer: The Watson-Glaser measures reasoning ability.
The syllogism is valid: all A are B, C is A, therefore C is B.
Question 3: If a candidate demonstrates strong deductive reasoning, they will advance to the final interview round. Tom did not advance to the final interview round. What can be concluded?
- Tom did not demonstrate strong deductive reasoning. (Correct answer)
- Tom failed the entire hiring process.
- Tom's deductive reasoning score was slightly below average.
- The interviewer made an error in Tom's evaluation.
Correct answer: Tom did not demonstrate strong deductive reasoning.
By modus tollens: strong deduction → final round; not final round → not strong deduction.
Question 4: No employees in the legal department are authorized to approve budget increases. Sarah is authorized to approve budget increases. What must be true?
- Sarah is not in the legal department. (Correct answer)
- Sarah is in the finance department.
- Sarah recently transferred from legal.
- Sarah has special authorization overriding department rules.
Correct answer: Sarah is not in the legal department.
Since legal employees cannot approve budgets and Sarah can, she cannot be in the legal department.
Question 5: All Watson-Glaser sections require careful reading of a passage before answering. A test taker skips reading the passage. What deductively follows?
- The test taker is not meeting the requirement of that section. (Correct answer)
- The test taker will definitely answer every question incorrectly.
- The test taker will be disqualified from the exam.
- The test taker has prior knowledge of the content.
Correct answer: The test taker is not meeting the requirement of that section.
The requirement applies to all sections; skipping violates the requirement, but further outcomes are not deductively certain.
Question 6: Some US law firms require Watson-Glaser scores for associate hiring. Blake is applying to a US law firm. What can be deduced?
- Blake's firm may or may not require a Watson-Glaser score. (Correct answer)
- Blake must take the Watson-Glaser.
- Blake's firm does not require critical thinking tests.
- Blake will be evaluated solely on GPA.
Correct answer: Blake's firm may or may not require a Watson-Glaser score.
Because only 'some' firms require it, we cannot conclude whether Blake's specific firm does.
Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Applying Deductive Reasoning 2
Either the project will be completed on time or the client will receive a penalty waiver.
The project was not completed on time.
What follows?