Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Drawing Deductive Conclusions Questions and Answers 2

Question 1

Premises: 'All employees who pass the certification exam receive a salary increase. Maria passed the certification exam.' What conclusion necessarily follows?

Accepted Answer

Maria will receive a salary increase.

Answer

The universal statement applies to all who pass — since Maria passed, the conclusion follows necessarily without qualification.

Question 2

Premises: 'No project that exceeds its budget by more than 20% will receive continued funding. Project Orion has exceeded its budget by 25%.' What conclusion necessarily follows?

Accepted Answer

Project Orion will not receive continued funding.

Answer

The premise uses 'no project' — a universal negative — meaning the rule applies without exception to all projects exceeding budget by more than 20%, including Orion at 25%.

Question 3

Premises: 'If a candidate scores above 80 on the aptitude test, they advance to the interview stage. James scored 74 on the aptitude test.' What conclusion necessarily follows?

Accepted Answer

James will not advance to the interview stage.

Answer

74 is below the 80 threshold, so the condition for advancing is not met — James will not advance to the interview stage.

Question 4

Premises: 'All managers in Division A are certified accountants. Some certified accountants are also licensed auditors.' What conclusion necessarily follows?

Accepted Answer

Some Division A managers may be licensed auditors.

Answer

Since some certified accountants are licensed auditors, and all Division A managers are certified accountants, it is possible (but not certain) that some Division A managers are among those licensed auditors.

Question 5

Premises: 'Every contract signed before March 1st is subject to the old tax rate. Contract 47 was signed on February 15th.' What conclusion necessarily follows?

Accepted Answer

Contract 47 is subject to the old tax rate.

Answer

February 15th falls before March 1st, satisfying the condition exactly — the conclusion follows necessarily without any qualification.

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Drawing Deductive Conclusions Questions and Answers 2