Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Evaluating Argument Relevance Questions and Answers

Question 1

A city council is debating whether to ban single-use plastic bags to reduce pollution. Which of the following arguments is the MOST relevant to the debate?

Accepted Answer

"Several major cities in other countries have successfully implemented similar bans, resulting in a measurable decrease in plastic waste in waterways."

Answer

"The mayor, who supports the ban, has a generally poor approval rating on unrelated issues like transportation and public safety."

Answer

"My favorite local grocery store has already switched to paper bags, and I find them to be much more stylish."

Answer

"Manufacturing paper bags requires more water and energy than manufacturing plastic bags, so we should focus on that instead."

Question 2

A company proposes to cut costs by outsourcing its customer service department to a third-party firm overseas. The stated goals are to reduce operational expenses and maintain the current level of customer satisfaction. Which argument is the WEAKEST and least relevant?

Accepted Answer

"The CEO of our main competitor said in an interview that he would never consider outsourcing because it's unpatriotic."

Answer

"An internal analysis shows that outsourcing would reduce departmental costs by 40% within the first year."

Answer

"A recent survey of our customers revealed that 85% prefer to speak with a customer service agent based in their own country."

Answer

"The third-party firm has a 92% customer satisfaction rating with its other clients in our industry."

Question 3

A school board is considering a proposal to make school uniforms mandatory for all students. The primary goal is to improve student focus on academics by reducing distractions related to clothing. Which of the following is the most relevant counter-argument?

Accepted Answer

"A comprehensive study of schools that implemented uniform policies found no statistically significant impact on academic performance or disciplinary issues."

Answer

"My child is very creative and forcing them to wear a uniform will stifle their individuality."

Answer

"The cost of the uniforms would present a significant financial burden for many families in the district."

Answer

"The board member who proposed this idea is a retired military officer and is just trying to make schools more rigid."

Question 4

An advertisement for a new sports drink, 'Vigorade,' features a famous Olympic athlete who claims the drink is the key to their success. In evaluating the argument that one should buy Vigorade to improve athletic performance, why is this celebrity endorsement considered a weak argument?

Accepted Answer

Because the athlete's success is attributable to numerous factors like training and genetics, not just one drink.

Answer

Because the athlete is likely being paid, their testimony is not impartial.

Answer

Because the drink might be too expensive for the average consumer.

Answer

Because the advertisement does not mention the specific ingredients of the drink.

Question 5

A manager argues, "We should not hire John for the sales position. I heard from a friend that he is going through a messy divorce." Why is this argument not relevant to the hiring decision?

Accepted Answer

It focuses on a personal circumstance that is unrelated to the candidate's professional qualifications and ability to perform the job.

Answer

The information is based on hearsay ('I heard from a friend') and is not a verified fact.

Answer

The company's HR policy prohibits making hiring decisions based on marital status.

Answer

The manager should have conducted a formal interview before making any judgments.

Question 6

A city is planning to build a new sports stadium. The argument in favor is that it will create jobs and boost the local economy. Which of the following pieces of evidence is most relevant to evaluating this economic argument?

Accepted Answer

Economic impact studies of recently built stadiums in similarly-sized cities show a net financial loss for the public over 30 years.

Answer

The city's most popular sports team has had a winning record for the past three seasons.

Answer

The proposed location for the stadium is currently an underutilized industrial area.

Answer

A poll shows that 70% of the city's residents are excited about the prospect of a new stadium.