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

Question 1

A city's transportation committee is debating a proposal to replace 20% of its public bus fleet with new, all-electric buses. Which of the following arguments is the STRONGEST in support of this proposal?

Accepted Answer

A peer-reviewed study of five other cities that made a similar switch found an average 15% reduction in fleet maintenance costs and a 30% decrease in public complaints about noise pollution.

Answer

A strong argument must be important and directly related to the question. This answer is the strongest because it provides specific, relevant, and verifiable data from comparable situations (peer-reviewed study), addressing key practical concerns like maintenance costs and noise pollution, which are important factors in managing a public fleet.

Question 2

A large corporation is considering a new policy that would require all employees, including those who work fully remotely, to be fully vaccinated against the seasonal flu. Which of the following is the WEAKEST argument in favor of this policy?

Accepted Answer

Mandating vaccines is a sign of a company that cares deeply about the health and safety of its employees and the broader community.

Answer

This argument is the weakest because it relies on an emotional appeal and makes a subjective claim about what the policy 'is a sign of'. A weak argument often appeals to emotion rather than providing a direct, logical reason that is important to the matter at hand. The other options present practical, business-related reasons (insurance costs, productivity, and transmission risk).

Question 3

In the context of the Watson-Glaser appraisal, which of the following is a defining characteristic of a 'weak' argument?

Accepted Answer

It presents a fact that is verifiably true but is only of minor importance to the central question.

Answer

According to the principles of argument evaluation in critical thinking tests, an argument is considered weak if it is not directly related to the question, or if it is of minor importance, or if it is related only to trivial aspects of the question, even if it is true.

Question 4

A software company manager argues, 'We must invest in a new project management tool because our main competitor just adopted it.' This argument is weak primarily because it:

Accepted Answer

assumes the competitor's needs and resources are identical to their own.

Answer

The argument's central flaw is the assumption that what works for or is necessary for a competitor is automatically necessary for their own company. This is a poor analogy and ignores potential differences in workflow, team size, project types, and budget. A strong argument would focus on the company's own specific needs and how the tool addresses them.

Question 5

A school board is debating a proposal to require high school students to complete 100 hours of community service to graduate. Which of the following is the STRONGEST argument AGAINST this proposal?

Accepted Answer

A survey of local non-profits indicates they lack the capacity and staff to effectively manage a large influx of student volunteers.

Answer

This argument is the strongest because it points to a significant logistical failure in the proposal that could make it impossible to implement effectively. It is an important, practical consideration that is directly related to the feasibility of the plan. The other arguments, while relevant, are either based on opinion (C), affect a smaller subset of people (A), or address a manageable internal problem (D).

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

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