Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Analyzing Conclusions 5

Question 1

Passage: A survey of 50 gym members found that those who hired personal trainers lost more weight than those who did not. Conclusion: Hiring a personal trainer is the best way to lose weight. What is the status of this conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Insufficient data

Answer

The survey shows trainers outperform no trainer for gym members but does not compare training to other weight-loss methods, so 'best' cannot be determined.

Question 2

Passage: Every applicant who passed the skills test was invited for an interview. Keiko was not invited for an interview. Conclusion: Keiko did not pass the skills test. What is the status of this conclusion?

Accepted Answer

True beyond reasonable doubt

Answer

Since passing guarantees an invitation, lacking an invitation confirms the test was not passed — a logically valid contrapositive.

Question 3

Passage: Cities with more green spaces report higher average resident happiness scores. Conclusion: Adding green spaces will increase resident happiness in any city. What is the status of this conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Probably true

Answer

A consistent cross-city association between green spaces and happiness makes a probable causal benefit reasonable, though local factors could vary.

Question 4

Passage: Half of the students in the class scored above the class average on the midterm. Conclusion: The class performed well on the midterm. What is the status of this conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Insufficient data

Answer

By mathematical definition, half of any group always scores above the average; the statement reveals nothing about absolute performance levels.

Question 5

Passage: Countries with higher chocolate consumption per capita have more Nobel Prize winners per capita. Conclusion: Eating more chocolate increases a nation's intellectual output. What is the status of this conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Probably false

Answer

This is a classic spurious correlation — both variables are linked to national wealth, not causally to each other.

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Analyzing Conclusions 5