Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Applying Deductive Reasoning 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Premise: All physicians licensed in State Y must complete 30 hours of continuing education annually. Premise: Dr. Patel is licensed in State Y. Conclusion: Dr. Patel must complete 30 hours of continuing education annually. Does the conclusion follow?
- Only if Dr. Patel practices full-time
- Yes, the conclusion follows (Correct answer)
- No, retired physicians are exempt
- Only if Dr. Patel treats patients
Correct answer: Yes, the conclusion follows
The universal rule applies to all State Y licensees, and Dr. Patel is one, so the conclusion is deductively valid.
Question 2: Premise: Some financial advisors are also certified accountants. Premise: James is a financial advisor. Conclusion: James is a certified accountant. Does the conclusion follow?
- Yes, because financial advisors typically have accounting credentials
- No, the conclusion does not follow (Correct answer)
- Only if James passed the CPA exam
- Yes, if his firm requires it
Correct answer: No, the conclusion does not follow
'Some' statements do not guarantee that every member of the group has the stated property.
Question 3: Premise: If the temperature drops below 32°F, water freezes. Premise: The temperature is 28°F. Conclusion: Water will freeze. Does the conclusion follow?
- Only in still water, not moving water
- Yes, the conclusion follows (Correct answer)
- No, because humidity affects freezing
- Only if the water is pure
Correct answer: Yes, the conclusion follows
The condition threshold (below 32°F) is met by 28°F, so the consequence (freezing) follows deductively.
Question 4: Premise: Every team that wins the championship must have won at least 10 games. Premise: The Tigers won the championship. Conclusion: The Tigers won at least 10 games. Does the conclusion follow?
- Yes, the conclusion follows (Correct answer)
- No, championship rules may have changed
- Only if regular season games count
- Only if no games were forfeited
Correct answer: Yes, the conclusion follows
Winning the championship is sufficient to conclude they met the minimum wins requirement, per the first premise.
Question 5: Premise: Only registered voters may participate in the municipal election. Premise: Sandra participated in the municipal election. Conclusion: Sandra is a registered voter. Does the conclusion follow?
- No, she could have voted provisionally
- Only if she voted in the correct district
- Yes, the conclusion follows (Correct answer)
- Only if her registration was verified beforehand
Correct answer: Yes, the conclusion follows
'Only' statements create a biconditional restriction; if she participated, she must be registered.
Question 6: Premise: All projects over $1 million require executive sign-off. Premise: Project Delta is valued at $950,000. Conclusion: Project Delta does not require executive sign-off. Does the conclusion follow?
- Yes, because $950,000 is below the threshold (Correct answer)
- No, because proximity to the threshold triggers review
- No, the conclusion does not logically follow
- Yes, unless scope increases later
Correct answer: Yes, because $950,000 is below the threshold
The premise sets a threshold at over $1 million; $950,000 falls below it, so the conclusion follows deductively.
Question 7: Premise: No report submitted after the deadline will be accepted. Premise: Yusuf submitted his report after the deadline. Conclusion: Yusuf's report will not be accepted. Does the conclusion follow?
- Only if the reviewer enforces the policy
- No, if Yusuf has a valid excuse
- Yes, the conclusion follows (Correct answer)
- Only if a late penalty was also applied
Correct answer: Yes, the conclusion follows
The universal negative rule directly applies to Yusuf's situation, making the conclusion deductively certain within the argument's premises.
Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Applying Deductive Reasoning 5
Premise: All physicians licensed in State Y must complete 30 hours of continuing education annually.
Premise: Dr.
Patel is licensed in State Y.
Conclusion: Dr.
Patel must complete 30 hours of continuing education annually.
Does the conclusion follow?