Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Distinguishing Facts from Inferences Questions and Answers 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the Watson-Glaser framework, which of the following best defines a 'fact' in the context of distinguishing facts from inferences? A) Any statement that most people agree with. B) A statement that can be directly verified against given or observable information without added interpretation. C) A conclusion drawn logically from available evidence. D) A statement made by an authority figure or expert.
- Any statement that most people agree with.
- A statement that can be directly verified against given or observable information without added interpretation. (Correct answer)
- A conclusion drawn logically from available evidence.
- A statement made by an authority figure or expert.
Correct answer: A statement that can be directly verified against given or observable information without added interpretation.
In Watson-Glaser terms, a fact is a statement verifiable from given or directly observable information, requiring no added interpretation or reasoning.
Question 2: A notice reads: 'The elevator will be out of service from 8 AM to 12 PM on Thursday for maintenance.' An employee concludes she should work from home Thursday to avoid inconvenience. This conclusion is: A) A fact because the elevator schedule is confirmed. B) An inference because working from home is not stated or implied by the notice. C) A fact because elevator outages always create inconvenience. D) An inference only if the employee lives far from the office.
- A fact because the elevator schedule is confirmed.
- An inference because working from home is not stated or implied by the notice. (Correct answer)
- A fact because elevator outages always create inconvenience.
- An inference only if the employee lives far from the office.
Correct answer: An inference because working from home is not stated or implied by the notice.
The notice provides the elevator schedule; the employee's decision to work from home is a personal inference not derived from the notice itself.
Question 3: A passage reads: 'Every employee who completed the safety training received a certificate.' Which of the following is an inference rather than a fact? A) Employees who completed the training received certificates. B) A certificate was given to each training completer. C) Employees who did not complete training did not receive certificates. D) The safety training program issued certificates upon completion.
- Employees who completed the training received certificates.
- A certificate was given to each training completer.
- Employees who did not complete training did not receive certificates. (Correct answer)
- The safety training program issued certificates upon completion.
Correct answer: Employees who did not complete training did not receive certificates.
The statement only tells us what happens when training is completed; what happens to non-completers is an inference not supported by the given information.
Question 4: A chart shows that coffee shop sales peak between 7 AM and 9 AM on weekdays. A manager infers that most customers are commuters grabbing coffee on the way to work. This is: A) A fact because peak hours align with typical commute times. B) A fact because coffee shops near offices always serve commuters. C) An inference because the chart does not identify who the customers are or their reasons for visiting. D) An inference only if the shop is not located near a transit hub.
- A fact because peak hours align with typical commute times.
- A fact because coffee shops near offices always serve commuters.
- An inference because the chart does not identify who the customers are or their reasons for visiting. (Correct answer)
- An inference only if the shop is not located near a transit hub.
Correct answer: An inference because the chart does not identify who the customers are or their reasons for visiting.
The chart shows when sales peak but provides no information about customer identity or motive; attributing the pattern to commuters is an inference.
Question 5: A policy document states: 'Employees must obtain manager approval before booking travel that costs over $500.' Which of the following is an inference based on this policy? A) Travel costing over $500 requires manager approval. B) Travel under $500 does not require manager approval. C) The company is trying to control excessive employee spending on travel. D) Employees must get approval from their manager for high-cost trips.
- Travel costing over $500 requires manager approval.
- Travel under $500 does not require manager approval.
- The company is trying to control excessive employee spending on travel. (Correct answer)
- Employees must get approval from their manager for high-cost trips.
Correct answer: The company is trying to control excessive employee spending on travel.
Attributing the policy to a desire to control excessive spending is an inference about the company's motive, which is not stated in the policy.
Question 6: A news headline reads: 'Local school receives $1 million grant for technology upgrades.' Which of the following is a fact from this headline? A) Students' test scores will improve after the technology upgrades. B) The school administration requested the grant because classrooms lacked technology. C) A local school was awarded a $1 million grant for technology upgrades. D) The school will purchase new computers with the grant money.
- Students' test scores will improve after the technology upgrades.
- The school administration requested the grant because classrooms lacked technology.
- A local school was awarded a $1 million grant for technology upgrades. (Correct answer)
- The school will purchase new computers with the grant money.
Correct answer: A local school was awarded a $1 million grant for technology upgrades.
The headline directly states the school received a $1 million grant for technology; improved scores, reasons for applying, and spending details are inferences.
Question 7: During a Watson-Glaser assessment, a test-taker reads: 'The CEO announced that 200 new jobs will be created in the region over the next two years.' Which response correctly identifies the inference? A) The CEO made an announcement about new jobs. B) Two hundred jobs will be created in the region according to the CEO. C) The regional economy is growing and will continue to strengthen. D) The announcement covered a two-year job creation timeline.
- The CEO made an announcement about new jobs.
- Two hundred jobs will be created in the region according to the CEO.
- The regional economy is growing and will continue to strengthen. (Correct answer)
- The announcement covered a two-year job creation timeline.
Correct answer: The regional economy is growing and will continue to strengthen.
Concluding that the economy is growing and will continue to strengthen goes beyond the CEO's announcement, which only addresses planned job creation.
Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Distinguishing Facts from Inferences Questions and Answers 5
In the Watson-Glaser framework, which of the following best defines a 'fact' in the context of distinguishing facts from inferences?
A) Any statement that most people agree with.
B) A statement that can be directly verified against given or observable information without added interpretation.
C) A conclusion drawn logically from available evidence.
D) A statement made by an authority figure or expert.