Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Evaluating Argument Strength 5

Question 1

Question: Should public transit be free for all riders?
Argument: Yes, because free transit would reduce car usage and lower urban air pollution.  
This argument is:

Accepted Answer

Strong, because it presents a direct, evidence-consistent causal chain from the policy to an environmental benefit

Answer

The argument is strong because research supports that cost is a barrier to transit use, and reduced car usage does lower urban pollution, creating a plausible and evidence-grounded causal chain.

Question 2

Question: Should pharmaceutical companies be required to publish the research data behind their drug trials?
Argument: Yes, because independent scientists could verify results and catch errors before drugs reach patients.
This argument is:

Accepted Answer

Strong, because independent verification is a foundational principle of scientific integrity and patient safety

Answer

The argument is strong because independent replication and verification are core scientific safeguards, and the argument directly connects transparency to patient safety.

Question 3

Question: Should college athletes be paid salaries by their universities?
Argument: No, because college is an academic institution, not a professional sports league.
This argument is:

Accepted Answer

Weak, because major college athletic programs generate hundreds of millions in revenue, making purely academic framing outdated

Answer

The argument is weak because the premise that colleges are purely academic ignores the commercial reality of major athletic programs, which operate as substantial revenue-generating enterprises.

Question 4

Question: Should governments impose taxes on sugary beverages?
Argument: Yes, because similar taxes on tobacco have successfully reduced smoking rates.
This argument is:

Accepted Answer

Strong, because it draws on a directly analogous, empirically successful policy precedent

Answer

The argument is strong because it cites a closely analogous policy (tobacco tax) with documented success in changing consumption behavior, providing relevant empirical support for the proposal.

Question 5

Question: Should all police officers be required to wear body cameras?
Argument: No, because body cameras invade the privacy of crime victims who are recorded without consent.
This argument is:

Accepted Answer

Strong, because victim privacy is a legitimate concern that the policy must address

Answer

The argument is strong in that victim privacy is a genuine, legitimate concern — it correctly identifies a real drawback that policy designers must address, even if it may not ultimately defeat the policy.

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Evaluating Argument Strength 5