Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Inferences 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A manufacturing plant reduced its workforce by 20% last year. Production output also fell by 20%. Which inference is most justified? A) The plant is becoming less efficient. B) Fewer workers produced the same output per worker. C) The plant plans to close soon. D) Automation replaced the laid-off workers.
- The plant is becoming less efficient.
- Fewer workers produced the same output per worker. (Correct answer)
- The plant plans to close soon.
- Automation replaced the laid-off workers.
Correct answer: Fewer workers produced the same output per worker.
If both workforce and output fell by exactly 20%, productivity per worker remained constant — making this the most directly supported inference.
Question 2: Statement: Every student who passed the entrance exam was offered a scholarship. Maria was offered a scholarship. What can be inferred? A) Maria passed the entrance exam. B) Maria may or may not have passed the entrance exam. C) Maria did not take the entrance exam. D) All scholarship recipients passed the exam.
- Maria passed the entrance exam.
- Maria may or may not have passed the entrance exam. (Correct answer)
- Maria did not take the entrance exam.
- All scholarship recipients passed the exam.
Correct answer: Maria may or may not have passed the entrance exam.
The statement only tells us exam-passers receive scholarships; scholarships could also be awarded for other reasons, so Maria's exam status is unknown.
Question 3: A city installed speed cameras on a stretch of highway. The number of speeding violations recorded increased by 40% in the first month. What is the most logical inference? A) Drivers became more reckless after camera installation. B) More violations were detected because cameras catch what officers miss. C) The speed limit was lowered on that highway. D) The cameras malfunctioned and recorded false positives.
- Drivers became more reckless after camera installation.
- More violations were detected because cameras catch what officers miss. (Correct answer)
- The speed limit was lowered on that highway.
- The cameras malfunctioned and recorded false positives.
Correct answer: More violations were detected because cameras catch what officers miss.
Automated cameras record continuously and objectively, so increased recorded violations most likely reflect improved detection rather than increased speeding.
Question 4: A hospital reports that patients who receive follow-up phone calls after discharge are readmitted 30% less often. Which inference is best supported? A) Phone calls directly cure lingering illnesses. B) Follow-up communication may help patients manage recovery better. C) Hospitals with phone programs have better surgeons. D) Patients who receive calls are always younger and healthier.
- Phone calls directly cure lingering illnesses.
- Follow-up communication may help patients manage recovery better. (Correct answer)
- Hospitals with phone programs have better surgeons.
- Patients who receive calls are always younger and healthier.
Correct answer: Follow-up communication may help patients manage recovery better.
The association between follow-up calls and lower readmission suggests communication supports recovery management, though causation is not proven.
Question 5: All of the top-selling novels last year were published by large publishing houses. Ridgeway Press is a small independent publisher. What can be inferred about Ridgeway Press novels? A) None of their novels were top-sellers last year. B) Their novels were probably not top-sellers last year. C) Their novels could not become top-sellers in the future. D) Their novels are of lower quality than large-publisher novels.
- None of their novels were top-sellers last year. (Correct answer)
- Their novels were probably not top-sellers last year.
- Their novels could not become top-sellers in the future.
- Their novels are of lower quality than large-publisher novels.
Correct answer: None of their novels were top-sellers last year.
The statement says ALL top-sellers were from large houses, which logically means no small-publisher novel was a top-seller that year.
Question 6: A survey found that 78% of employees who work from home report higher job satisfaction than when they worked in the office. Which of the following inferences is LEAST supported? A) Many remote workers prefer their current arrangement. B) Remote work causes higher job satisfaction for all workers. C) Job satisfaction appears linked to work location for some employees. D) A majority of surveyed remote workers view remote work positively.
- Many remote workers prefer their current arrangement.
- Remote work causes higher job satisfaction for all workers. (Correct answer)
- Job satisfaction appears linked to work location for some employees.
- A majority of surveyed remote workers view remote work positively.
Correct answer: Remote work causes higher job satisfaction for all workers.
Claiming remote work causes higher satisfaction for ALL workers over-generalizes survey data from a sample and confuses correlation with universal causation.
Question 7: Statement: The crime rate in Westfield dropped 15% after a neighborhood watch program was established. A city official states: 'The watch program caused the crime drop.' This inference is best described as: A) Certainly true — the timing proves causation. B) Probably true — the correlation is strong enough to infer cause. C) Insufficient data — other factors may explain the drop. D) Certainly false — watch programs never reduce crime.
- Certainly true — the timing proves causation.
- Probably true — the correlation is strong enough to infer cause.
- Insufficient data — other factors may explain the drop. (Correct answer)
- Certainly false — watch programs never reduce crime.
Correct answer: Insufficient data — other factors may explain the drop.
Temporal correlation does not establish causation; without controlling for other variables (policing, demographics, economy), the causal claim lacks sufficient support.
Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Inferences 2
A manufacturing plant reduced its workforce by 20% last year.
Production output also fell by 20%.
Which inference is most justified?
A) The plant is becoming less efficient.
B) Fewer workers produced the same output per worker.
C) The plant plans to close soon.
D) Automation replaced the laid-off workers.