Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Inferences 3

Question 1

A school district replaced textbooks with tablets. Reading scores among elementary students rose 10% the following year. The superintendent concludes tablets improved reading scores. This inference is:

A) True — the data directly proves it.
B) Probably true — the change is the most obvious cause.
C) Insufficient data — other simultaneous changes could explain the gain.
D) False — tablets never help with reading.

Accepted Answer

Insufficient data — other simultaneous changes could explain the gain.

Answer

Without a control group or knowledge of other variables (new teachers, curriculum changes, demographics), the causal link cannot be established from this data alone.

Question 2

In a study, people who ate breakfast daily were 25% less likely to be overweight. A nutritionist infers: 'Skipping breakfast causes weight gain.' This inference is:

A) Probably true — the study directly shows causation.
B) Insufficient data — the association does not prove breakfast skipping causes weight gain.
C) True — all studies show the same result.
D) False — breakfast has no effect on weight.

Accepted Answer

Insufficient data — the association does not prove breakfast skipping causes weight gain.

Answer

An observational association between eating habits and weight cannot establish that skipping breakfast directly causes weight gain; reverse causation or confounders are possible.

Question 3

Passage: Riverdale's public library saw a 35% increase in visitors after extending its hours. The mayor claims the extended hours are responsible. What additional information would most strengthen this inference?

A) The library also purchased new books during that period.
B) Visitor counts at other city libraries without extended hours remained flat.
C) The library hired additional staff when hours were extended.
D) Library funding increased the same year.

Accepted Answer

Visitor counts at other city libraries without extended hours remained flat.

Answer

Showing that comparable libraries without the hour extension did not see a visitor increase isolates extended hours as the likely cause.

Question 4

All mammals are warm-blooded. Whales are mammals. Therefore, which of the following inferences is definitely true?

A) Whales breathe air because they are mammals.
B) Whales are warm-blooded.
C) All warm-blooded animals are mammals.
D) Whales live longer than other warm-blooded animals.

Accepted Answer

Whales are warm-blooded.

Answer

Since all mammals are warm-blooded and whales are mammals, it is definitively true that whales are warm-blooded.

Question 5

A company's Q3 profits rose 18% while competitor profits fell 5%. The CEO infers the company's new marketing strategy, launched at the start of Q3, is responsible. This inference is best described as:

A) Certainly true — competitors' losses confirm the strategy worked.
B) Probably true — the company outperformed competitors after the launch.
C) Insufficient data — market conditions or other factors may explain both trends.
D) Certainly false — marketing rarely affects profits.

Accepted Answer

Probably true — the company outperformed competitors after the launch.

Answer

Outperforming competitors after the strategy launch is reasonably consistent with the strategy being effective, making this a probable — though not certain — inference.

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Inferences 3