Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Interpreting Evidence and Data 4

Question 1

A company's revenue grew 200% over three years, but profit margins fell from 20% to 8%. What is the most accurate overall assessment?

Accepted Answer

Revenue growth masks declining profitability efficiency

Answer

Strong revenue growth alongside shrinking margins suggests the company is earning proportionally less per dollar of sales.

Question 2

A polling organization reports a margin of error of ±4% at a 95% confidence level. A candidate leads 52% to 48%. What is the most accurate interpretation?

Accepted Answer

The race is too close to call given the margin of error

Answer

The 4-point lead falls within the ±4% margin of error, so the true values could overlap and either candidate could be ahead.

Question 3

A dataset lists average test scores by school. Schools with smaller class sizes consistently score higher. A superintendent concludes smaller classes cause better scores. What assumption is being made?

Accepted Answer

No other differences between schools explain the score gap

Answer

The conclusion assumes class size is the only relevant difference, ignoring other factors like teacher quality or student demographics.

Question 4

A graph shows that a city's crime rate dropped 30% after a new policing strategy was introduced. Which additional evidence would most strengthen the claim that the strategy caused the drop?

Accepted Answer

Comparable cities without the strategy showed no similar drop

Answer

A control comparison with cities that did not adopt the strategy helps isolate the strategy's effect from other factors.

Question 5

Data shows 90% of lung cancer patients drank water daily. A tabloid headline reads: 'Water Linked to Lung Cancer!' What is the primary error in this interpretation?

Accepted Answer

Nearly 100% of the general population also drinks water daily, eliminating any meaningful difference

Answer

Without comparing water consumption rates in the general population, the statistic is meaningless and misleading.

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Interpreting Evidence and Data 4