Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Recognizing Unstated Assumptions Questions and Answers 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Statement: 'We should hire Maria because she graduated from a top-ranked university.' Proposed assumption: Top-ranked universities produce more capable employees. Is this assumption MADE or NOT MADE?
- Made (Correct answer)
- Not Made
- Partially Made
- Cannot Determine
Correct answer: Made
The assumption IS made because the argument only makes sense if graduating from a top university implies superior capability for the job.
Question 2: Statement: 'Take Route 7 to avoid traffic; it's always faster.' Proposed assumption: Route 7 has no traffic lights. Is this assumption MADE or NOT MADE?
- Made
- Not Made (Correct answer)
- Partially Made
- Cannot Determine
Correct answer: Not Made
The assumption is NOT made; the statement only implies Route 7 is faster, not that it specifically lacks traffic lights.
Question 3: Statement: 'Parents should limit their children's screen time to improve academic performance.' Proposed assumption: Excessive screen time negatively affects academic performance. Is this assumption MADE or NOT MADE?
- Not Made
- Cannot Determine
- Made (Correct answer)
- Partially Made
Correct answer: Made
The assumption IS made because limiting screen time to improve performance only makes sense if excess screen time harms performance.
Question 4: Statement: 'Read reviews before buying a product online.' Proposed assumption: All online products have customer reviews available. Is this assumption MADE or NOT MADE?
- Made
- Cannot Determine
- Partially Made
- Not Made (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Not Made
The assumption is NOT made; the advice can hold even if only some products have reviews, not necessarily all.
Question 5: Statement: 'Since it rained yesterday, the park trail will be muddy today.' Proposed assumption: Rain makes trails muddy. Is this assumption MADE or NOT MADE?
- Not Made
- Made (Correct answer)
- Partially Made
- Cannot Determine
Correct answer: Made
The assumption IS made because the conclusion (muddy trail) follows from rain only if rain causes trails to become muddy.
Question 6: Statement: 'You should consult a lawyer before signing any business contract.' Proposed assumption: All lawyers charge affordable fees. Is this assumption MADE or NOT MADE?
- Made
- Partially Made
- Cannot Determine
- Not Made (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Not Made
The assumption is NOT made; the advice to consult a lawyer doesn't require lawyers to be affordable—it only assumes legal consultation is valuable.
Question 7: Statement: 'We can get to the airport in time if we leave now.' Proposed assumption: The current departure time is sufficient to reach the airport before the flight. Is this assumption MADE or NOT MADE?
- Cannot Determine
- Partially Made
- Not Made
- Made (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Made
The assumption IS made because 'in time' directly implies that leaving now allows enough travel time to catch the flight.
Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Recognizing Unstated Assumptions Questions and Answers 3
Statement: 'We should hire Maria because she graduated from a top-ranked university.' Proposed assumption: Top-ranked universities produce more capable employees.
Is this assumption MADE or NOT MADE?