Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Distinguishing Facts from Inferences Questions and Answers 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A medical report states: 'The patient smoked for 30 years and was diagnosed with lung cancer at age 55.' Which is an inference?
- The patient smoked for 30 years.
- The patient was diagnosed with lung cancer.
- The patient's cancer was caused by smoking. (Correct answer)
- The patient was 55 years old at diagnosis.
Correct answer: The patient's cancer was caused by smoking.
While smoking is a known risk factor, concluding it caused this patient's specific cancer requires medical determination beyond the stated facts.
Question 2: A company announcement reads: 'After restructuring, our workforce was reduced from 500 to 350 employees, and quarterly profits rose by 18%.' Which is a fact?
- Layoffs directly caused the profit increase.
- The remaining employees are more productive.
- The workforce was reduced from 500 to 350 employees. (Correct answer)
- The company will continue to reduce its workforce.
Correct answer: The workforce was reduced from 500 to 350 employees.
The workforce reduction from 500 to 350 is a specific, verifiable fact stated in the announcement.
Question 3: A headline reads: 'City Park Renovation Project Completed Three Months Late and $2 Million Over Budget.' Which is an inference?
- The renovation project was completed three months late.
- The project exceeded its budget by $2 million.
- City officials failed to manage the project adequately. (Correct answer)
- The park renovation was completed.
Correct answer: City officials failed to manage the project adequately.
Blaming city officials for inadequate management infers the cause of overruns, which may have many explanations not stated in the headline.
Question 4: A science article reports: 'Residents near the new factory reported a 30% increase in respiratory complaints in the year after it opened.' Which statement is an inference?
- Residents near the factory reported more respiratory complaints.
- Respiratory complaints increased by 30% in the year after the factory opened.
- The factory's emissions are causing residents to get sick. (Correct answer)
- The increase in complaints was documented after the factory opened.
Correct answer: The factory's emissions are causing residents to get sick.
Concluding factory emissions are the cause requires more than a temporal correlation — other factors could explain the increase.
Question 5: A store receipt shows: 'Customer purchased 10 bottles of water and 5 energy bars at 11:45 PM.' Which is an inference?
- Ten bottles of water were purchased.
- The purchase was made at 11:45 PM.
- The customer was preparing for a long trip or emergency. (Correct answer)
- Five energy bars were purchased.
Correct answer: The customer was preparing for a long trip or emergency.
The purpose behind the purchase is an inference; the facts only confirm what was bought and when, not why.
Question 6: A survey states: '72% of employees reported feeling stressed at work, and absenteeism increased by 15% this year.' Which statement is a fact?
- Employee stress is costing the company money.
- The company does not care about employee wellbeing.
- Absenteeism increased by 15% this year. (Correct answer)
- Stress will continue to rise if nothing changes.
Correct answer: Absenteeism increased by 15% this year.
The 15% absenteeism increase is directly reported data from the survey and is a verifiable fact.
Question 7: A court document states: 'The defendant's fingerprints were found on the doorknob, and the defendant lived in the same building.' Which is an inference?
- The defendant's fingerprints were found on the doorknob.
- The defendant lived in the same building.
- The defendant entered the apartment without permission. (Correct answer)
- The defendant and victim were in the same building.
Correct answer: The defendant entered the apartment without permission.
Unauthorized entry is an inference; fingerprints on a doorknob in one's own building could have an innocent explanation.
Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Distinguishing Facts from Inferences Questions and Answers 4
A medical report states: 'The patient smoked for 30 years and was diagnosed with lung cancer at age 55.' Which is an inference?