Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Distinguishing Facts from Inferences Questions and Answers 5

Question 1

A report reads: 'The school's test scores dropped 8 points the year after the new principal was hired.' Which is a fact?

Accepted Answer

Test scores dropped 8 points in the year after the new principal was hired.

Answer

The 8-point drop in the year following the hire is a directly stated, measurable fact, regardless of its cause.

Question 2

A news story states: 'Violent crime in the district fell 22% after new streetlights were installed.' Which is an inference?

Accepted Answer

The new streetlights deterred criminals and made the area safer.

Answer

Attributing the crime drop specifically to the deterrent effect of streetlights is an inference; other factors may have contributed to the decline.

Question 3

A product label states: 'Contains 250mg of caffeine per serving. Recommended for adults only.' Which is an inference?

Accepted Answer

Children who consume this product will experience harmful side effects.

Answer

The label recommends adult use but does not state that children will experience harm — that conclusion is an inference beyond what is printed.

Question 4

A social media post states: 'I applied to 20 jobs last month and got zero callbacks.' Which is an inference made by a reader?

Accepted Answer

The person's resume or qualifications need improvement.

Answer

Concluding the resume or qualifications need improvement assumes a cause for the lack of callbacks not stated or evidenced in the post.

Question 5

A financial statement reads: 'The company reported $5 million in losses for Q3, the third consecutive quarter of losses.' Which is an inference?

Accepted Answer

The company is heading toward bankruptcy.

Answer

Predicting bankruptcy goes beyond the stated facts — consecutive losses are serious, but many companies recover without declaring bankruptcy.

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test