Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Watson-Glaser Inference and Assumption Tests 4

Question 1

Statement: 'Sales at the downtown store fell 15% after a new competitor opened nearby.' Inference: The competitor caused the sales decline. This inference is:

Accepted Answer

Insufficient Data

Answer

Correlation between the competitor opening and the decline does not confirm causation without ruling out other factors.

Question 2

Which assumption is taken for granted in the argument: 'We should hire candidates with the highest GPA because academic excellence predicts job success'?

Accepted Answer

GPA is a reliable predictor of real-world job performance

Answer

The argument only holds if GPA actually predicts job success — that link is assumed, not proven.

Question 3

Statement: 'No accidents were reported on Highway 9 during the speed-camera trial period.' Inference: Speed cameras eliminate highway accidents. This inference is:

Accepted Answer

Probably False

Answer

Zero reported accidents in one trial period does not support such an absolute universal claim.

Question 4

Identify the hidden assumption: 'Since employee morale surveys improved, our new wellness program is working.'

Accepted Answer

The wellness program is the sole cause of improved scores

Answer

The argument assumes no other changes occurred that could also explain the morale improvement.

Question 5

Statement: 'Three of the four engineers who reviewed the design approved it.' Inference: The design is fundamentally sound. This inference is:

Accepted Answer

Probably True

Answer

Majority expert approval is reasonable evidence of soundness, though not conclusive.

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Watson-Glaser Inference and Assumption Tests 4