Distinguishing Facts from Inferences Flashcards
7 cards from real Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Distinguishing Facts from Inferences flashcards as text
A newspaper reports: 'Unemployment in the region is at 6.2%.' A commentator states: 'The regional economy is struggling.' The commentator's statement is:
Answer: An inference because 6.2% unemployment does not by itself define 'struggling.'
Whether 6.2% constitutes 'struggling' depends on context and interpretation beyond the raw statistic.
Which of the following most clearly illustrates the difference between a fact and an inference?
Answer: Facts describe what was observed; inferences describe what it means or implies.
The core distinction is that facts report observations while inferences interpret or extend beyond those observations.
Passage: 'The defendant was seen leaving the building at 10:15 p.m.' A juror concludes, 'The defendant committed the crime.' This conclusion is:
Answer: An inference because presence at a location does not prove commission of a crime.
Being seen leaving a building establishes location, not guilt; the juror's conclusion requires additional evidence.
A student scores 92 on a math test. Her teacher says, 'She is a gifted mathematician.' The teacher's statement is:
Answer: An inference because one test score does not fully define mathematical giftedness.
A single test score supports an inference about ability but does not conclusively establish giftedness.
Which of the following is TRUE about facts in critical thinking?
Answer: Facts can be verified through direct observation or reliable evidence.
The defining feature of a fact is that it can be verified through observation or credible evidence, regardless of source.
A CEO announces: 'Our product received 4.8 out of 5 stars across 10,000 reviews.' A stakeholder then concludes: 'Customers love this product.' Which best describes these two statements?
Answer: The CEO's statement is a fact; the stakeholder's is an inference.
The star rating and review count are verifiable data; 'customers love the product' interprets sentiment beyond what the numbers strictly prove.
An inference is described as 'probably true' on the Watson-Glaser test when:
Answer: The evidence makes it more likely true than false, though not certain.
On the Watson-Glaser scale, 'probably true' means the inference is more likely than not given the evidence, without certainty.