WGU D265 CRITICAL THINKING: REASONING AND
EVIDENCE | OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT 2026/2027 Actual
Questions & Verified Answers | Advanced Analytical
Reasoning | Pass Guarantee
SECTION 1 – ADVANCED ARGUMENT DECONSTRUCTION (Questions 1-25)
1. Passage
A city-council op-ed argues: “To reduce rush-hour congestion, London’s
congestion-pricing scheme cut inner-city traffic 15 %. Seattle’s traffic volume is
within 5 % of pre-pandemic levels, so adopting London’s pricing model here
would likewise shrink congestion.”
Which statement is an implicit premise on which the argument depends?
A. Seattle drivers respond to financial incentives in the same way London drivers do.
B. Seattle’s population is larger than London’s.
C. Rush-hour congestion is undesirable.
D. London’s scheme increased public-transport ridership.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The argument moves from London’s numerical result to a prediction for
Seattle by assuming behavioral similarity (A). If drivers responded differently, the 15 %
drop would not transfer. B is irrelevant; C is explicit; D is background, not a required
connector.
, 2. Passage
“Artificial-intelligence (AI) recruiting tools screen résumés faster than human
recruiters. Therefore, companies using AI will make better hiring decisions.”
The argument’s reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it
A. equates speed with quality.
B. commits an ad hominem attack.
C. relies on a straw-man depiction of recruiters.
D. appeals to popularity.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The explicit premise cites speed; the conclusion claims superior decision
quality. Treating the former as sufficient for the latter (A) is a non sequitur. No personal
attack, straw-man, or popularity premise appears.
3. Passage
“Micro-plastics have been found in human placentas. Anything found in
placentas can cross the maternal–fetal barrier. Hence, micro-plastics cross the
maternal–fetal barrier.”
The argument structure is best described as
A. convergent (multiple independent premises).
B. linked (premises depend on one another).
C. deductive and valid.
D. inductive and strong.
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: The form is a categorical syllogism: All A are B; C is A; therefore C is B. If
premises are true, the conclusion must be true—valid deduction.
4. Passage
“Only policies that increase mass-transit ridership by at least 10 % should be
adopted. Our light-rail proposal is projected to raise ridership 8 %. Thus, it should
not be adopted.”
Which assumption, if false, would most weaken the argument?
A. An 8 % increase is insufficient for adoption.
B. Light rail is the sole policy under review.
C. Projections are reliable.
D. Increasing ridership is desirable.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The argument’s necessity claim rests on the “only if ≥10 %” rule (A). If that
rule were invalid, rejection would not follow even if all else held.
5. Passage
Soccer-mom blog: “My child’s team won every tournament in which they wore
neon laces. Neon laces cause victories.”
The reasoning most clearly exemplifies
A. post hoc ergo propter hoc.
B. begging the question.
C. equivocation.
D. slippery slope.
, Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Temporal succession (winning after wearing laces) is treated as
causation—classic post hoc fallacy.
6. Passage
“If a society permits any form of assisted dying, respect for autonomy will
compel it to allow ever-broader categories until involuntary euthanasia becomes
accepted. We should therefore ban all forms.”
The argument employs which type of reasoning?
A. Deductive modus tollens
B. Inductive generalization
C. Slippery-slope
D. Analogical
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The chain from voluntary to involuntary euthanasia is asserted without
evidence of likelihood; a slippery-slope warning.
7. Passage
“Most start-ups funded by Venture-Capital Firm X in the past five years reached
profitability. Therefore, the next start-up it funds will probably reach profitability.”
The argument’s strength is most enhanced by which additional information?
A. Firm X has diversified into real estate.
B. The firm’s screening criteria have remained unchanged.
C. Profitability definitions have tightened.
EVIDENCE | OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT 2026/2027 Actual
Questions & Verified Answers | Advanced Analytical
Reasoning | Pass Guarantee
SECTION 1 – ADVANCED ARGUMENT DECONSTRUCTION (Questions 1-25)
1. Passage
A city-council op-ed argues: “To reduce rush-hour congestion, London’s
congestion-pricing scheme cut inner-city traffic 15 %. Seattle’s traffic volume is
within 5 % of pre-pandemic levels, so adopting London’s pricing model here
would likewise shrink congestion.”
Which statement is an implicit premise on which the argument depends?
A. Seattle drivers respond to financial incentives in the same way London drivers do.
B. Seattle’s population is larger than London’s.
C. Rush-hour congestion is undesirable.
D. London’s scheme increased public-transport ridership.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The argument moves from London’s numerical result to a prediction for
Seattle by assuming behavioral similarity (A). If drivers responded differently, the 15 %
drop would not transfer. B is irrelevant; C is explicit; D is background, not a required
connector.
, 2. Passage
“Artificial-intelligence (AI) recruiting tools screen résumés faster than human
recruiters. Therefore, companies using AI will make better hiring decisions.”
The argument’s reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it
A. equates speed with quality.
B. commits an ad hominem attack.
C. relies on a straw-man depiction of recruiters.
D. appeals to popularity.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The explicit premise cites speed; the conclusion claims superior decision
quality. Treating the former as sufficient for the latter (A) is a non sequitur. No personal
attack, straw-man, or popularity premise appears.
3. Passage
“Micro-plastics have been found in human placentas. Anything found in
placentas can cross the maternal–fetal barrier. Hence, micro-plastics cross the
maternal–fetal barrier.”
The argument structure is best described as
A. convergent (multiple independent premises).
B. linked (premises depend on one another).
C. deductive and valid.
D. inductive and strong.
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: The form is a categorical syllogism: All A are B; C is A; therefore C is B. If
premises are true, the conclusion must be true—valid deduction.
4. Passage
“Only policies that increase mass-transit ridership by at least 10 % should be
adopted. Our light-rail proposal is projected to raise ridership 8 %. Thus, it should
not be adopted.”
Which assumption, if false, would most weaken the argument?
A. An 8 % increase is insufficient for adoption.
B. Light rail is the sole policy under review.
C. Projections are reliable.
D. Increasing ridership is desirable.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The argument’s necessity claim rests on the “only if ≥10 %” rule (A). If that
rule were invalid, rejection would not follow even if all else held.
5. Passage
Soccer-mom blog: “My child’s team won every tournament in which they wore
neon laces. Neon laces cause victories.”
The reasoning most clearly exemplifies
A. post hoc ergo propter hoc.
B. begging the question.
C. equivocation.
D. slippery slope.
, Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Temporal succession (winning after wearing laces) is treated as
causation—classic post hoc fallacy.
6. Passage
“If a society permits any form of assisted dying, respect for autonomy will
compel it to allow ever-broader categories until involuntary euthanasia becomes
accepted. We should therefore ban all forms.”
The argument employs which type of reasoning?
A. Deductive modus tollens
B. Inductive generalization
C. Slippery-slope
D. Analogical
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The chain from voluntary to involuntary euthanasia is asserted without
evidence of likelihood; a slippery-slope warning.
7. Passage
“Most start-ups funded by Venture-Capital Firm X in the past five years reached
profitability. Therefore, the next start-up it funds will probably reach profitability.”
The argument’s strength is most enhanced by which additional information?
A. Firm X has diversified into real estate.
B. The firm’s screening criteria have remained unchanged.
C. Profitability definitions have tightened.
