WGU D333 OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT ACTUAL 2026/2027 |
Ethics in Technology Exam Review | Grade A Verified
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Section 1: Ethical Theories & Application (Q1-12)
Question 1
Which ethical theory evaluates actions based on their adherence to universal moral
rules that maximize overall happiness when consistently followed?
A. Act utilitarianism
B. Rule utilitarianism
C. Kantian deontology
D. Virtue ethics
Correct Answer: B. Rule utilitarianism [CORRECT]
Rationale: Rule utilitarianism (Mill) holds that moral rules should be followed if their
general observance produces the greatest happiness. Act utilitarianism evaluates each
act individually; deontology follows duty regardless of consequences; virtue ethics
focuses on character.
Correct Answer: B
Question 2
Kant's "humanity formula" of the categorical imperative states that one must:
A. Maximize aggregate pleasure for the greatest number
B. Act only according to maxims one can will as universal law
C. Treat humanity never merely as a means but always as an end
D. Pursue the golden mean between excess and deficiency
Correct Answer: C. Treat humanity never merely as a means but always as an end
[CORRECT]
Rationale: The humanity formula (second formulation) prohibits using persons merely
as instruments. Option A is utilitarianism, B is the universal law formulation, D is
Aristotelian virtue ethics.
Correct Answer: C
,Question 3
A software engineer discovers their employer is selling user data without consent.
Using virtue ethics, which character trait would most strongly support whistleblowing?
A. Temperance
B. Courage
C. Humility
D. Magnificence
Correct Answer: B. Courage [CORRECT]
Rationale: Aristotelian virtue ethics emphasizes courage (andreia) as the mean between
rashness and cowardice, supporting righteous action despite personal risk. Temperance
concerns moderation; humility and magnificence are less central to whistleblowing.
Correct Answer: B
Question 4
Rawls's "veil of ignorance" in the original position is designed to ensure:
A. That the most talented individuals receive the greatest rewards
B. That moral decisions maximize total utility
C. That principles of justice are chosen without knowledge of social position or natural
abilities
D. That existing power structures are preserved
Correct Answer: C. That principles of justice are chosen without knowledge of social
position or natural abilities [CORRECT]
Rationale: Rawls's veil of ignorance prevents bias by hiding contingent facts (race, class,
talent) from decision-makers, ensuring fair principles. Options A and D contradict Rawls;
B is utilitarianism.
Correct Answer: C
Question 5
Care ethics, as articulated by Gilligan and Noddings, emphasizes:
A. Universal moral rules applied impartially to all persons
B. Relational responsibilities and context-dependent moral attention to particular others
C. Maximization of aggregate welfare through cost-benefit analysis
D. Obedience to divine command regardless of consequences
Correct Answer: B. Relational responsibilities and context-dependent moral attention to
particular others [CORRECT]
,Rationale: Care ethics prioritizes relationships, empathy, and contextual judgment over
abstract universalization. A is deontology, C is utilitarianism, D is divine command
theory.
Correct Answer: B
Question 6
Which scenario best illustrates the distinction between moral relativism and moral
objectivism?
A. A society believes data privacy is absolute; another believes it is subordinate to state
security—moral relativism holds both are valid, objectivism holds at least one is
mistaken
B. A software license is either GPL or MIT
C. A data breach causes financial harm regardless of cultural norms
D. All cultures agree that murder is wrong
Correct Answer: A. A society believes data privacy is absolute; another believes it is
subordinate to state security—moral relativism holds both are valid, objectivism holds at
least one is mistaken [CORRECT]
Rationale: Moral relativism asserts moral truths are culturally determined and equally
valid; objectivism holds moral truths exist independently of belief. B is a factual
categorization; C describes harm, not moral truth; D describes consensus, not
objectivism.
Correct Answer: A
Question 7
A city proposes deploying facial recognition across all public transit to reduce crime.
From a rule utilitarian perspective, the strongest objection would be:
A. The technology violates Kant's categorical imperative
B. The long-term erosion of public trust and chilling effects on liberty may outweigh
immediate crime reduction
C. The city council lacks virtue
D. The system is not open source
Correct Answer: B. The long-term erosion of public trust and chilling effects on liberty
may outweigh immediate crime reduction [CORRECT]
Rationale: Rule utilitarianism evaluates general rules by long-term consequences; mass
surveillance rules may produce net disutility through liberty erosion. A is deontological;
C is virtue ethics; D is irrelevant to utilitarianism.
, Correct Answer: B
Question 8
Applying Kantian deontology to autonomous vehicle programming, which approach is
impermissible?
A. Programming the vehicle to minimize total casualties in unavoidable crashes
B. Programming the vehicle to always protect occupants over pedestrians
C. Programming the vehicle to treat any human death as a tragedy while applying
uniform decision logic
D. Programming the vehicle to swerve away from larger groups without discriminating
by identity
Correct Answer: B. Programming the vehicle to always protect occupants over
pedestrians [CORRECT]
Rationale: Kantian ethics prohibits treating persons merely as means; systematically
sacrificing pedestrians to protect occupants uses pedestrian lives instrumentally for
occupant benefit. A and D involve utilitarian calculus; C attempts impartiality.
Correct Answer: B
Question 9
In Aristotelian virtue ethics, the "golden mean" regarding honesty in professional
communications is:
A. Absolute transparency regardless of harm
B. Complete secrecy to protect corporate interests
C. Truthfulness that balances openness with discretion appropriate to the professional
relationship
D. Whatever produces the greatest happiness
Correct Answer: C. Truthfulness that balances openness with discretion appropriate to
the professional relationship [CORRECT]
Rationale: The golden mean is the virtuous midpoint between extremes
(excess/deficiency). Absolute transparency is excessive; complete secrecy is deficient.
D is utilitarian.
Correct Answer: C
Question 10
Rawls's difference principle justifies inequalities in a social system only if:
A. They maximize total national GDP
Ethics in Technology Exam Review | Grade A Verified
Questions & Answers | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Ethical Theories & Application (Q1-12)
Question 1
Which ethical theory evaluates actions based on their adherence to universal moral
rules that maximize overall happiness when consistently followed?
A. Act utilitarianism
B. Rule utilitarianism
C. Kantian deontology
D. Virtue ethics
Correct Answer: B. Rule utilitarianism [CORRECT]
Rationale: Rule utilitarianism (Mill) holds that moral rules should be followed if their
general observance produces the greatest happiness. Act utilitarianism evaluates each
act individually; deontology follows duty regardless of consequences; virtue ethics
focuses on character.
Correct Answer: B
Question 2
Kant's "humanity formula" of the categorical imperative states that one must:
A. Maximize aggregate pleasure for the greatest number
B. Act only according to maxims one can will as universal law
C. Treat humanity never merely as a means but always as an end
D. Pursue the golden mean between excess and deficiency
Correct Answer: C. Treat humanity never merely as a means but always as an end
[CORRECT]
Rationale: The humanity formula (second formulation) prohibits using persons merely
as instruments. Option A is utilitarianism, B is the universal law formulation, D is
Aristotelian virtue ethics.
Correct Answer: C
,Question 3
A software engineer discovers their employer is selling user data without consent.
Using virtue ethics, which character trait would most strongly support whistleblowing?
A. Temperance
B. Courage
C. Humility
D. Magnificence
Correct Answer: B. Courage [CORRECT]
Rationale: Aristotelian virtue ethics emphasizes courage (andreia) as the mean between
rashness and cowardice, supporting righteous action despite personal risk. Temperance
concerns moderation; humility and magnificence are less central to whistleblowing.
Correct Answer: B
Question 4
Rawls's "veil of ignorance" in the original position is designed to ensure:
A. That the most talented individuals receive the greatest rewards
B. That moral decisions maximize total utility
C. That principles of justice are chosen without knowledge of social position or natural
abilities
D. That existing power structures are preserved
Correct Answer: C. That principles of justice are chosen without knowledge of social
position or natural abilities [CORRECT]
Rationale: Rawls's veil of ignorance prevents bias by hiding contingent facts (race, class,
talent) from decision-makers, ensuring fair principles. Options A and D contradict Rawls;
B is utilitarianism.
Correct Answer: C
Question 5
Care ethics, as articulated by Gilligan and Noddings, emphasizes:
A. Universal moral rules applied impartially to all persons
B. Relational responsibilities and context-dependent moral attention to particular others
C. Maximization of aggregate welfare through cost-benefit analysis
D. Obedience to divine command regardless of consequences
Correct Answer: B. Relational responsibilities and context-dependent moral attention to
particular others [CORRECT]
,Rationale: Care ethics prioritizes relationships, empathy, and contextual judgment over
abstract universalization. A is deontology, C is utilitarianism, D is divine command
theory.
Correct Answer: B
Question 6
Which scenario best illustrates the distinction between moral relativism and moral
objectivism?
A. A society believes data privacy is absolute; another believes it is subordinate to state
security—moral relativism holds both are valid, objectivism holds at least one is
mistaken
B. A software license is either GPL or MIT
C. A data breach causes financial harm regardless of cultural norms
D. All cultures agree that murder is wrong
Correct Answer: A. A society believes data privacy is absolute; another believes it is
subordinate to state security—moral relativism holds both are valid, objectivism holds at
least one is mistaken [CORRECT]
Rationale: Moral relativism asserts moral truths are culturally determined and equally
valid; objectivism holds moral truths exist independently of belief. B is a factual
categorization; C describes harm, not moral truth; D describes consensus, not
objectivism.
Correct Answer: A
Question 7
A city proposes deploying facial recognition across all public transit to reduce crime.
From a rule utilitarian perspective, the strongest objection would be:
A. The technology violates Kant's categorical imperative
B. The long-term erosion of public trust and chilling effects on liberty may outweigh
immediate crime reduction
C. The city council lacks virtue
D. The system is not open source
Correct Answer: B. The long-term erosion of public trust and chilling effects on liberty
may outweigh immediate crime reduction [CORRECT]
Rationale: Rule utilitarianism evaluates general rules by long-term consequences; mass
surveillance rules may produce net disutility through liberty erosion. A is deontological;
C is virtue ethics; D is irrelevant to utilitarianism.
, Correct Answer: B
Question 8
Applying Kantian deontology to autonomous vehicle programming, which approach is
impermissible?
A. Programming the vehicle to minimize total casualties in unavoidable crashes
B. Programming the vehicle to always protect occupants over pedestrians
C. Programming the vehicle to treat any human death as a tragedy while applying
uniform decision logic
D. Programming the vehicle to swerve away from larger groups without discriminating
by identity
Correct Answer: B. Programming the vehicle to always protect occupants over
pedestrians [CORRECT]
Rationale: Kantian ethics prohibits treating persons merely as means; systematically
sacrificing pedestrians to protect occupants uses pedestrian lives instrumentally for
occupant benefit. A and D involve utilitarian calculus; C attempts impartiality.
Correct Answer: B
Question 9
In Aristotelian virtue ethics, the "golden mean" regarding honesty in professional
communications is:
A. Absolute transparency regardless of harm
B. Complete secrecy to protect corporate interests
C. Truthfulness that balances openness with discretion appropriate to the professional
relationship
D. Whatever produces the greatest happiness
Correct Answer: C. Truthfulness that balances openness with discretion appropriate to
the professional relationship [CORRECT]
Rationale: The golden mean is the virtuous midpoint between extremes
(excess/deficiency). Absolute transparency is excessive; complete secrecy is deficient.
D is utilitarian.
Correct Answer: C
Question 10
Rawls's difference principle justifies inequalities in a social system only if:
A. They maximize total national GDP
