WGU D265 Concepts of Logical Reasoning
Prac Test with Complete Solutions
What is the cogent argument?
A clear and strong reason for something. It tells you why something makes sense in a way that’s easy to
understand.
(Clear and gives good reasons)
Example:
Argument: "Eating vegetables helps you grow strong and stay healthy."
Explanation: This statement is clear and provides a good reason. It tells us that vegetables have
important nutrients that our bodies need, making it a cogent argument for why we should eat them.
Argument: "Wearing a coat keeps you warm when cold outside."
Explanation: This argument is clear and logical. It explains that a coat provides warmth, which helps us
understand why we should wear one in cold weather.
What is affirming the consequent?
Is when you wrongly assume that one thing is the only cause for another thing.
Example:
If it rains the ground gets wet. The ground is wet. So, it must have rained.
Explanation: There could be other reasons why the ground is wet. Such as someone watering their garden,
or the sprinklers being activated. (Just because the ground is wet doesn’t mean that it necessarily rained.)
If you eat ice cream then you will feel happy. You’re happy. So you must have eaten ice cream.
Explanation: Other factors could have caused your happiness. Such as eating pasta or going for a long
drive. Just because you’re happy doesn’t guarantee that you ate ice cream.
If I do this assignment, then I won't fail. I did the assignment. So, I must have not failed.
Explanation: Just because you do the assignment doesn’t guarantee that you won't fail.
What is the principle of Charity?
Gives people the benefit of the doubt, and tries to understand their ideas fairly.
(Helps you understand the other person’s perspective more positively and thoughtfully.)
Examples:
Someone may say that they hate vanilla ice cream, instead of thinking that they can’t appreciate good
flavors. You might just assume that a person prefers chocolate or strawberry ice cream instead.
Can you move my things out of the storage? Instead of thinking that person is lazy. You might just assume
that the person is busy at work and won’t be able to.
, What is Selection Bias?
when a group or sample chosen for a study or survey isn’t representative of the whole population. Leads
to unfair or incorrect conclusions.
Examples: If I ask a group of black women at a braiding salon what their favorite hairstyle is, You
might conclude that it would be braid, but that wouldn't be fair because it excludes the opinion of other
black women.
Explanation: This would be biased because I only limited the question to black women who were inside
the braiding salon. Other black women may prefer twists, their natural hair, or sew-ins.
What is Availability Bias?
It is a mental shortcut that causes people to rely on immediate examples that come to mind when making
decisions or judgments.
Examples: If a person hears about a local robbery, they may perceive their neighborhood as more
dangerous than it is, influenced by that recent news story.
Explanation: People overestimate the likelihood of themselves being involved in a robbery. So, ultimately
it creates this fear
What is Confirmation Bias?
When you focus on information that supports what you already believe and ignore information that goes
against it.
Example: Let’s say you believe that chocolate ice cream is the best. When you talk to friends, you
focus on the ones who agree with you. Ignoring Others: If someone says they prefer vanilla, you might
brush it off or forget it.
Let’s say that you think the Dallas Cowboys is the best football team. You connect with other fans who
believe the same thing. You typically ignore people who agree that the Chiefs are a better team.
Explanation: Focus on people who have like-minded beliefs and tend to ignore those that go against
your beliefs because it contradicts what you believe.
What is Denying the Antecedent?
When you wrongly assume that the first part must be the only cause for the second part.
Example: If you have a dog, then you must walk it. You don’t have a dog, so you can’t walk any
dogs.
Prac Test with Complete Solutions
What is the cogent argument?
A clear and strong reason for something. It tells you why something makes sense in a way that’s easy to
understand.
(Clear and gives good reasons)
Example:
Argument: "Eating vegetables helps you grow strong and stay healthy."
Explanation: This statement is clear and provides a good reason. It tells us that vegetables have
important nutrients that our bodies need, making it a cogent argument for why we should eat them.
Argument: "Wearing a coat keeps you warm when cold outside."
Explanation: This argument is clear and logical. It explains that a coat provides warmth, which helps us
understand why we should wear one in cold weather.
What is affirming the consequent?
Is when you wrongly assume that one thing is the only cause for another thing.
Example:
If it rains the ground gets wet. The ground is wet. So, it must have rained.
Explanation: There could be other reasons why the ground is wet. Such as someone watering their garden,
or the sprinklers being activated. (Just because the ground is wet doesn’t mean that it necessarily rained.)
If you eat ice cream then you will feel happy. You’re happy. So you must have eaten ice cream.
Explanation: Other factors could have caused your happiness. Such as eating pasta or going for a long
drive. Just because you’re happy doesn’t guarantee that you ate ice cream.
If I do this assignment, then I won't fail. I did the assignment. So, I must have not failed.
Explanation: Just because you do the assignment doesn’t guarantee that you won't fail.
What is the principle of Charity?
Gives people the benefit of the doubt, and tries to understand their ideas fairly.
(Helps you understand the other person’s perspective more positively and thoughtfully.)
Examples:
Someone may say that they hate vanilla ice cream, instead of thinking that they can’t appreciate good
flavors. You might just assume that a person prefers chocolate or strawberry ice cream instead.
Can you move my things out of the storage? Instead of thinking that person is lazy. You might just assume
that the person is busy at work and won’t be able to.
, What is Selection Bias?
when a group or sample chosen for a study or survey isn’t representative of the whole population. Leads
to unfair or incorrect conclusions.
Examples: If I ask a group of black women at a braiding salon what their favorite hairstyle is, You
might conclude that it would be braid, but that wouldn't be fair because it excludes the opinion of other
black women.
Explanation: This would be biased because I only limited the question to black women who were inside
the braiding salon. Other black women may prefer twists, their natural hair, or sew-ins.
What is Availability Bias?
It is a mental shortcut that causes people to rely on immediate examples that come to mind when making
decisions or judgments.
Examples: If a person hears about a local robbery, they may perceive their neighborhood as more
dangerous than it is, influenced by that recent news story.
Explanation: People overestimate the likelihood of themselves being involved in a robbery. So, ultimately
it creates this fear
What is Confirmation Bias?
When you focus on information that supports what you already believe and ignore information that goes
against it.
Example: Let’s say you believe that chocolate ice cream is the best. When you talk to friends, you
focus on the ones who agree with you. Ignoring Others: If someone says they prefer vanilla, you might
brush it off or forget it.
Let’s say that you think the Dallas Cowboys is the best football team. You connect with other fans who
believe the same thing. You typically ignore people who agree that the Chiefs are a better team.
Explanation: Focus on people who have like-minded beliefs and tend to ignore those that go against
your beliefs because it contradicts what you believe.
What is Denying the Antecedent?
When you wrongly assume that the first part must be the only cause for the second part.
Example: If you have a dog, then you must walk it. You don’t have a dog, so you can’t walk any
dogs.
