WGU D265 Critical Thinking: Reason
and Evidence
"A recent study found that dairy milk is healthier than soy milk. But that finding is obviously false
because the study was conducted by the dairy industry."
Which fallacy of relevance is depicted in this example?
- Post hoc ergo propter
- Irrelevant appeal
- Begging the question
- Genetic fallacy - ANSWER-Genetic fallacy
"All dogs have four legs. Grover is a dog, because Grover barks like a dog. So Grover has four legs."
Which statement represents indirect support? - ANSWER-Grover barks like a dog.
"If magicians can pull rabbits out of hats, then magic is real. Magicians can pull rabbits out of hats.
Therefore, I know that magic is real." Which two statements represent conjoint support when mapping
this example to a body of propositions? - ANSWER-If magicians can pull rabbits out of hats, then magic is
real. & Magicians can pull rabbits out of hats.
"If you are not at the game rooting for our high school football team, then you must not have any school
spirit."
Which two statements accurately describe this argument? Choose 2 answers.
- The argument includes a false dichotomy..
- The argument assumes the truth of the conclusion in the premise.
- The argument contains black-and-white thinking.
- The argument mistakes causation for correlation. - ANSWER-- The argument includes a false
dichotomy.
- The argument contains black-and-white thinking.
"Peyton is an excellent dentist, so she sings well." Which statement represents the hidden assumption
that would make this argument valid? - ANSWER-All excellent dentists sing well.
,WGU D265 Critical Thinking: Reason
and Evidence
"Products manufactured in our country are the best because we make the best automobiles," declared
Kennedy. Which two descriptors best characterize Kennedy's comments? - ANSWER-An inference & A
weak argument & A proposition
"Since we cannot go out until the restaurant opens, and given that we are trying to save money, we
should just hang out here until closer to dinner."
Which statements are the premises of the following argument? Choose 2 answers.
- We cannot go out until the restaurant opens.
- We are trying to save money.
- We should just hang out here until closer to dinner.
- We can have a good time without spending money. - ANSWER-- We cannot go out until the restaurant
opens.
- We are trying to save money.
"There are not any good seafood restaurants in this city. I tried two, and they were both terrible." Which
fallacy of weak induction best describes this example? - ANSWER-Hasty generalization
95% of American citizens are billionaires. Sam is an American citizen. Therefore, Sam is a billionaire.
Which set of terms classify this argument? - ANSWER-Valid and unsound & Strong and uncogent
A flight attendant accidentally spills a drink on a passenger. The passenger tells a friend that the flight
attendants for the airline are incompetent.Which fallacy of weak induction best describes this example?
- ANSWER-Hasty generalization
A formal fallacy concerns _______, but an informal fallacy concerns _______. - ANSWER-the structure of
an argument
,WGU D265 Critical Thinking: Reason
and Evidence
By definition, a formal fallacy concerns the structure of an argument and an informal fallacy concerns
the information contained in the argument's structure.
A formal fallacy is a type of _______. - ANSWER-Bad argument structure
Formality is associated with structure.
A FORMAL FALLACY IS A TYPE OF - ANSWER-Bad Argument Structure
A military veteran is engaged in a heated debate about national security with a reporter who has never
served in the military.
Which response best enables the veteran to undermine the reporter's argument?
- Pointing out that the premise of the reporter's argument is flawed
- Pointing out the reporter's well-known reputation for taking faulty positions
- Pointing out the reporter's affiliation with news networks that are known to have a political slant to
their coverage
- Pointing out that the reporter has never served in the military - ANSWER-Pointing out that the premise
of the reporter's argument is flawed
A news outlet issues a correction and an apology for incorrect information it published. In the absence
of further information, what does this news outlet's action suggest about its credibility? - ANSWER-The
source appears credible because it is concerned with accuracy.
A pen is a writing utensil. Sometimes, animals are kept in a pen. Thus, sometimes, animals are kept in a
writing utensil.
What fallacy is found in this argument?
- The fallacy of equivocation
- The fallacy of begging the question
- The fallacy of sweeping generalization
, WGU D265 Critical Thinking: Reason
and Evidence
- The appeal to popularity fallacy - ANSWER-The fallacy of equivocation
A person encounters an internet source with a headline of "This is NOT a hoax!" Which conclusion would
be reasonable for this person to make? - ANSWER-The content is sensationalized.
A person is buying a car. The car salesperson initially quotes a base price. The buyer relies on this initial
quote to make a purchasing decision despite the subsequent addition of options that significantly
increase the final price. Which cognitive bias is the buyer exhibiting? - ANSWER-Anchoring and
adjustment
A person is considering what transportation to use when visiting a friend in a different city. The first
thing that comes to mind is a recent news story about a train crash. They decide that the train is not a
safe travel option. What kind of bias are they exhibiting? - ANSWER-Availability bias
A person notices that many of the news articles, blogs, social media posts, and other information he
sees on the internet mirror his personal likes and dislikes. Based on this information, what can this
person reasonably conclude? - ANSWER-Algorithms may be linking him with like-minded information.
A soccer fan buys a jersey with his favorite player's name and number on the back. When the player's
performance decreases, the fan attributes it to the jersey he bought. Which fallacy of weak induction
best describes this argument? - ANSWER-Post hoc, ergo propter hoc
A teacher talks with a student about failing to turn in homework. The student replies by expressing a
desire to dress up as a superhero for Halloween. Which response best matches this fallacy of relevance?
- ANSWER-Red herring
A university student surveys incoming freshmen to understand how students at the university feel about
a proposed tuition increase. Which statements are true regarding this statistical sample? - ANSWER-It is
not representative. & It is not random.
Ad Hominem Fallacy (Latin for "to the man") - ANSWER-A fallacy of logic in which a person's character or
motive is attacked instead of the person's argument
and Evidence
"A recent study found that dairy milk is healthier than soy milk. But that finding is obviously false
because the study was conducted by the dairy industry."
Which fallacy of relevance is depicted in this example?
- Post hoc ergo propter
- Irrelevant appeal
- Begging the question
- Genetic fallacy - ANSWER-Genetic fallacy
"All dogs have four legs. Grover is a dog, because Grover barks like a dog. So Grover has four legs."
Which statement represents indirect support? - ANSWER-Grover barks like a dog.
"If magicians can pull rabbits out of hats, then magic is real. Magicians can pull rabbits out of hats.
Therefore, I know that magic is real." Which two statements represent conjoint support when mapping
this example to a body of propositions? - ANSWER-If magicians can pull rabbits out of hats, then magic is
real. & Magicians can pull rabbits out of hats.
"If you are not at the game rooting for our high school football team, then you must not have any school
spirit."
Which two statements accurately describe this argument? Choose 2 answers.
- The argument includes a false dichotomy..
- The argument assumes the truth of the conclusion in the premise.
- The argument contains black-and-white thinking.
- The argument mistakes causation for correlation. - ANSWER-- The argument includes a false
dichotomy.
- The argument contains black-and-white thinking.
"Peyton is an excellent dentist, so she sings well." Which statement represents the hidden assumption
that would make this argument valid? - ANSWER-All excellent dentists sing well.
,WGU D265 Critical Thinking: Reason
and Evidence
"Products manufactured in our country are the best because we make the best automobiles," declared
Kennedy. Which two descriptors best characterize Kennedy's comments? - ANSWER-An inference & A
weak argument & A proposition
"Since we cannot go out until the restaurant opens, and given that we are trying to save money, we
should just hang out here until closer to dinner."
Which statements are the premises of the following argument? Choose 2 answers.
- We cannot go out until the restaurant opens.
- We are trying to save money.
- We should just hang out here until closer to dinner.
- We can have a good time without spending money. - ANSWER-- We cannot go out until the restaurant
opens.
- We are trying to save money.
"There are not any good seafood restaurants in this city. I tried two, and they were both terrible." Which
fallacy of weak induction best describes this example? - ANSWER-Hasty generalization
95% of American citizens are billionaires. Sam is an American citizen. Therefore, Sam is a billionaire.
Which set of terms classify this argument? - ANSWER-Valid and unsound & Strong and uncogent
A flight attendant accidentally spills a drink on a passenger. The passenger tells a friend that the flight
attendants for the airline are incompetent.Which fallacy of weak induction best describes this example?
- ANSWER-Hasty generalization
A formal fallacy concerns _______, but an informal fallacy concerns _______. - ANSWER-the structure of
an argument
,WGU D265 Critical Thinking: Reason
and Evidence
By definition, a formal fallacy concerns the structure of an argument and an informal fallacy concerns
the information contained in the argument's structure.
A formal fallacy is a type of _______. - ANSWER-Bad argument structure
Formality is associated with structure.
A FORMAL FALLACY IS A TYPE OF - ANSWER-Bad Argument Structure
A military veteran is engaged in a heated debate about national security with a reporter who has never
served in the military.
Which response best enables the veteran to undermine the reporter's argument?
- Pointing out that the premise of the reporter's argument is flawed
- Pointing out the reporter's well-known reputation for taking faulty positions
- Pointing out the reporter's affiliation with news networks that are known to have a political slant to
their coverage
- Pointing out that the reporter has never served in the military - ANSWER-Pointing out that the premise
of the reporter's argument is flawed
A news outlet issues a correction and an apology for incorrect information it published. In the absence
of further information, what does this news outlet's action suggest about its credibility? - ANSWER-The
source appears credible because it is concerned with accuracy.
A pen is a writing utensil. Sometimes, animals are kept in a pen. Thus, sometimes, animals are kept in a
writing utensil.
What fallacy is found in this argument?
- The fallacy of equivocation
- The fallacy of begging the question
- The fallacy of sweeping generalization
, WGU D265 Critical Thinking: Reason
and Evidence
- The appeal to popularity fallacy - ANSWER-The fallacy of equivocation
A person encounters an internet source with a headline of "This is NOT a hoax!" Which conclusion would
be reasonable for this person to make? - ANSWER-The content is sensationalized.
A person is buying a car. The car salesperson initially quotes a base price. The buyer relies on this initial
quote to make a purchasing decision despite the subsequent addition of options that significantly
increase the final price. Which cognitive bias is the buyer exhibiting? - ANSWER-Anchoring and
adjustment
A person is considering what transportation to use when visiting a friend in a different city. The first
thing that comes to mind is a recent news story about a train crash. They decide that the train is not a
safe travel option. What kind of bias are they exhibiting? - ANSWER-Availability bias
A person notices that many of the news articles, blogs, social media posts, and other information he
sees on the internet mirror his personal likes and dislikes. Based on this information, what can this
person reasonably conclude? - ANSWER-Algorithms may be linking him with like-minded information.
A soccer fan buys a jersey with his favorite player's name and number on the back. When the player's
performance decreases, the fan attributes it to the jersey he bought. Which fallacy of weak induction
best describes this argument? - ANSWER-Post hoc, ergo propter hoc
A teacher talks with a student about failing to turn in homework. The student replies by expressing a
desire to dress up as a superhero for Halloween. Which response best matches this fallacy of relevance?
- ANSWER-Red herring
A university student surveys incoming freshmen to understand how students at the university feel about
a proposed tuition increase. Which statements are true regarding this statistical sample? - ANSWER-It is
not representative. & It is not random.
Ad Hominem Fallacy (Latin for "to the man") - ANSWER-A fallacy of logic in which a person's character or
motive is attacked instead of the person's argument
