WGU D265 Critical Thinking: Reasoning and Evidence | Objective
Assessment 2026/2027 Complete Objective Assessment |
Actual Questions & Verified Answers | Critical Thinking
Competency Exam | Pass Guarantee
Section 1 – Evaluating Arguments (Questions 1–15)
Passage 1
Instagram post: “I switched to a four-day workweek and my anxiety vanished. Every
company should adopt this schedule so employees can be mentally healthy.”
1. Which of the following best identifies the conclusion of the argument?
A. A four-day workweek caused the poster’s anxiety to vanish.
B. Every company should adopt a four-day workweek.
C. Employees can be mentally healthy only if they work four days.
D. Anxiety is the main problem facing workers today.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The poster’s ultimate claim is prescriptive—“Every company should adopt this
schedule.” The personal anecdote (premise) is offered to support this general policy
recommendation. A restates the premise; C overstates the premise; D introduces an
irrelevant side issue.
Passage 2
Local editorial: “River City’s homicide rate fell 18 % last year, three months after the
police department added 20 neighborhood patrol officers. Clearly, the extra officers
caused the drop in homicides.”
, 2. Which choice best identifies the unstated assumption required by the editorial’s
reasoning?
A. No other city has experienced a homicide-rate decline.
B. The only possible cause of the decline was the additional officers.
C. Neighborhood patrol officers are more effective than traffic officers.
D. The homicide rate had been stable in previous years.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The argument moves from correlation to causation, assuming the officers
alone explain the drop. B states this exclusivity; A is extreme and unnecessary; C
compares officer types never mentioned; D, if false, would weaken but is not required by
the reasoning.
Passage 3
Podcast ad: “Our protein powder contains no artificial sweeteners, so it’s the healthiest
choice for your fitness goals.”
3. The argument’s conclusion rests on which implicit premise?
A. Artificial sweeteners are the only dietary factor that affects health.
B. Healthiness is determined solely by the absence of artificial sweeteners.
C. All fitness goals require protein supplementation.
D. Consumers prefer unsweetened products.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The speaker treats “no artificial sweeteners” as sufficient for “healthiest,”
assuming absence alone defines health. A is too absolute; C and D are outside the
argument’s scope.
Passage 4
, Tweet: “If you wouldn’t drink and drive, you shouldn’t text and drive. Both actions risk
lives. Therefore, texting while driving should carry the same legal penalties as drunk
driving.”
4. Which of the following best identifies the argument’s main conclusion?
A. Texting while driving risks lives.
B. Drunk driving and texting while driving are morally equivalent.
C. Texting while driving should carry the same legal penalties as drunk driving.
D. People who text and drive would also drink and drive.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The final sentence is a prescriptive claim about legal penalties, supported by
the analogy. A and B are premises; D is an unsupported psychological claim.
Passage 5
Online review: “This laptop lasted me seven years without a single crash. Therefore, this
brand’s hardware is exceptionally reliable.”
5. The reviewer’s reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism because it…
A. Relies on a single instance to generalize about an entire brand.
B. Confuses reliability with speed.
C. Assumes all users treat their laptops gently.
D. Ignores the role of software updates.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: One data point is insufficient to support a broad generalization about the
brand. B, C, and D raise possible confounds but are not the central weakness.
Passage 6
Assessment 2026/2027 Complete Objective Assessment |
Actual Questions & Verified Answers | Critical Thinking
Competency Exam | Pass Guarantee
Section 1 – Evaluating Arguments (Questions 1–15)
Passage 1
Instagram post: “I switched to a four-day workweek and my anxiety vanished. Every
company should adopt this schedule so employees can be mentally healthy.”
1. Which of the following best identifies the conclusion of the argument?
A. A four-day workweek caused the poster’s anxiety to vanish.
B. Every company should adopt a four-day workweek.
C. Employees can be mentally healthy only if they work four days.
D. Anxiety is the main problem facing workers today.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The poster’s ultimate claim is prescriptive—“Every company should adopt this
schedule.” The personal anecdote (premise) is offered to support this general policy
recommendation. A restates the premise; C overstates the premise; D introduces an
irrelevant side issue.
Passage 2
Local editorial: “River City’s homicide rate fell 18 % last year, three months after the
police department added 20 neighborhood patrol officers. Clearly, the extra officers
caused the drop in homicides.”
, 2. Which choice best identifies the unstated assumption required by the editorial’s
reasoning?
A. No other city has experienced a homicide-rate decline.
B. The only possible cause of the decline was the additional officers.
C. Neighborhood patrol officers are more effective than traffic officers.
D. The homicide rate had been stable in previous years.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The argument moves from correlation to causation, assuming the officers
alone explain the drop. B states this exclusivity; A is extreme and unnecessary; C
compares officer types never mentioned; D, if false, would weaken but is not required by
the reasoning.
Passage 3
Podcast ad: “Our protein powder contains no artificial sweeteners, so it’s the healthiest
choice for your fitness goals.”
3. The argument’s conclusion rests on which implicit premise?
A. Artificial sweeteners are the only dietary factor that affects health.
B. Healthiness is determined solely by the absence of artificial sweeteners.
C. All fitness goals require protein supplementation.
D. Consumers prefer unsweetened products.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The speaker treats “no artificial sweeteners” as sufficient for “healthiest,”
assuming absence alone defines health. A is too absolute; C and D are outside the
argument’s scope.
Passage 4
, Tweet: “If you wouldn’t drink and drive, you shouldn’t text and drive. Both actions risk
lives. Therefore, texting while driving should carry the same legal penalties as drunk
driving.”
4. Which of the following best identifies the argument’s main conclusion?
A. Texting while driving risks lives.
B. Drunk driving and texting while driving are morally equivalent.
C. Texting while driving should carry the same legal penalties as drunk driving.
D. People who text and drive would also drink and drive.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The final sentence is a prescriptive claim about legal penalties, supported by
the analogy. A and B are premises; D is an unsupported psychological claim.
Passage 5
Online review: “This laptop lasted me seven years without a single crash. Therefore, this
brand’s hardware is exceptionally reliable.”
5. The reviewer’s reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism because it…
A. Relies on a single instance to generalize about an entire brand.
B. Confuses reliability with speed.
C. Assumes all users treat their laptops gently.
D. Ignores the role of software updates.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: One data point is insufficient to support a broad generalization about the
brand. B, C, and D raise possible confounds but are not the central weakness.
Passage 6
