D265 - WGU - Critical Thinking -
Reason and Evidence Latest Exam
Guide 2026.Brand New Exam!!
PROPOSITIONS - - ANSWER-Are statements that can be true or false
NON-PROPOSITONS - - ANSWER-Are sentences that are not statements about
matters of fact or fiction. They do not make a claim that can be true or false.
SIMPLE PROPOSITIONS - - ANSWER-Have no internal logic structure, meaning
whether they are true or false does not depend on whether a part of them is true or
false. They are simply true or false on their own. (Example: Harry Potter wears glasses.
The sky is blue.)
COMPLEX PROPOSITIONS - - ANSWER-Have internal logic structure, meaning they
are composed of simple propositions. Whether they are true or false depends on
whether their parts are true or false. (Example: The sky is blue, but it does not look blue
to me right now. The cat ate the food, but he did not like it. The GDP of Canada is either
$3 trillion or $12 trillion.)
Words used to identify Independent Propositions - - ANSWER-AND, OR, EITHER, BUT,
IF, THEN.
CONCLUSION INDICATORS - - ANSWER-THEREFORE, SO, IT FOLLOWS THAT,
HENCE, THUS, ENTAILS THAT, WE MAY CONCLUDE THAT, IMPLIES THAT,
WHEREFORE, AND AS A RESULT.
PREMISE INDICATORS - - ANSWER-BECAUSE, FOR, GIVEN THAT, AS, SINCE, AS
INDICATED BY.
DEDUCTIVE ARGUMENTS - - ANSWER-Arguments where the premises guarantee or
necessitate the conclusion.
-mathematical arguments, logical arguments, arguments from definition.
INDUCTION ARGUMENTS - - ANSWER-Arguments where the premises make the
conclusion probable.
-analogies, authority, causal inferences, extrapolations, etc.
INFERENCE TO THE BEST EXPLANATION OR ABDUCTION - - ANSWER-Arguments
where the best available explanation is chosen as the correct explanation.
FORMAL FALLACY - - ANSWER-Concerns the structure of an argument
, INFORMAL FALLACY - - ANSWER-Concerns the informational content of an argument
A FORMAL FALLACY IS A TYPE OF - - ANSWER-Bad Argument Structure
Which piece of information would be the most helpful to know in assessing the
credibility of a news story? - - ANSWER-Whether the name of the author and the
publication are identified
Which questions are most appropriate for evaluating the credibility of an information
source? - - ANSWER-Who funded it? & Does it try to get you to distrust other sources?
While researching a topic on the internet, a student encounters two different websites,
one of that looks more official than the other and includes tables, charts, and statistics,
while the other does not.
What is the line of reasoning this student should employ to determine which site is more
credible? - - ANSWER-It is not feasible to determine which site is more credible from
the information provided.
In which way should an information source be approached if it is stating that it is the
only source of real information and that other sources cannot be trusted? - - ANSWER-
Skeptically, because the source may lack credibility.
PRINCIPLE OF CHARITY - - ANSWER-The principle of charity suggests we should try
to understand ideas before criticizing them.
Which of the following are reasons for applying the principle of charity? - - ANSWER-It
is morally right to give others the benefit of the doubt.
It allows for a clearer understanding of the issue.
Smith is committed to the belief that technological advancement is always beneficial
and thus never detrimental to human life. Smith reads a carefully written and sufficiently
argued essay in which the author contends that the human adoption of any new
technology involves both advantages and disadvantages to its adopters. Since Smith is
a loyal technophile, Smith accepts the author's claims about the advantages of
technology but rejects the author's claims about the disadvantages of technology.
Which cognitive bias is Smith demonstrating? - - ANSWER-Confirmation Bias
CONFIRMATION BIAS - - ANSWER-the tendency to interpret new evidence as
confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories.
COGNITIVE BIAS - - ANSWER-a systematic thought process caused by the tendency
of the human brain to simplify information processing through a filter of personal
experience and preferences.
Reason and Evidence Latest Exam
Guide 2026.Brand New Exam!!
PROPOSITIONS - - ANSWER-Are statements that can be true or false
NON-PROPOSITONS - - ANSWER-Are sentences that are not statements about
matters of fact or fiction. They do not make a claim that can be true or false.
SIMPLE PROPOSITIONS - - ANSWER-Have no internal logic structure, meaning
whether they are true or false does not depend on whether a part of them is true or
false. They are simply true or false on their own. (Example: Harry Potter wears glasses.
The sky is blue.)
COMPLEX PROPOSITIONS - - ANSWER-Have internal logic structure, meaning they
are composed of simple propositions. Whether they are true or false depends on
whether their parts are true or false. (Example: The sky is blue, but it does not look blue
to me right now. The cat ate the food, but he did not like it. The GDP of Canada is either
$3 trillion or $12 trillion.)
Words used to identify Independent Propositions - - ANSWER-AND, OR, EITHER, BUT,
IF, THEN.
CONCLUSION INDICATORS - - ANSWER-THEREFORE, SO, IT FOLLOWS THAT,
HENCE, THUS, ENTAILS THAT, WE MAY CONCLUDE THAT, IMPLIES THAT,
WHEREFORE, AND AS A RESULT.
PREMISE INDICATORS - - ANSWER-BECAUSE, FOR, GIVEN THAT, AS, SINCE, AS
INDICATED BY.
DEDUCTIVE ARGUMENTS - - ANSWER-Arguments where the premises guarantee or
necessitate the conclusion.
-mathematical arguments, logical arguments, arguments from definition.
INDUCTION ARGUMENTS - - ANSWER-Arguments where the premises make the
conclusion probable.
-analogies, authority, causal inferences, extrapolations, etc.
INFERENCE TO THE BEST EXPLANATION OR ABDUCTION - - ANSWER-Arguments
where the best available explanation is chosen as the correct explanation.
FORMAL FALLACY - - ANSWER-Concerns the structure of an argument
, INFORMAL FALLACY - - ANSWER-Concerns the informational content of an argument
A FORMAL FALLACY IS A TYPE OF - - ANSWER-Bad Argument Structure
Which piece of information would be the most helpful to know in assessing the
credibility of a news story? - - ANSWER-Whether the name of the author and the
publication are identified
Which questions are most appropriate for evaluating the credibility of an information
source? - - ANSWER-Who funded it? & Does it try to get you to distrust other sources?
While researching a topic on the internet, a student encounters two different websites,
one of that looks more official than the other and includes tables, charts, and statistics,
while the other does not.
What is the line of reasoning this student should employ to determine which site is more
credible? - - ANSWER-It is not feasible to determine which site is more credible from
the information provided.
In which way should an information source be approached if it is stating that it is the
only source of real information and that other sources cannot be trusted? - - ANSWER-
Skeptically, because the source may lack credibility.
PRINCIPLE OF CHARITY - - ANSWER-The principle of charity suggests we should try
to understand ideas before criticizing them.
Which of the following are reasons for applying the principle of charity? - - ANSWER-It
is morally right to give others the benefit of the doubt.
It allows for a clearer understanding of the issue.
Smith is committed to the belief that technological advancement is always beneficial
and thus never detrimental to human life. Smith reads a carefully written and sufficiently
argued essay in which the author contends that the human adoption of any new
technology involves both advantages and disadvantages to its adopters. Since Smith is
a loyal technophile, Smith accepts the author's claims about the advantages of
technology but rejects the author's claims about the disadvantages of technology.
Which cognitive bias is Smith demonstrating? - - ANSWER-Confirmation Bias
CONFIRMATION BIAS - - ANSWER-the tendency to interpret new evidence as
confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories.
COGNITIVE BIAS - - ANSWER-a systematic thought process caused by the tendency
of the human brain to simplify information processing through a filter of personal
experience and preferences.
