WGU D265 Section 1 Exam
PrepCritical Thinking Questions,
Answers, and Detailed Rationales
## PROPOSITIONS AND NON-PROPOSITIONS
**1. Which of the following best defines a proposition?**
- A) A sentence that asks a question
- B) A statement that can be true or false
- C) An emotional reaction to an argument
- D) A command or request
**Answer: B**
*Rationale: A proposition is a declarative statement that can be
classified as true or false. Questions, commands, and exclamations are
non-propositions because they do not assert a claim that can be
verified .*
**2. Which sentence is a non-proposition?**
- A) The earth is the third planet from the sun
,- B) Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world
- C) Where are the keys to my car?
- D) If the burglar did not go out the front door, they must have gone
out a window
**Answer: C**
*Rationale: "Where are the keys to my car?" is a question, not a
statement that can be true or false. Questions, commands, and
exclamations are non-propositions .*
**3. Which sentence expresses a proposition?**
- A) Where is the president right now?
- B) Did the company really close that deal?
- C) Let's go ask whether the deal was closed
- D) It has had a great year
**Answer: D**
*Rationale: "It has had a great year" is a declarative statement that can
be evaluated as true or false. The other options are questions or
commands .*
**4. Simple propositions have what characteristic?**
- A) They are composed of multiple complex statements
,- B) They have no internal logical structure
- C) They always contain conditional statements
- D) They require multiple premises to support them
**Answer: B**
*Rationale: Simple propositions have no internal logical structure—
whether they are true or false does not depend on whether part of
them is true or false. They are simply true or false on their own .*
**5. Which sentence expresses a complex proposition?**
- A) Birthday parties can be really fun
- B) The cat ate the food but did not like it
- C) Too many employees are used to high-stress work environments
- D) Why did the monkey escape?
**Answer: B**
*Rationale: "The cat ate the food but did not like it" is a complex
proposition composed of two simple propositions connected by "but."
Its truth depends on whether both parts are true .*
**6. Which is a simple proposition?**
- A) If the new employee wants to succeed, then they need to show up
on time
, - B) The new employee wants to succeed
- C) How many times have we heard the manager complain?
- D) The employees look out for each other
**Answer: B**
*Rationale: "The new employee wants to succeed" is a simple
proposition with no internal logical structure. It can stand alone as true
or false .*
**7. Which of the following is NOT a proposition?**
- A) The sky is blue
- B) Please close the door
- C) All humans are mortal
- D) 2 + 2 = 4
**Answer: B**
*Rationale: "Please close the door" is a command, which cannot be
true or false. It is therefore a non-proposition .*
---
## ARGUMENTS AND NON-ARGUMENTS
PrepCritical Thinking Questions,
Answers, and Detailed Rationales
## PROPOSITIONS AND NON-PROPOSITIONS
**1. Which of the following best defines a proposition?**
- A) A sentence that asks a question
- B) A statement that can be true or false
- C) An emotional reaction to an argument
- D) A command or request
**Answer: B**
*Rationale: A proposition is a declarative statement that can be
classified as true or false. Questions, commands, and exclamations are
non-propositions because they do not assert a claim that can be
verified .*
**2. Which sentence is a non-proposition?**
- A) The earth is the third planet from the sun
,- B) Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world
- C) Where are the keys to my car?
- D) If the burglar did not go out the front door, they must have gone
out a window
**Answer: C**
*Rationale: "Where are the keys to my car?" is a question, not a
statement that can be true or false. Questions, commands, and
exclamations are non-propositions .*
**3. Which sentence expresses a proposition?**
- A) Where is the president right now?
- B) Did the company really close that deal?
- C) Let's go ask whether the deal was closed
- D) It has had a great year
**Answer: D**
*Rationale: "It has had a great year" is a declarative statement that can
be evaluated as true or false. The other options are questions or
commands .*
**4. Simple propositions have what characteristic?**
- A) They are composed of multiple complex statements
,- B) They have no internal logical structure
- C) They always contain conditional statements
- D) They require multiple premises to support them
**Answer: B**
*Rationale: Simple propositions have no internal logical structure—
whether they are true or false does not depend on whether part of
them is true or false. They are simply true or false on their own .*
**5. Which sentence expresses a complex proposition?**
- A) Birthday parties can be really fun
- B) The cat ate the food but did not like it
- C) Too many employees are used to high-stress work environments
- D) Why did the monkey escape?
**Answer: B**
*Rationale: "The cat ate the food but did not like it" is a complex
proposition composed of two simple propositions connected by "but."
Its truth depends on whether both parts are true .*
**6. Which is a simple proposition?**
- A) If the new employee wants to succeed, then they need to show up
on time
, - B) The new employee wants to succeed
- C) How many times have we heard the manager complain?
- D) The employees look out for each other
**Answer: B**
*Rationale: "The new employee wants to succeed" is a simple
proposition with no internal logical structure. It can stand alone as true
or false .*
**7. Which of the following is NOT a proposition?**
- A) The sky is blue
- B) Please close the door
- C) All humans are mortal
- D) 2 + 2 = 4
**Answer: B**
*Rationale: "Please close the door" is a command, which cannot be
true or false. It is therefore a non-proposition .*
---
## ARGUMENTS AND NON-ARGUMENTS
