WGU D265 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
You should only buy used cars because new cars are expensive and often lose value the moment you
drive it off the lot. So, who wouldn’t want to save money?
What is the conclusion of the given argument?
You should only buy used cars New cars are expensive
New cars often lose value the moment you drive them off the lot Who wouldn't want to save money
Correct!
Explanation:
Even though "you should only buy used cars" is listed first; this is the conclusion of the argument.
Here, the argument is trying to convince you to accept this claim by offering 2 reasons why you
should only buy used cars (because new cars are expensive and because they lose value when you
drive them off the lot). The argument uses the term "because" which is a premise indicator word and
the word "and" which is a linking word that connects the two premises.
The last sentence (who wouldn't want to save money?) is actually not a proposition (definition- an
individual statement that can be true or false) so it is not part of the argument, as arguments only
contain propositions.
Amanda would probably be a great boss because she was born on a Tuesday. Which descriptor best
describes this?
A sound argument
An inference
A strong argument A proposition
Correct! This in an inference.
Explanation:
The first answer (a sound argument) cannot be correct because this is an inductive argument (the
conclusion is "Amanda would probably be a great boss"). The word "sound" is a term that is only used
for deductive arguments.
The third answer (a strong argument) cannot be correct because I am not providing strong reasons
why she would probably make a good boss. Being born on a Tuesday provides weak support to the
conclusion.
The fourth answer (a proposition) is not correct because the example contains two propositions. It can
be true or false that Amanda would be a great boss and it can be true or false that she was born on a
Tuesday.
Therefore, this is an inference (definition: a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and
reasoning). For this class, the term "inference" is interchangeable with the term "argument."
Which sentence is a simple proposition?
WGU is not an online school.
How many people attend WGU?
Go Night Owls!
Brian went to WGU because he got a scholarship and because his wife went to WGU.
Correct! "WGU is an online school" is a simple proposition.
Explanation:
The definition of a simple proposition is an individual statement that can be true or false. The second
answer is a question, which cannot be true or false. The third answer is an exhortation, which cannot
be true or false. The last answer is actually
, a complex proposition (definition: a statement composed of two or more simple propositions). Even
though the first answer is false (WGU is, in fact, an online school), this is still a proposition.
Whenever I smell hamburgers on the grill, it usually means my neighbor is hosting a party. I am
currently smelling hamburgers, so he is hosting a party.
Which term best describes this argument? Deductive
Sound
Inductive Weak
Correct! This is an inductive argument.
Explanation:
Remember the key difference: deductive arguments intend to guarantee their conclusions, while
inductive arguments intend to make their conclusions probable. Note the word "usually" in the first
premise- this suggests that I am making a conclusion (he is hosting a party) that is probable, not
guaranteed. Thus, the first answer (deductive) and the second answer (sound) cannot be correct, as
both words only apply to deductive arguments. Arguments are considered sound if they are deductive,
valid, and contain true premises.
The fourth answer (weak) is incorrect because I am providing strong reasons to support my
conclusion. Think about what "usually" means (more often than not, or greater than 50% of the time)
Now ask: if it was true that smelling hamburgers meant that my neighbor was hosting a party more
often then not, is it reasonable to think that he was hosting a party when I smelled hamburgers? Yes-
most of the time this conclusion would be plausible, so this is an inductive, strong argument.
Abraham Lincoln was 9 feet tall.
Which descriptor accurately characterizes this sentence? Weak argument
Valid argument
Statement Inference
Correct! This is a statement.
Explanation:
In this class, the word "statement" is interchangeable with the word "proposition." Both words refer to
a sentence that can be true or false. It is false that Abraham Lincoln was 9 feet tall, so this is a
statement/proposition.
The three remaining terms all deal with different types of arguments. "Inference" is another word for
argument, and all arguments must contain at least one premise and a conclusion. The first answer
uses an inductive word (weak) and the second answer uses a deductive word (valid), but neither
answer is correct because this example contains only an assertion.
She has eaten lunch every day at noon for 45 years. Therefore, she will eat lunch tomorrow at noon
as well. Which term best describes this argument?
Valid
Strong Deductive Weak
Correct! This is a strong argument.
Explanation:
Arguments whose conclusion is a claim about the future, where it is made based on the way things
have typically happened in the past, are inductive. That's because, even if experience provides a
good basis for making predictions, the future is not fully knowable and can always surprise us.
Because of this, the first answer choice (valid) and the third answer choice (deductive) can not be
correct, as these are terms reserved for deductive arguments.
You should only buy used cars because new cars are expensive and often lose value the moment you
drive it off the lot. So, who wouldn’t want to save money?
What is the conclusion of the given argument?
You should only buy used cars New cars are expensive
New cars often lose value the moment you drive them off the lot Who wouldn't want to save money
Correct!
Explanation:
Even though "you should only buy used cars" is listed first; this is the conclusion of the argument.
Here, the argument is trying to convince you to accept this claim by offering 2 reasons why you
should only buy used cars (because new cars are expensive and because they lose value when you
drive them off the lot). The argument uses the term "because" which is a premise indicator word and
the word "and" which is a linking word that connects the two premises.
The last sentence (who wouldn't want to save money?) is actually not a proposition (definition- an
individual statement that can be true or false) so it is not part of the argument, as arguments only
contain propositions.
Amanda would probably be a great boss because she was born on a Tuesday. Which descriptor best
describes this?
A sound argument
An inference
A strong argument A proposition
Correct! This in an inference.
Explanation:
The first answer (a sound argument) cannot be correct because this is an inductive argument (the
conclusion is "Amanda would probably be a great boss"). The word "sound" is a term that is only used
for deductive arguments.
The third answer (a strong argument) cannot be correct because I am not providing strong reasons
why she would probably make a good boss. Being born on a Tuesday provides weak support to the
conclusion.
The fourth answer (a proposition) is not correct because the example contains two propositions. It can
be true or false that Amanda would be a great boss and it can be true or false that she was born on a
Tuesday.
Therefore, this is an inference (definition: a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and
reasoning). For this class, the term "inference" is interchangeable with the term "argument."
Which sentence is a simple proposition?
WGU is not an online school.
How many people attend WGU?
Go Night Owls!
Brian went to WGU because he got a scholarship and because his wife went to WGU.
Correct! "WGU is an online school" is a simple proposition.
Explanation:
The definition of a simple proposition is an individual statement that can be true or false. The second
answer is a question, which cannot be true or false. The third answer is an exhortation, which cannot
be true or false. The last answer is actually
, a complex proposition (definition: a statement composed of two or more simple propositions). Even
though the first answer is false (WGU is, in fact, an online school), this is still a proposition.
Whenever I smell hamburgers on the grill, it usually means my neighbor is hosting a party. I am
currently smelling hamburgers, so he is hosting a party.
Which term best describes this argument? Deductive
Sound
Inductive Weak
Correct! This is an inductive argument.
Explanation:
Remember the key difference: deductive arguments intend to guarantee their conclusions, while
inductive arguments intend to make their conclusions probable. Note the word "usually" in the first
premise- this suggests that I am making a conclusion (he is hosting a party) that is probable, not
guaranteed. Thus, the first answer (deductive) and the second answer (sound) cannot be correct, as
both words only apply to deductive arguments. Arguments are considered sound if they are deductive,
valid, and contain true premises.
The fourth answer (weak) is incorrect because I am providing strong reasons to support my
conclusion. Think about what "usually" means (more often than not, or greater than 50% of the time)
Now ask: if it was true that smelling hamburgers meant that my neighbor was hosting a party more
often then not, is it reasonable to think that he was hosting a party when I smelled hamburgers? Yes-
most of the time this conclusion would be plausible, so this is an inductive, strong argument.
Abraham Lincoln was 9 feet tall.
Which descriptor accurately characterizes this sentence? Weak argument
Valid argument
Statement Inference
Correct! This is a statement.
Explanation:
In this class, the word "statement" is interchangeable with the word "proposition." Both words refer to
a sentence that can be true or false. It is false that Abraham Lincoln was 9 feet tall, so this is a
statement/proposition.
The three remaining terms all deal with different types of arguments. "Inference" is another word for
argument, and all arguments must contain at least one premise and a conclusion. The first answer
uses an inductive word (weak) and the second answer uses a deductive word (valid), but neither
answer is correct because this example contains only an assertion.
She has eaten lunch every day at noon for 45 years. Therefore, she will eat lunch tomorrow at noon
as well. Which term best describes this argument?
Valid
Strong Deductive Weak
Correct! This is a strong argument.
Explanation:
Arguments whose conclusion is a claim about the future, where it is made based on the way things
have typically happened in the past, are inductive. That's because, even if experience provides a
good basis for making predictions, the future is not fully knowable and can always surprise us.
Because of this, the first answer choice (valid) and the third answer choice (deductive) can not be
correct, as these are terms reserved for deductive arguments.
