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WGU D265 Critical Thinking: Reason and Evidence
100 Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales
Section 1: Propositions and Non-Propositions (Questions 1–20)
1. Which of the following best defines a "proposition" in the context of logic?
A. A sentence that expresses a command or request
B. A statement that can be either true or false
C. A rhetorical question designed to persuade
D. An emotional exclamation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A proposition is a declarative statement that asserts a fact and therefore has a
truth value (true or false).
2. Which of the following is a NON-proposition?
A. The capital of France is Paris
B. If you study hard, you will pass the exam
C. Where are the keys to the car?
D. All humans are mortal
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Questions do not assert a claim that can be true or false; they are requests for
information, not propositions.
3. Which sentence expresses a complex proposition?
A. The sky is blue
B. The cat ate the food, but did not like it
C. Please sit down
D. She runs fast
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A complex proposition contains internal logical structure (connectives like "and,"
"or," "if...then"). This sentence combines two simple propositions.
4. What is the key feature of a simple proposition?
A. An internal structure
B. Truth value depends on its parts
C. No internal structure
D. Contains multiple propositions
Correct Answer: C
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.
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5. Which of the following is a simple proposition?
A. The person had cake, but did not enjoy it
B. I am a bird or I am a human
C. Empathy should be practiced by everyone
D. Either I am smart, or they are fools
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Option C expresses a single claim with no internal logical connectives, making it a
simple proposition.
6. Which sentence is a non-proposition?
A. If the burglar did not go out the front door, they must have gone out a window
B. The earth is the third planet from the sun
C. Where are the keys to my car?
D. Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A question is a non-proposition because it does not make a truth-apt claim.
7. "Did the company really close that deal? It has had a great year. Where is the president
right now?" Which sentence expresses a proposition?
A. Did the company really close that deal?
B. It has had a great year
C. Where is the president right now?
D. None of the above
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: "It has had a great year" is a declarative statement that can be true or false,
making it a proposition.
8. If the computer is not fixed, then the company either needs to buy a new one or will not
be able to keep up productivity. Which of the following breaks down this complex
proposition into simple propositions?
A. The computer is not fixed. The company needs to buy a new computer
B. The company does not have enough computers
C. The computer is not fixed
D. The company either needs to buy a new one or will not be able to keep up productivity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: "The computer is not fixed" is a simple proposition expressed within the complex
proposition.
9. Which of the following is always true of a proposition?
A. It expresses an opinion
B. It can be either true or false
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C. It is always persuasive
D. It must contain two or more premises
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The defining characteristic of a proposition is that it has a truth value — it can be
either true or false.
10. Which two descriptions accurately characterize the nature of human beliefs?
A. Subject to bias
B. Always rational
C. Sometimes irrational
D. Never influenced by emotion
Correct Answer: A and C
Rationale: Human beliefs are subject to bias and are sometimes irrational.
11. "The grass is green in color" is an example of:
A. A non-proposition
B. A proposition
C. A complex proposition
D. A question
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This is a declarative statement that can be true or false, making it a proposition.
12. Which is a non-proposition?
A. The earth is flat
B. The sun is a star
C. Do not work on that essay
D. Red is a primary color
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Commands are non-propositions because they do not make a claim that can be
true or false.
13. Which sentence expresses a complex proposition?
A. Birthday parties can be really fun
B. Too many employees are used to high-stress work environments
C. Why did the monkey escape, and who is responsible?
D. None of the above
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: "Birthday parties can be really fun" is a simple proposition. Complex propositions
contain internal logical structure.
WGU D265 Critical Thinking: Reason and Evidence
100 Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales
Section 1: Propositions and Non-Propositions (Questions 1–20)
1. Which of the following best defines a "proposition" in the context of logic?
A. A sentence that expresses a command or request
B. A statement that can be either true or false
C. A rhetorical question designed to persuade
D. An emotional exclamation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A proposition is a declarative statement that asserts a fact and therefore has a
truth value (true or false).
2. Which of the following is a NON-proposition?
A. The capital of France is Paris
B. If you study hard, you will pass the exam
C. Where are the keys to the car?
D. All humans are mortal
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Questions do not assert a claim that can be true or false; they are requests for
information, not propositions.
3. Which sentence expresses a complex proposition?
A. The sky is blue
B. The cat ate the food, but did not like it
C. Please sit down
D. She runs fast
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A complex proposition contains internal logical structure (connectives like "and,"
"or," "if...then"). This sentence combines two simple propositions.
4. What is the key feature of a simple proposition?
A. An internal structure
B. Truth value depends on its parts
C. No internal structure
D. Contains multiple propositions
Correct Answer: C
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.
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5. Which of the following is a simple proposition?
A. The person had cake, but did not enjoy it
B. I am a bird or I am a human
C. Empathy should be practiced by everyone
D. Either I am smart, or they are fools
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Option C expresses a single claim with no internal logical connectives, making it a
simple proposition.
6. Which sentence is a non-proposition?
A. If the burglar did not go out the front door, they must have gone out a window
B. The earth is the third planet from the sun
C. Where are the keys to my car?
D. Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A question is a non-proposition because it does not make a truth-apt claim.
7. "Did the company really close that deal? It has had a great year. Where is the president
right now?" Which sentence expresses a proposition?
A. Did the company really close that deal?
B. It has had a great year
C. Where is the president right now?
D. None of the above
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: "It has had a great year" is a declarative statement that can be true or false,
making it a proposition.
8. If the computer is not fixed, then the company either needs to buy a new one or will not
be able to keep up productivity. Which of the following breaks down this complex
proposition into simple propositions?
A. The computer is not fixed. The company needs to buy a new computer
B. The company does not have enough computers
C. The computer is not fixed
D. The company either needs to buy a new one or will not be able to keep up productivity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: "The computer is not fixed" is a simple proposition expressed within the complex
proposition.
9. Which of the following is always true of a proposition?
A. It expresses an opinion
B. It can be either true or false
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C. It is always persuasive
D. It must contain two or more premises
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The defining characteristic of a proposition is that it has a truth value — it can be
either true or false.
10. Which two descriptions accurately characterize the nature of human beliefs?
A. Subject to bias
B. Always rational
C. Sometimes irrational
D. Never influenced by emotion
Correct Answer: A and C
Rationale: Human beliefs are subject to bias and are sometimes irrational.
11. "The grass is green in color" is an example of:
A. A non-proposition
B. A proposition
C. A complex proposition
D. A question
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This is a declarative statement that can be true or false, making it a proposition.
12. Which is a non-proposition?
A. The earth is flat
B. The sun is a star
C. Do not work on that essay
D. Red is a primary color
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Commands are non-propositions because they do not make a claim that can be
true or false.
13. Which sentence expresses a complex proposition?
A. Birthday parties can be really fun
B. Too many employees are used to high-stress work environments
C. Why did the monkey escape, and who is responsible?
D. None of the above
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: "Birthday parties can be really fun" is a simple proposition. Complex propositions
contain internal logical structure.
