WGU D265 CRITICAL THINKING - REASON AND EVIDENCE EXAM
2025 WITH 250 PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS/
WGU D265 PRACTICE TEST 2025 (NEW!)
The Bright Tooth toothpaste company runs the following advertisement: "Use Bright Tooth
toothpaste. Nine out of ten dentists recommend it!" You decide to research this claim. You discover
that the Bright Tooth toothpaste company surveyed only ten carefully selected dentists, nine of
whom expressed support for Bright Tooth toothpaste. You also learn that, as of 2019, there were
200,419 dentists in the United States alone. Which error is committed in the advertisement?
- Selection bias
- Thinking Slow
- Selective attention
- Unfair stereotype - answer-Selection bias
Which is the best example of System 1 thinking?
- Researching different candidates' tax plans to determine how to vote
- Automatically forming a judgment about someone based on how they are dressed
- Splitting the bill with friends at a restaurant
- Consulting multiple sources to form an investment plan - answer-Automatically forming a
judgment about someone based on how they are dressed
Which is the best example of System 2 thinking?
- Choosing the best college for one's child
- Realizing, due to a crashing sound, that something happened upstairs
- Thinking that food is rotten because it smells bad
- Solving the equation 1+3=? - answer-Choosing the best college for one's child
System 1 Thinking - answer-This is quick, automatic thinking
System 2 Thinking - answer-This is deliberate thinking
,When asked how likely it is for an urban cyclist to get in an accident, a survey respondent
remembered that their friend got into a cycling accident last week. This makes them conclude that
cycling accidents are fairly likely.
Which statement is correct about the source of bias in the passage and how to avoid its impact?
- This is availability bias. It is best avoided by carefully considering whether the examples that come
to mind are truly representative of the world at large.
- This is confirmation bias. It is best avoided by seeking out the best arguments for alternative
viewpoints.
- This is availability bias. It is best avoided by going with one's instincts and avoiding too much
deliberation.
- This is confirmation bias. It is best avoided by staying fixed in one's beliefs and not allowing outside
influences to change one's views. - answer-This is availability bias. It is best avoided by carefully
considering whether the examples that come to mind are truly representative of the world at large.
Which statement about how to respond to bias is correct?
- Different forms of bias are best responded to in different ways, depending on how they impact a
person.
- Since humans are bound to be influenced by bias in everything they do, there is no point in trying
to respond to bias.
- Humans are not influenced by bias.
- All different forms of bias can be responded to in the same way: by putting extra weight on any
conclusion that does not seem immediately plausible. - answer-Different forms of bias are best
responded to in different ways, depending on how they impact a person.
Which piece of information would be the most helpful to know in assessing the credibility of a news
story?
- Whether the political party affiliation of the author is identified
- Whether the article contains video footage
- Whether the name of the author and the publication are identified
- Whether there is widespread agreement with the story on social media - answer-Whether the
name of the author and the publication are identified
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?
- Neither site is credible, unless one of the two is truly an official government website run by a
government agency.
- The site that looks more official with tables, charts, and statistics is more credible because it reflects
professionalism and objectivity.
- It is not feasible to determine which site is more credible from the information provided.
- The site that looks less official and does not include tables, charts, and statistics is more credible
because it is more straightforward and objective. - 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?
- Confidently, because the source likely has exclusive information.
- Skeptically, because the source may lack credibility.
- Confidently, because the source is concerned with telling the true story.
- Skeptically, because the source reflects a formal fallacy. - answer-Skeptically, because the source
may lack credibility.
Two politicians are engaged in a debate about healthcare. The first politician claims that human
beings have a right to access healthcare. The second politician responds that this claim is unclear. He
asks, "What do you mean by 'right' and 'access'?" The first politician responds by claiming that voters
support accessible healthcare.
Which fallacy is the first politician committing?
- The false dilemma fallacy
- The red herring fallacy
- The equivocation fallacy
- The ad hominem fallacy - answer-The red herring fallacy
Which of the following is a fallacy of relevance?
- The fallacy of hasty generalization
- The fallacy of shifting the burden of proof
- The fallacy of anthropomorphism
- The genetic fallacy - answer-The genetic fallacy
, A pen is a writing utensil. Sometimes, animals are kept in a pen. Thus, sometimes, animals are kept in
a writing utensil.
What fallacy is found in this argument?
- The fallacy of equivocation
- The fallacy of begging the question
- The fallacy of sweeping generalization
- The appeal to popularity fallacy - answer-The fallacy of equivocation
Suppose Jones believes that every morning that he steps out of his house with his right foot first, he
will have a good day. Jones believes this because last Tuesday morning he stepped out of his house
with his right foot first. Later in the day, he received a raise at work, his friends took him to lunch,
and he won $500 in the lottery.
Which fallacy did Jones commit?
- The fallacy of appeal to emotion
- The fallacy of wishful thinking
- The fallacy of post hoc ergo propter hoc
- The false dilemma fallacy - answer-The fallacy of post hoc ergo propter hoc
What fallacy occurs when a person reasons that one event is likely to lead to another event due to a
chain of intermediary events, even though the probability of that entire chain being realized is low?
- The slippery slope fallacy
- The fallacy of ad hominem
- The fallacy of avoiding the issue
- The bandwagon fallacy - answer-The slippery slope fallacy
Which of the following is the most pertinent question to ask when trying to identify the fallacy of
begging the question?
- Are the premises known to be true?
- Is the argument relevant to the topic of the debate?
- Are any of the premises of the argument identical to the conclusion of the argument?
- Is the conclusion known to be true? - answer-Are any of the premises of the argument identical
to the conclusion of the argument?
2025 WITH 250 PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS/
WGU D265 PRACTICE TEST 2025 (NEW!)
The Bright Tooth toothpaste company runs the following advertisement: "Use Bright Tooth
toothpaste. Nine out of ten dentists recommend it!" You decide to research this claim. You discover
that the Bright Tooth toothpaste company surveyed only ten carefully selected dentists, nine of
whom expressed support for Bright Tooth toothpaste. You also learn that, as of 2019, there were
200,419 dentists in the United States alone. Which error is committed in the advertisement?
- Selection bias
- Thinking Slow
- Selective attention
- Unfair stereotype - answer-Selection bias
Which is the best example of System 1 thinking?
- Researching different candidates' tax plans to determine how to vote
- Automatically forming a judgment about someone based on how they are dressed
- Splitting the bill with friends at a restaurant
- Consulting multiple sources to form an investment plan - answer-Automatically forming a
judgment about someone based on how they are dressed
Which is the best example of System 2 thinking?
- Choosing the best college for one's child
- Realizing, due to a crashing sound, that something happened upstairs
- Thinking that food is rotten because it smells bad
- Solving the equation 1+3=? - answer-Choosing the best college for one's child
System 1 Thinking - answer-This is quick, automatic thinking
System 2 Thinking - answer-This is deliberate thinking
,When asked how likely it is for an urban cyclist to get in an accident, a survey respondent
remembered that their friend got into a cycling accident last week. This makes them conclude that
cycling accidents are fairly likely.
Which statement is correct about the source of bias in the passage and how to avoid its impact?
- This is availability bias. It is best avoided by carefully considering whether the examples that come
to mind are truly representative of the world at large.
- This is confirmation bias. It is best avoided by seeking out the best arguments for alternative
viewpoints.
- This is availability bias. It is best avoided by going with one's instincts and avoiding too much
deliberation.
- This is confirmation bias. It is best avoided by staying fixed in one's beliefs and not allowing outside
influences to change one's views. - answer-This is availability bias. It is best avoided by carefully
considering whether the examples that come to mind are truly representative of the world at large.
Which statement about how to respond to bias is correct?
- Different forms of bias are best responded to in different ways, depending on how they impact a
person.
- Since humans are bound to be influenced by bias in everything they do, there is no point in trying
to respond to bias.
- Humans are not influenced by bias.
- All different forms of bias can be responded to in the same way: by putting extra weight on any
conclusion that does not seem immediately plausible. - answer-Different forms of bias are best
responded to in different ways, depending on how they impact a person.
Which piece of information would be the most helpful to know in assessing the credibility of a news
story?
- Whether the political party affiliation of the author is identified
- Whether the article contains video footage
- Whether the name of the author and the publication are identified
- Whether there is widespread agreement with the story on social media - answer-Whether the
name of the author and the publication are identified
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?
- Neither site is credible, unless one of the two is truly an official government website run by a
government agency.
- The site that looks more official with tables, charts, and statistics is more credible because it reflects
professionalism and objectivity.
- It is not feasible to determine which site is more credible from the information provided.
- The site that looks less official and does not include tables, charts, and statistics is more credible
because it is more straightforward and objective. - 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?
- Confidently, because the source likely has exclusive information.
- Skeptically, because the source may lack credibility.
- Confidently, because the source is concerned with telling the true story.
- Skeptically, because the source reflects a formal fallacy. - answer-Skeptically, because the source
may lack credibility.
Two politicians are engaged in a debate about healthcare. The first politician claims that human
beings have a right to access healthcare. The second politician responds that this claim is unclear. He
asks, "What do you mean by 'right' and 'access'?" The first politician responds by claiming that voters
support accessible healthcare.
Which fallacy is the first politician committing?
- The false dilemma fallacy
- The red herring fallacy
- The equivocation fallacy
- The ad hominem fallacy - answer-The red herring fallacy
Which of the following is a fallacy of relevance?
- The fallacy of hasty generalization
- The fallacy of shifting the burden of proof
- The fallacy of anthropomorphism
- The genetic fallacy - answer-The genetic fallacy
, A pen is a writing utensil. Sometimes, animals are kept in a pen. Thus, sometimes, animals are kept in
a writing utensil.
What fallacy is found in this argument?
- The fallacy of equivocation
- The fallacy of begging the question
- The fallacy of sweeping generalization
- The appeal to popularity fallacy - answer-The fallacy of equivocation
Suppose Jones believes that every morning that he steps out of his house with his right foot first, he
will have a good day. Jones believes this because last Tuesday morning he stepped out of his house
with his right foot first. Later in the day, he received a raise at work, his friends took him to lunch,
and he won $500 in the lottery.
Which fallacy did Jones commit?
- The fallacy of appeal to emotion
- The fallacy of wishful thinking
- The fallacy of post hoc ergo propter hoc
- The false dilemma fallacy - answer-The fallacy of post hoc ergo propter hoc
What fallacy occurs when a person reasons that one event is likely to lead to another event due to a
chain of intermediary events, even though the probability of that entire chain being realized is low?
- The slippery slope fallacy
- The fallacy of ad hominem
- The fallacy of avoiding the issue
- The bandwagon fallacy - answer-The slippery slope fallacy
Which of the following is the most pertinent question to ask when trying to identify the fallacy of
begging the question?
- Are the premises known to be true?
- Is the argument relevant to the topic of the debate?
- Are any of the premises of the argument identical to the conclusion of the argument?
- Is the conclusion known to be true? - answer-Are any of the premises of the argument identical
to the conclusion of the argument?
