WGU D265 Critical Thinking: Reason and
Evidence UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Critical Thinking - CORRECT ANSWER - the ability to think carefully about thinking
and reasoning
Propositions - CORRECT ANSWER - Statements that can be true or false.
Non-Propositions - CORRECT ANSWER - Are not statements about matters of fact. They
do not make a claim that can be true or false.
Simple Propositions - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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.)
Premise - CORRECT ANSWER - is a proposition lending support to the conclusion
Conclusion - CORRECT ANSWER - is a proposition that is supported by premises
Arguments can go wrong in only two ways: - CORRECT ANSWER - - Bad inferential
structure
- False premise
, Bad inferential structure - CORRECT ANSWER - the premises do not, in fact,
demonstrate or maybe even support the conclusion.
False Premise - CORRECT ANSWER - there is something wrong with their particular
content
Inference/Argument - CORRECT ANSWER - is any purportedly rational movement from
evidence or premises to a conclusion. Example: "I believe x, because of y, z, and w" or "Because
a, b and c, we have to believe that d."
Inductive inference - CORRECT ANSWER - if the support the premises intend to provide
for the conclusion is less than certain—if the premises do not guarantee the conclusion.
Deductive inference - CORRECT ANSWER - if the premises intend to provide conclusive
support for the conclusion—if they intend to guarantee the conclusion or make the conclusion
certain.
Abduction - CORRECT ANSWER - arguments where the best available explanation is
chosen as the correct explanation
Truth - CORRECT ANSWER - A true proposition accurately represents reality.
Validity - CORRECT ANSWER - in a valid argument, if the premises are true, the
conclusion would necessarily have to be true also
Soundness - CORRECT ANSWER - All true premises + Valid structure = Sound
argument
Strength - CORRECT ANSWER - in an inclusive argument, the truth of the premises
would make the conclusion probably true
Evidence UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Critical Thinking - CORRECT ANSWER - the ability to think carefully about thinking
and reasoning
Propositions - CORRECT ANSWER - Statements that can be true or false.
Non-Propositions - CORRECT ANSWER - Are not statements about matters of fact. They
do not make a claim that can be true or false.
Simple Propositions - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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.)
Premise - CORRECT ANSWER - is a proposition lending support to the conclusion
Conclusion - CORRECT ANSWER - is a proposition that is supported by premises
Arguments can go wrong in only two ways: - CORRECT ANSWER - - Bad inferential
structure
- False premise
, Bad inferential structure - CORRECT ANSWER - the premises do not, in fact,
demonstrate or maybe even support the conclusion.
False Premise - CORRECT ANSWER - there is something wrong with their particular
content
Inference/Argument - CORRECT ANSWER - is any purportedly rational movement from
evidence or premises to a conclusion. Example: "I believe x, because of y, z, and w" or "Because
a, b and c, we have to believe that d."
Inductive inference - CORRECT ANSWER - if the support the premises intend to provide
for the conclusion is less than certain—if the premises do not guarantee the conclusion.
Deductive inference - CORRECT ANSWER - if the premises intend to provide conclusive
support for the conclusion—if they intend to guarantee the conclusion or make the conclusion
certain.
Abduction - CORRECT ANSWER - arguments where the best available explanation is
chosen as the correct explanation
Truth - CORRECT ANSWER - A true proposition accurately represents reality.
Validity - CORRECT ANSWER - in a valid argument, if the premises are true, the
conclusion would necessarily have to be true also
Soundness - CORRECT ANSWER - All true premises + Valid structure = Sound
argument
Strength - CORRECT ANSWER - in an inclusive argument, the truth of the premises
would make the conclusion probably true
