WGU D265: CRITICAL THINKING –
REASON AND EVIDENCE (PRACTICE
EXAM & SOLUTIONS) 2025/20
26Introduction
This 2025/2026 practice exam for WGU D265 emphasizes core competencies in logic,
argumentation, evidence evaluation, and structured reasoning. It includes 100
multiple-choice questions balanced across the five domains, with rationales grounded in
principles from sources like the Paul-Elder model and Toulmin framework. Use for
Objective Assessment preparation; review course modules on fallacies, validity, and bias
analysis.
Question [1]: In deductive reasoning, a sound argument must have both valid form and?
A. Weak premises
B. True premises
C. Inductive support
D. Emotional appeal
Answer: B — True premises
Rationale: Deductive soundness requires validity (structure) and truth (content) per
Paul-Elder framework; weak/inductive/emotional undermine (A,C,D).
Question [2]: The structure of an argument includes premises that?
A. Directly state the conclusion
B. Provide reasons supporting the conclusion
C. Ignore evidence
D. Appeal to authority only
Answer: B — Provide reasons supporting the conclusion
Rationale: Toulmin model: Premises (claims/data) justify conclusion; direct redundant
(A), ignoring invalidates (C), authority one type (D).
,Question [3]: Inductive reasoning is characterized by?
A. Certain conclusions from general premises
B. Probable conclusions from specific observations
C. Emotional persuasion
D. Circular logic
Answer: B — Probable conclusions from specific observations
Rationale: Inductive generalizes from examples (e.g., swans white); deductive certain (A),
emotional non-reasoning (C), circular fallacy (D).
Question [4]: Validity in an argument refers to?
A. Emotional strength
B. Logical structure ensuring conclusion follows
C. Factual accuracy
D. Source credibility
Answer: B — Logical structure ensuring conclusion follows
Rationale: Validity tests form (if premises true, conclusion must be); emotional irrelevant
(A), facts soundness (C), source separate (D).
Question [5]: A categorical syllogism example is?
A. All men are mortal; Socrates is man; therefore, mortal
B. Some birds fly; penguins are birds; therefore, penguins fly
C. If it rains, streets wet; streets wet; therefore, rain
D. Birds fly; this animal flies; therefore, bird
Answer: A — All men are mortal; Socrates is man; therefore, mortal
Rationale: Classic deductive syllogism (valid); B inductive weak, C affirming consequent
fallacy, D undistributed middle (D).
Question [6]: The strength of an inductive argument depends on?
A. Sample size and representativeness
B. Circular premises
C. Emotional language
D. Authority of speaker
, Answer: A — Sample size and representativeness
Rationale: Inductive probability increases with diverse/large sample; circular invalid (B),
emotional non-logical (C), authority irrelevant (D).
Question [7]: In logic, a contingent statement is?
A. Always true
B. Always false
C. True in some cases, false in others
D. Neither true nor false
Answer: C — True in some cases, false in others
Rationale: Contingent depends on circumstances (e.g., "It rains tomorrow"); tautology
always true (A), contradiction false (B), undefined (D).
Question [8]: The law of non-contradiction states that?
A. Opposites can both be true
B. A statement cannot be both true and false
C. All things are possible
D. Truth is relative
Answer: B — A statement cannot be both true and false
Rationale: Aristotelian logic: Fundamental for coherent reasoning; opposites possible
relativism (A,D), possible not contradictory (C).
Question [9]: A valid argument with false premises is?
A. Sound
B. Unsound
C. Strong
D. Weak
Answer: B — Unsound
Rationale: Soundness requires truth + validity; false premises unsound (A), inductive
strong/weak (C,D).
Question [10]: Inductive strength is assessed by?
A. Logical form only
REASON AND EVIDENCE (PRACTICE
EXAM & SOLUTIONS) 2025/20
26Introduction
This 2025/2026 practice exam for WGU D265 emphasizes core competencies in logic,
argumentation, evidence evaluation, and structured reasoning. It includes 100
multiple-choice questions balanced across the five domains, with rationales grounded in
principles from sources like the Paul-Elder model and Toulmin framework. Use for
Objective Assessment preparation; review course modules on fallacies, validity, and bias
analysis.
Question [1]: In deductive reasoning, a sound argument must have both valid form and?
A. Weak premises
B. True premises
C. Inductive support
D. Emotional appeal
Answer: B — True premises
Rationale: Deductive soundness requires validity (structure) and truth (content) per
Paul-Elder framework; weak/inductive/emotional undermine (A,C,D).
Question [2]: The structure of an argument includes premises that?
A. Directly state the conclusion
B. Provide reasons supporting the conclusion
C. Ignore evidence
D. Appeal to authority only
Answer: B — Provide reasons supporting the conclusion
Rationale: Toulmin model: Premises (claims/data) justify conclusion; direct redundant
(A), ignoring invalidates (C), authority one type (D).
,Question [3]: Inductive reasoning is characterized by?
A. Certain conclusions from general premises
B. Probable conclusions from specific observations
C. Emotional persuasion
D. Circular logic
Answer: B — Probable conclusions from specific observations
Rationale: Inductive generalizes from examples (e.g., swans white); deductive certain (A),
emotional non-reasoning (C), circular fallacy (D).
Question [4]: Validity in an argument refers to?
A. Emotional strength
B. Logical structure ensuring conclusion follows
C. Factual accuracy
D. Source credibility
Answer: B — Logical structure ensuring conclusion follows
Rationale: Validity tests form (if premises true, conclusion must be); emotional irrelevant
(A), facts soundness (C), source separate (D).
Question [5]: A categorical syllogism example is?
A. All men are mortal; Socrates is man; therefore, mortal
B. Some birds fly; penguins are birds; therefore, penguins fly
C. If it rains, streets wet; streets wet; therefore, rain
D. Birds fly; this animal flies; therefore, bird
Answer: A — All men are mortal; Socrates is man; therefore, mortal
Rationale: Classic deductive syllogism (valid); B inductive weak, C affirming consequent
fallacy, D undistributed middle (D).
Question [6]: The strength of an inductive argument depends on?
A. Sample size and representativeness
B. Circular premises
C. Emotional language
D. Authority of speaker
, Answer: A — Sample size and representativeness
Rationale: Inductive probability increases with diverse/large sample; circular invalid (B),
emotional non-logical (C), authority irrelevant (D).
Question [7]: In logic, a contingent statement is?
A. Always true
B. Always false
C. True in some cases, false in others
D. Neither true nor false
Answer: C — True in some cases, false in others
Rationale: Contingent depends on circumstances (e.g., "It rains tomorrow"); tautology
always true (A), contradiction false (B), undefined (D).
Question [8]: The law of non-contradiction states that?
A. Opposites can both be true
B. A statement cannot be both true and false
C. All things are possible
D. Truth is relative
Answer: B — A statement cannot be both true and false
Rationale: Aristotelian logic: Fundamental for coherent reasoning; opposites possible
relativism (A,D), possible not contradictory (C).
Question [9]: A valid argument with false premises is?
A. Sound
B. Unsound
C. Strong
D. Weak
Answer: B — Unsound
Rationale: Soundness requires truth + validity; false premises unsound (A), inductive
strong/weak (C,D).
Question [10]: Inductive strength is assessed by?
A. Logical form only
