WGU D265 Task 1: Critical Thinking Case Study | Latest 2026/2027
Update with complete solutions.
1. A manager argues, “All employees who complete the new
cybersecurity training will understand how to identify phishing attempts.
Maria completed the new cybersecurity training. Therefore, Maria will
understand how to identify phishing attempts.” What is the conclusion?
A. All employees completed the training.
B. Maria completed the training.
C. Maria will understand how to identify phishing attempts.
D. Cybersecurity training is available to employees.
Answer: C.
2. In an argument, what is a premise?
A. The claim that the argument is ultimately attempting to establish
B. A statement offered as support or evidence for a conclusion
C. An emotional reaction to an issue
D. A statement that automatically makes an argument valid
Answer: B.
3. Which statement best identifies a conclusion?
A. “The study included 500 participants.”
B. “The researchers collected data for six months.”
C. “The intervention should therefore be implemented throughout the
organization.”
D. “The participants completed a survey.”
Answer: C.
,4. Consider the argument: “All registered nurses in this department have
completed annual safety training. Jordan is a registered nurse in this
department. Therefore, Jordan has completed annual safety training.”
What type of reasoning is being used?
A. Inductive
B. Deductive
C. Analogical only
D. Emotional
Answer: B.
5. Which characteristic distinguishes deductive reasoning from inductive
reasoning?
A. Deductive reasoning attempts to provide conclusions that follow
necessarily from its premises, while inductive reasoning generally
provides probable support.
B. Deductive reasoning never uses evidence.
C. Inductive reasoning always produces certain conclusions.
D. Deductive reasoning is based only on personal opinions.
Answer: A.
6. Consider: “Most employees who participate in the mentoring program
report increased confidence. James participates in the mentoring
program. Therefore, James will probably report increased confidence.”
How should this argument be classified?
A. Deductive
B. Inductive
C. Contradictory
D. Circular
Answer: B.
7. Why is the argument in Question 6 inductive?
,A. The premises guarantee that James will have increased confidence.
B. The conclusion is presented as probable rather than logically
guaranteed by the premises.
C. The argument contains no evidence.
D. The conclusion contradicts the premises.
Answer: B.
8. Which statement correctly describes a valid deductive argument?
A. Its premises are true regardless of whether the conclusion follows.
B. If its premises are true, the conclusion must logically follow.
C. Its conclusion is merely likely to be true.
D. It must contain statistical evidence.
Answer: B.
9. Consider the argument: “All managers are employees. Sarah is an
employee. Therefore, Sarah is a manager.” What is the best evaluation?
A. Valid because Sarah is an employee.
B. Invalid because being an employee does not establish that Sarah is a
manager.
C. Strong because the conclusion is probable.
D. Valid because the first premise is true.
Answer: B.
10. Which argument is deductively valid?
A. All physicians are professionals. David is a professional. Therefore,
David is a physician.
B. All physicians are professionals. David is a physician. Therefore,
David is a professional.
C. Most physicians work in hospitals. David works in a hospital.
Therefore, David is a physician.
, D. Some professionals are physicians. David is a professional.
Therefore, David is a physician.
Answer: B.
11. An inductive argument is considered strong when:
A. Its premises make the conclusion highly probable, assuming the
premises are true.
B. Its conclusion is guaranteed regardless of the premises.
C. It contains emotional language.
D. It uses the largest possible number of premises.
Answer: A.
12. A company surveys 10,000 randomly selected customers and finds
that 82% prefer online appointment scheduling. The manager concludes
that most customers in the company's broader customer population
probably prefer online scheduling. What primarily strengthens this
inductive argument?
A. The sample is relatively large and designed to represent the relevant
population.
B. The manager personally prefers online scheduling.
C. The survey contains emotional language.
D. The conclusion is guaranteed to be true.
Answer: A.
13. A student interviews three classmates who all prefer online
textbooks and concludes that every student at the university prefers
online textbooks. Which problem is most evident?
A. Hasty generalization
B. Appeal to authority
C. False dilemma
D. Circular reasoning
Update with complete solutions.
1. A manager argues, “All employees who complete the new
cybersecurity training will understand how to identify phishing attempts.
Maria completed the new cybersecurity training. Therefore, Maria will
understand how to identify phishing attempts.” What is the conclusion?
A. All employees completed the training.
B. Maria completed the training.
C. Maria will understand how to identify phishing attempts.
D. Cybersecurity training is available to employees.
Answer: C.
2. In an argument, what is a premise?
A. The claim that the argument is ultimately attempting to establish
B. A statement offered as support or evidence for a conclusion
C. An emotional reaction to an issue
D. A statement that automatically makes an argument valid
Answer: B.
3. Which statement best identifies a conclusion?
A. “The study included 500 participants.”
B. “The researchers collected data for six months.”
C. “The intervention should therefore be implemented throughout the
organization.”
D. “The participants completed a survey.”
Answer: C.
,4. Consider the argument: “All registered nurses in this department have
completed annual safety training. Jordan is a registered nurse in this
department. Therefore, Jordan has completed annual safety training.”
What type of reasoning is being used?
A. Inductive
B. Deductive
C. Analogical only
D. Emotional
Answer: B.
5. Which characteristic distinguishes deductive reasoning from inductive
reasoning?
A. Deductive reasoning attempts to provide conclusions that follow
necessarily from its premises, while inductive reasoning generally
provides probable support.
B. Deductive reasoning never uses evidence.
C. Inductive reasoning always produces certain conclusions.
D. Deductive reasoning is based only on personal opinions.
Answer: A.
6. Consider: “Most employees who participate in the mentoring program
report increased confidence. James participates in the mentoring
program. Therefore, James will probably report increased confidence.”
How should this argument be classified?
A. Deductive
B. Inductive
C. Contradictory
D. Circular
Answer: B.
7. Why is the argument in Question 6 inductive?
,A. The premises guarantee that James will have increased confidence.
B. The conclusion is presented as probable rather than logically
guaranteed by the premises.
C. The argument contains no evidence.
D. The conclusion contradicts the premises.
Answer: B.
8. Which statement correctly describes a valid deductive argument?
A. Its premises are true regardless of whether the conclusion follows.
B. If its premises are true, the conclusion must logically follow.
C. Its conclusion is merely likely to be true.
D. It must contain statistical evidence.
Answer: B.
9. Consider the argument: “All managers are employees. Sarah is an
employee. Therefore, Sarah is a manager.” What is the best evaluation?
A. Valid because Sarah is an employee.
B. Invalid because being an employee does not establish that Sarah is a
manager.
C. Strong because the conclusion is probable.
D. Valid because the first premise is true.
Answer: B.
10. Which argument is deductively valid?
A. All physicians are professionals. David is a professional. Therefore,
David is a physician.
B. All physicians are professionals. David is a physician. Therefore,
David is a professional.
C. Most physicians work in hospitals. David works in a hospital.
Therefore, David is a physician.
, D. Some professionals are physicians. David is a professional.
Therefore, David is a physician.
Answer: B.
11. An inductive argument is considered strong when:
A. Its premises make the conclusion highly probable, assuming the
premises are true.
B. Its conclusion is guaranteed regardless of the premises.
C. It contains emotional language.
D. It uses the largest possible number of premises.
Answer: A.
12. A company surveys 10,000 randomly selected customers and finds
that 82% prefer online appointment scheduling. The manager concludes
that most customers in the company's broader customer population
probably prefer online scheduling. What primarily strengthens this
inductive argument?
A. The sample is relatively large and designed to represent the relevant
population.
B. The manager personally prefers online scheduling.
C. The survey contains emotional language.
D. The conclusion is guaranteed to be true.
Answer: A.
13. A student interviews three classmates who all prefer online
textbooks and concludes that every student at the university prefers
online textbooks. Which problem is most evident?
A. Hasty generalization
B. Appeal to authority
C. False dilemma
D. Circular reasoning
