TalentLens - TalentLens Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal is structured around five distinct subtests. Which of the following is NOT one of these five subtests?
- Problem Solving (Correct answer)
- Inference
- Recognition of Assumptions
- Evaluation of Arguments
Correct answer: Problem Solving
The Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal consists of five sections: Inference, Recognition of Assumptions, Deduction, Interpretation, and Evaluation of Arguments. Problem Solving, while a related skill, is not one of the specific subtests in this assessment.
Question 2: A manager states, 'To boost Q4 sales, we must immediately invest in a new social media advertising campaign.' Which of the following is a necessary assumption for this statement to be logical?
- The company has failed to meet its sales targets in previous quarters.
- Social media advertising is the most cost-effective marketing method available.
- A new social media campaign will lead to an increase in sales. (Correct answer)
- The marketing team has the expertise to launch a new campaign immediately.
Correct answer: A new social media campaign will lead to an increase in sales.
The statement's logic depends on the unstated belief that the proposed action (investing in a social media campaign) will cause the desired outcome (boosting Q4 sales). The other options might be true or relevant, but they are not necessary assumptions for the core argument to hold.
Question 3: Read the following passage: 'All employees who completed the advanced training program were eligible for a promotion. Sarah was eligible for a promotion.' Based only on this information, which conclusion necessarily follows?
- Sarah completed the advanced training program.
- Only employees who completed the advanced training were eligible for a promotion.
- Sarah will be promoted.
- No conclusion necessarily follows from the information given. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: No conclusion necessarily follows from the information given.
This question assesses Deduction. While it's possible Sarah completed the training, the passage doesn't state it's the ONLY way to become eligible. The statements establish a one-way relationship (Training -> Eligibility), but not the reverse (Eligibility -> Training). Therefore, we cannot be certain Sarah completed the training based solely on the text provided.
Question 4: In the 'Evaluation of Arguments' section of the Watson-Glaser test, a 'strong' argument must be:
- Emotionally persuasive and based on popular opinion.
- Factually correct and supported by statistical data.
- Important and directly related to the question. (Correct answer)
- Brief, easy to understand, and unambiguous.
Correct answer: Important and directly related to the question.
According to the test's criteria, a strong argument is one that is both important and directly relevant to the question at hand. Other factors like factual correctness (which is assumed for the sake of the question) or emotional appeal are not the primary criteria for evaluation in this context.
Question 5: A study showed that a city's ice cream sales and crime rates both increase during the summer months. Based on this information alone, which inference is most accurate?
- Eating ice cream causes criminal behavior.
- The increase in ice cream sales is probably true.
- There is insufficient data to determine a causal relationship. (Correct answer)
- Higher crime rates lead to more people buying ice cream.
Correct answer: There is insufficient data to determine a causal relationship.
This scenario tests the ability to distinguish correlation from causation. The provided data shows a correlation between ice cream sales and crime rates, but it does not provide enough information to conclude that one causes the other. A third factor, such as warmer weather, is a likely cause for both increases. Therefore, there is insufficient data to make a causal link.
Question 6: In the 'Interpretation' section of the Watson-Glaser test, you are asked to decide if a conclusion 'Follows' or 'Does Not Follow' from a given passage. A conclusion should be judged as 'Follows' if it:
- Is absolutely and necessarily true without any doubt.
- Is a plausible explanation for the information presented.
- Is more likely to be true than false.
- Follows beyond a reasonable doubt from the information given. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Follows beyond a reasonable doubt from the information given.
The 'Interpretation' section requires you to judge if a conclusion follows 'beyond a reasonable doubt'. This is a slightly less strict standard than the 'Deduction' section, where a conclusion must follow necessarily and without exception.
TalentLens - TalentLens Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Questions and Answers
The Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal is structured around five distinct subtests.
Which of the following is NOT one of these five subtests?