Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Distinguishing Facts from Inferences Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the following passage: 'Last year, the voluntary turnover rate in the IT department was 15%, which was 5 percentage points higher than the company-wide average. The company conducted exit interviews with 80% of departing IT employees, and 60% of those interviewed cited 'lack of opportunities for promotion' as a primary reason for leaving.' Based on the passage, which of the following is a FACT?
- The IT department is dissatisfied with the company's management.
- Improving promotion opportunities would have prevented most of the IT turnover last year.
- The company-wide average for voluntary turnover was 10%. (Correct answer)
- The 20% of departing IT employees who were not interviewed left for different reasons than those who were.
Correct answer: The company-wide average for voluntary turnover was 10%.
A fact is a statement that can be directly verified by the information given. The passage states the IT department's turnover was 15%, which was 5 points higher than the company average. A direct calculation (15% - 5% = 10%) proves the company-wide average was 10%. The other statements are inferences or assumptions that are not explicitly supported by the text.
Question 2: Read the following passage: 'The new automated quality control system on Assembly Line B was activated on June 1st. In the month of June, the number of product defects recorded from Line B decreased by 22% compared to the month of May. The number of staff hours assigned to Line B remained the same for both months.' Which of the following statements is an INFERENCE drawn from the passage, rather than a fact?
- The automated system improved product quality on Line B in June. (Correct answer)
- The number of staff hours on Line B was constant in May and June.
- Product defects from Line B were lower in June than in May.
- The new quality control system was activated on June 1st.
Correct answer: The automated system improved product quality on Line B in June.
An inference is a conclusion reached based on evidence and reasoning. [7] The passage states that the system was activated and that defects decreased; it does not explicitly state that the system *caused* the improvement. [1] Concluding that the system improved quality is a logical inference that connects the two facts. The other three options are facts stated directly in the passage.
Question 3: In the context of critical thinking, which of the following best distinguishes a fact from an inference?
- Facts are always quantitative, while inferences are always qualitative.
- A fact is a statement of direct observation or verifiable information, while an inference is a conclusion drawn from that information. (Correct answer)
- Facts are objectively true for everyone, while inferences are personal opinions.
- Facts are simple statements, while inferences are always complex arguments.
Correct answer: A fact is a statement of direct observation or verifiable information, while an inference is a conclusion drawn from that information.
This question assesses the fundamental definition. A fact is a piece of information that can be verified as true. [2] An inference is a logical step beyond the facts—a conclusion that is suggested by the facts but is not explicitly stated. [1, 8] Option B provides the most accurate and complete definition of this distinction.
Question 4: Read the following passage: 'A recent study on workplace communication found that teams using the 'ProjectFlow' software submitted their weekly status reports on time 95% of the time. Teams using a combination of email and spreadsheets submitted their reports on time 75% of the time. The study's author noted that 'adopting a standardized platform appears to correlate with higher rates of on-time reporting.'' Based on the information provided, which of the following statements is a FACT?
- ProjectFlow is a superior tool for team communication compared to email.
- Companies will see a 20% increase in on-time reports if they switch to ProjectFlow.
- Teams using email are less organized than teams using ProjectFlow.
- The study's author stated that there seems to be a correlation between standardized platforms and on-time reporting. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The study's author stated that there seems to be a correlation between standardized platforms and on-time reporting.
A fact is a statement that can be directly verified from the text. The passage explicitly states, 'The study's author noted that 'adopting a standardized platform appears to correlate with higher rates of on-time reporting.'' Therefore, reporting what the author noted is a fact. The other options are inferences or predictions that go beyond the scope of the provided information.
Question 5: Read the following passage: 'At the quarterly town hall meeting, the CEO displayed a chart showing that corporate travel expenses had risen 15% over the last quarter. In the subsequent Q&A session, she stated, 'We need to be more mindful of our spending.' The following week, a memo was circulated requiring all non-essential travel to be approved by a department head.' From the passage, which statement is the most reasonable INFERENCE?
- Corporate travel expenses increased by 15% in the last quarter.
- The new memo requires department head approval for certain types of travel.
- The CEO's concern about spending prompted the new travel approval policy. (Correct answer)
- Employees had been taking advantage of the company's travel budget.
Correct answer: The CEO's concern about spending prompted the new travel approval policy.
An inference connects pieces of information to arrive at a logical conclusion that is not explicitly stated. [8] Options A and B are facts directly mentioned in the passage. Option D is a possible but unsupported inference that assumes negative intent. Option C is the most reasonable inference because it logically connects the CEO's stated concern with the administrative action that immediately followed, suggesting a cause-and-effect relationship.
Question 6: Read the following passage: 'The city of Northwood's population grew by 8% over the past five years. During the same period, records show that the number of registered library cardholders in Northwood decreased by 3%. The city's budget allocation for the public library system, when adjusted for inflation, remained unchanged during this five-year period.' Which of the following is an INFERENCE that could be drawn from this information?
- The library's per-capita funding has decreased.
- Northwood residents have become less interested in the public library. (Correct answer)
- Fewer people in Northwood hold library cards now than five years ago.
- The city of Northwood's population has increased.
Correct answer: Northwood residents have become less interested in the public library.
Options C and D are facts directly stated in the passage. Option A is also a fact, as it is a direct mathematical consequence of the stated facts (a static budget divided by an increased population equals lower per-capita funding). Option B is an inference because it proposes a potential reason—a decline in interest—to explain the factual data (fewer cardholders despite more residents). This explanation is a logical interpretation but is not explicitly stated in the text.
Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Distinguishing Facts from Inferences Questions and Answers
Read the following passage: 'Last year, the voluntary turnover rate in the IT department was 15%, which was 5 percentage points higher than the company-wide average.
The company conducted exit interviews with 80% of departing IT employees, and 60% of those interviewed cited 'lack of opportunities for promotion' as a primary reason for leaving.' Based on the passage, which of the following is a FACT?