Watson-Glaser Inference and Assumption Tests Flashcards
7 cards from real Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Watson-Glaser Inference and Assumption Tests flashcards as text
Statement: 'Sales at the downtown store fell 15% after a new competitor opened nearby.' Inference: The competitor caused the sales decline. This inference is:
Answer: Insufficient Data
Correlation between the competitor opening and the decline does not confirm causation without ruling out other factors.
Which assumption is taken for granted in the argument: 'We should hire candidates with the highest GPA because academic excellence predicts job success'?
Answer: GPA is a reliable predictor of real-world job performance
The argument only holds if GPA actually predicts job success — that link is assumed, not proven.
Statement: 'No accidents were reported on Highway 9 during the speed-camera trial period.' Inference: Speed cameras eliminate highway accidents. This inference is:
Answer: Probably False
Zero reported accidents in one trial period does not support such an absolute universal claim.
Identify the hidden assumption: 'Since employee morale surveys improved, our new wellness program is working.'
Answer: The wellness program is the sole cause of improved scores
The argument assumes no other changes occurred that could also explain the morale improvement.
Statement: 'Three of the four engineers who reviewed the design approved it.' Inference: The design is fundamentally sound. This inference is:
Answer: Probably True
Majority expert approval is reasonable evidence of soundness, though not conclusive.
Which statement best describes a 'probably false' inference in the Watson-Glaser framework?
Answer: The inference contradicts the passage but lacks overwhelming evidence
'Probably False' means the evidence leans against the inference but doesn't definitively rule it out.
Argument: 'Students who eat breakfast score higher on tests, so schools should provide free breakfast.' What assumption does this make?
Answer: Providing breakfast will cause test scores to rise
The argument assumes a causal link — that providing breakfast will produce the same effect observed in the correlation.