Question 67

A gardener observes some plants growing more rapidly in the sunlight than in the shade and concludes that all plants grow more efficiently in the sun.

Inductive reasoning is demonstrated when a conclusion is drawn from specific observations to form a general principle. The gardener's observation of plants thriving in sunlight and concluding that all plants benefit from sun exposure illustrates this reasoning process.

A) A conspiracy theorist reads news only from sources that support their political viewpoints, which further confirms their beliefs that their beliefs are correct.

This option exemplifies confirmation bias rather than inductive reasoning. The conspiracy theorist selectively gathers information to support their existing beliefs, which does not involve forming a general conclusion from specific observations.

B) A person decides to drive to their vacation destination rather than fly after reading about a plane crash.

This scenario represents a decision influenced by a specific event, but it does not demonstrate inductive reasoning. The person is acting based on fear rather than drawing a general conclusion from multiple observations.

C) A gardener observes some plants growing more rapidly in the sunlight than in the shade and concludes that all plants grow more efficiently in the sun.

This choice accurately illustrates inductive reasoning, as the gardener uses specific observations about certain plants to make a broader generalization about all plants, thus fitting the definition of inductive reasoning.

D) A dogwalker correctly identifies a dog's breed when they recognize the classic color and texture of the dog's fur.

While this option shows recognition based on specific characteristics, it does not involve forming a general principle from multiple specific cases, which is essential to inductive reasoning. Instead, it reflects deductive reasoning, as the dogwalker applies known traits to identify the breed.

Conclusion

The gardener's conclusion about plant growth based on specific observations exemplifies inductive reasoning, as it involves forming a general theory from particular instances. In contrast, the other options fail to demonstrate this reasoning style, either representing biases or decisions based on singular events rather than broad generalizations. Thus, option C is the only correct choice that aligns with the definition of inductive reasoning.