Sample Practice Question Set (Critical Reasoning)

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1. The best method for finding narcotics that smugglers, or drug "mules," hide within their bodies is the CT Scan. In a study, all 18 CT scans on smugglers correctly detected drugs they had swallowed or stuffed inside bodily cavities. There was only one mistake - one non-smuggler was wrongly identified as hiding drugs. By comparison, conventional digital X-rays accurately detected smuggled drugs in 21 cases, but missed nine. The X-rays also indicated drugs when there were none in six cases.Which of the following most supports why many of the International Airports use X-rays not CT scan to detect smugglers?

Smugglers often don't drink or eat anything during long flights, to avoid losing their swallowed drug pouches in airplane toilets,... Smugglers often don't drink or eat anything during long flights, to avoid losing their swallowed drug pouches in airplane toilets, making them suspects and no elaborate arrangement is required to detect them.

CT scan machines are quite expensive.

Earlier, X-rays was the best method and Airports will slowly switchover to CT scan.

Although less, but CT scan is also not free from errors.

CT scan is time consuming to use routinely unlike X-rays.

ANS: (E) (This is a strengthen type question. Here the option which strengthens the statement (why many of the International Airports use X-rays not CT scan to detect smugglers) is the correct one. (A) is based on a doubt, to confirm doubt proper testing can not be ruled out. (B) says CT scan is expensive, but how much in comparison to X-ray. (C) is baseless. For (D), if CT scan gives less error than why to go for X-rays. (E) is correct because it speaks against the routine use of CT scan. These methods are routinely used at Airports and if CT scan does not serve this purpose, then no point in having CT scan. Hence (E) is correct.)

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About This Quiz

This SAMPLE PRACTICE QUESTION SET focuses on critical reasoning, challenging learners to evaluate hypotheses, resolve paradoxes, and assess implications in various scenarios. It's designed to enhance logical thinking... see moreand decision-making skills. see less

2. As per an accepted hypothesis, imposing strict tax collection laws reduces the industrial growth. This hypothesis is undermined by the fact that the nations with the strictest tax collection laws also have the highest industrial growth.This fact does not show that tax collection laws promote growth, however, since ______.Which of the following, if true, provides evidence that most logically completes the argument?

Those nations with the strictest tax collection laws invest the most in export of industrial products

Even those nations that have only moderately strict tax collection laws have higher industrial growth than those with the least-strict... Even those nations that have only moderately strict tax collection laws have higher industrial growth than those with the least-strict laws

Many nations that are experiencing reduced industrial growth are considering weakening their tax collection laws

After introducing stricter tax collection laws, many nations experienced increased industrial growth

Even those nations with very weak tax collection laws have experienced at least some industrial growth

ANS. (a) (The option that justifies the increased industrial growth in nations with strictest laws is because of some other reason than the increased strictness of laws, is correct.)

Explanation

ANS. (a) (The option that justifies the increased industrial growth in nations with strictest laws is because of some other reason than the increased strictness of laws, is correct.)

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3. A team has carried out a study and found that getting up while talking on the phone and taking a minute's desk break at regular intervals can help lower levels of potentially dangerous glucose and fats in the blood. The study of almost 5000 staff found standing more often made hearts healthier – even for those who led super fit lifestyles out of the office. Those who took the most breaks had an average 4.1 cm smaller waist circumference. But those who sat around had more problems, including high levels of bad cholesterol.Answer to which of the following will make the study more valid?

Did the result take note of the economic conditions including salary of the volunteers?

Was the result checked up for those who frequently burn energies in the gymnasium?

How much was the improvement in the bad cholesterol level of those who got up while talking on phone?

Did the result account for confounding factors such as socio-demographic differences between volunteers, their medical history and their diet?

What type of jobs were the volunteers in?

ANS: (D) (The correct option is whose answer is either not irrelevant or not already mentioned in the statement. Answer for (B) is already mentioned and (A), (C) and (E) are irrelevant. Hence correct answer is (D))

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4. Contrary to general perception that aggression or depression lies in one's genes, a new study has found that the traits may be linked to parenting at home.If above argument is true, which one of the following must also be true?

Till now, although it was perceived that the traits might be linked to genes but no proof was available.

This study is first of its kind, and in the past, linkage to genes was accepted as a general belief.

This finding has implications for adoptive parents as well as parents of IVF children.

The findings may not be true because adopted children may develop depression due to being in different atmosphere.

Many a times one develops aggression or depression due to sibling rivalry.

ANS: (C) (This is an inference question. In inference question, the correct answer is always which is true with respect to the statement. Always be narrow minded in CR questions and concentrate only on what statement is saying. (A) can not be inferred from the argument. Nothing is mentioned about past studies, hence (B) is wrong. (C) is correctly inferred because as per argument, traits relate to parenting, not to genes. Parents mentioned in (C) are not natural parents, hence (C) is correct. (D) & (E) are trying to negate the argument, hence can not be correct.)

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5. Scientists have developed genetically modified chickens that can not transmit bird flu infections to other chickens they came into contact with. These modified chickens can breed and produce same type of modified chickens. Some countries are interested in the possibility of genetically modification to protect their poultry stocks. It will inevitably be more expensive because you would have to use the products of breeding companies to stock the producers. The answer to which of the following question may try to remove the author's doubt?

Whether the same modified chickens can be used in smaller backyard farms which constitute the majority of total number of... Whether the same modified chickens can be used in smaller backyard farms which constitute the majority of total number of farms?

Does the magnitude of the problem of bird flu justify the use of genetically modified chickens?

While transgenic chickens do not transmit the infection to others, but what about these chickens getting infected when they are... While transgenic chickens do not transmit the infection to others, but what about these chickens getting infected when they are exposed to bird flu?

What about the risk of flu spreading and causing deadly epidemics in humans?

By using genetically modified chickens, will the need for vaccination and chances of whole flock being infected be reduced?

ANS: (e) (Concentrate at the author’s doubt (It will inevitably be more expensive). The only question which attacks this doubt is the correct one. Only option (e) speaks in terms of benefit from using these types of chickens. Hence (e) is correct.)

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6. In a study to know the triggers for heart attack, a very large sample of those who had suffered attacks was surveyed. Traffic exposure was blamed in 7.4% cases, physical exertion in 6.2% cases, followed by negative emotions in 3.9%, anger in 3.1% and the least was for cocaine consumption in 0.9% cases only. However in another study, taking cocaine was shown to raise a person's risk of having a heart attack 23-fold.Which of the following would best resolve the paradox in the above argument?

The exposure to drugs is very limited.

The cocaine consumption is more among youth, who have less occurrence of heart attacks.

Traffic is increasing exponentially all around.

The sample should be studied again for its socio-economic composition.

Although difficult in the past, but now the drugs are easily available and more and more people are getting addicted... Although difficult in the past, but now the drugs are easily available and more and more people are getting addicted to them.

ANS: (A) (This is a resolve the argument question and which ever option fills up the gap in the argument, is the correct one. Here the first study shows that the number of heart attacks due to cocaine consumption are the least, while the second study shows that the cocaine consumption increases the risk of heart attack many fold. (A) clearly indicates that very less people consume cocaine, so obviously , the % of people suffering heart attack because of cocaine would be very less. Hence (A) is correct. (B) is not correct because heart attacks are less in case of youth due to other reasons and moreover it is mentioned that cocaine consumption increases the risk 23 fold. (C), (D) & (F) are not relevant.)

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7. What is possibly the most extraordinary world to have been discovered by astronomers: the first truly Earth-like planet to have been found outside our Solar System. A team of astronomers announced that the discovery of the potentially habitable planet, with Earth-like temperatures, is a big step in the search for "life in the universe". The planet is just the right size, might have water in liquid form, and in galactic terms is relatively nearby at 190 trillion km, or 20.5 light years, away. But the star it closely orbits, known as a "red dwarf", is much smaller, dimmer and cooler than our sun. There's still a lot that is unknown about the new planet, which could be deemed inhospitable to life once more is known about it. However, this is the first planet outside our solar system that meets those standards.In the above argument, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

First is a claim based on some evidence; second is a clarification of the claim mentioned in the first boldface.

First is a claim that is based on some standards; second is a doubt raised that questions the claim in... First is a claim that is based on some standards; second is a doubt raised that questions the claim in the first boldface.

The first provides support for the conclusion of the argument; the second calls that conclusion into question.

The first is evidence that forms the basis for an objection to the position that the argument seeks to establish;... The first is evidence that forms the basis for an objection to the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second is a consideration that is introduced to counter the force of that evidence.

The first is a finding whose implications are at issue in the argument; the second is a claim presented in... The first is a finding whose implications are at issue in the argument; the second is a claim presented in order to argue against deriving certain implications from that finding.

(Ans: (b) Obviously first portion is a claim that is based on the standard that discovered planet is like earth. Second portion raises doubt on the validity of the claim that the planet is hospitable)

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8. Researchers are scouring the genome of the tree Theobroma Cacao to find ways of enhancing the health benefits of cacao beans produced by the plant. They took two years to unlock the genetic code of the tree and now will use the information it contains to improve the quality, flavor and nutritional value of the beans, which are used to produce chocolates. Therefore, after five years, if you eat chocolates then that would confer health benefits.What is the assumption on which the above argument is based?

It will take at least five years to develop the improved variety of beans.

Chocolate from Theobroma Cacao would be widely available.

Chocolates available today do not have any nutritional value.

Lot many people eat chocolates.

The tree Theobroma Cacao is grown widely at many places and the changes in the genes can be carried out... The tree Theobroma Cacao is grown widely at many places and the changes in the genes can be carried out at all places simultaneously.

ANS: (B) (This is an assumption question. The option which when negated makes the conclusion (Therefore, after five years, if you eat chocolates then that would confer health benefits.) fall apart is the correct one. Also the correct option tries to fill a gap. Do remember that the options which only support the premise and not the conclusion, are not correct in assumption type. Here, we need to understand that the argument discusses about improvement in one variety of beans only. Take (A) and negate it, it becomes “ it will take less than five years to develop the improved variety of beans”. But it does not make the conclusion fall apart, conclusion is still valid, hence (A) is wrong. But (B) when negated makes the conclusion invalid. If improved variety is not widely available then there is no guarantee that I will eat this chocolate only, hence (B) is correct. Similarly (C) & (D) do not impact conclusion. Nowadays production can happen at limited places and the products can be easily distributed worldwide, hence (E) is also wrong.)

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9. Marketing Campaign:The world's best fresh fruits for making ice-creams come from Brazil. The more Brazilian fresh fruits in a ice-cream, the better the taste. Icy Kream Inc purchases more Brazilian fresh fruits than any other ice-cream company. So it only stands to reason that if you buy ice-cream from Icy Kream Inc, you're buying the best ice-cream available today.The reasoning of the argument in the Campaign is flawed because it overlooks the possibility that

The method used by Icy Kream Inc to make ice-cream is no different from that used by most other ice-cream... The method used by Icy Kream Inc to make ice-cream is no different from that used by most other ice-cream producers

Icy Kream Inc sells more ice-cream than does any other company

The competitors of Icy Kream Inc might be using more quantity of fresh fruits of some other place than Brazil

The cost of ice-cream sold by Icy Kream Inc is much higher than any of the competitors

Many of the ice-cream makers use artificial flavors to match with the taste of fresh fruits

ANS: (B) (This is basically a weaken the argument type question. So which ever option weakens the conclusion that “if you’re buying ………available today”. Option B weakens this conclusion because if Icy Kream Inc is selling more ice-cream then it will buy more fresh fruits i.e. fresh fruits per ice-cream will remain same.)

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10. Forget trying to shove gaseous hydrogen into porous materials for safe storage: the future of the clean-fuel economy lies in carrying hydrogen as a liquid. This means that cars running on fuel cells, which run on hydrogen and oxygen and produce only water as a by product, could fill up at stations using roughly the same liquid-fuel infrastructure that already exists. High pressure gaseous hydrogen, which is potentially dangerous, could be taken completely out of the public sphere. The main problem with hydrogen liquid fuel is that it usually requires high temperatures to be used. And, high-pressure containment technology advances have been remarkable and it has been seen that a full high-pressure hydrogen tank can be put on a bonfire without incident making gaseous hydrogen storage less worrisome.In the above argument, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second is evidence that supports the argument.

The first is a claim that the argument tries to establish; the second is evidence that supports that claim.

The first is the stand that the argument tries to establish; the second is the stand that the argument finally... The first is the stand that the argument tries to establish; the second is the stand that the argument finally accepts.

The first is the claim that the argument fails to establish; the second is evidence that fails the claim made... The first is the claim that the argument fails to establish; the second is evidence that fails the claim made in first part.

The first is a claim that the argument fails to establish; the second is evidence that tries to weaken the... The first is a claim that the argument fails to establish; the second is evidence that tries to weaken the argument.

(Ans: (e) Once the different parts and their roles are understood, then boldface problem becomes very easy. Here, clearly, the first part is a claim that argument tries to establish. But finally, the argument is not complete and there is lot of confusion regarding the acceptance of the claim. The second boldface obviously tries to weaken the argument by supporting the gaseous hydrogen. Hence (e) is correct.)

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