Basic Verbal Lesson-02

Critical Reasoning

Each Critical Reasoning question requires you to analyze an argument presented in a short passage. Often you are asked either to find a conclusion that is a logical consequence of the passage, or to choose a statement that, if true, strengthen or weakens the argument.
 

Question types:

Critical Reasoning questions are based upon a short passage called argument. You have to analyze the argument presented in the passage. The passage is followed by a question. Occasionally, there is more than one question related be the same passage. No matter what the number is, the questions always aim at your ability to understand the conclusion reached by the author of the passage, and to give argument and contra arguments. Critical Reasoning questions are a lot like reading comprehension questions in a verbal section, but the passage is very short.
 
For each Critical Reasoning question, the argument is followed by a multiple choice question (MCQ). The choices are simple statements. Mostly the question statement begins with the phrase “which of the following statements”. Here are a few examples:

• Which of the following statements is an assumption on which the conclusion of this argument is based?
• Which of the following statements identifies a flaw in the reasoning of this argument?
• Which of the following statements can be most reasonably inferred, from the statements in the given passage?
• Which of the following statements, if true, would most seriously, weaken the argument offered?
• Which of the following statements, if true, would strengthen the conclusion in the preceding argument?
• Which of the following statements would be the most important to know to evaluate the argument given in the preceding paragraph?

Every Critical Reasoning question does not fit this mold, but you should try.
 

How to attempt:

1. While attempting Critical Reasoning questions, you should read the question statement before reading the argument. Then you should analyze the argument presented in the passage. You must know what aspect of the argument you are to concentrate on, and focus on it. By this, you will not be unnecessarily wasting your time.
2. You must be able to spot the question type by reading the question statement. If you do this, you will be better able to approach the argument in hand. The following six categories are those which most commonly occur:

1 Assumption:

Questions that test your ability to recognize the premises on which an argument is based, often take the following forms:

• The conclusion above depends on which of the following assumptions?
• The author of the passage above makes which of the following assumptions?
• In the passage above, the author assumes which of the following statement to be true?

2 Inference:

Questions, which test your ability to go beyond the author’s explicit statements and see what these statements imply, may be worded like these.

• It can be inferred from the passage above that the author believes that …
• Which of the following is implied by the passage above?
• From the information above, which of the following is the most reasonable inference?

3 Conclusion:

Questions that test your ability to determine what claim can logically be made on the basis of evidence in the passage above?

• If the statements above are true, which of the following in a conclusion that can be properly drawn?
• The statements in the passage, if true, best supports which of the following conclusions?

4 Central Point:

Questions that test your ability to understand the thrust of an argument.

• The statement sited above conveys which of the following propositions?
• The author of the passage above argues that…
• Which of the following expresses the point the author of the passage above makes?

5 Support:

Questions that test your ability to recognize whether an assertion supports or undermines an argument.

• Which of the following, if true, best supports the author’s conclusion?
• Which of the following, if true, most weakens the author’s conclusion?

6 Argument Evaluation:

Questions that test your ability to judge an argument.

• Which of the following identifies a flaw in the speaker’s reasoning?
• Which of the following would be most important to know when evaluating the accuracy of the argument above?

Do not try to skim the passage, read each argument carefully. It is not enough to have a general idea about the argument; you must be able to analyze it very carefully.
 

Conclusion is the King:

• You must find the conclusion of the argument, which the author claims to have reached. These most common situations are as follows:
  The conclusion is the last sentence of the passage, often starting by words such as so, therefore, thus, hence, consequently etc.
  The conclusion is the first sentence of the passage followed by the supporting evidence.
  Occasionally, the conclusion is not present in the passage; in this case, the question asks you to identify the conclusion.

 

• Pay particular attention to signal words such as accordingly, for this reason, hence, although, but, except, in contrast, nevertheless, unlike etc.
• Eliminating the choices is always the best strategy if you do not know what the correct answer is. This process will eliminate some obvious wrong choices. And you will be able to make an educated guess from the remaining ones.
• Every argument is based upon certain assumptions made by the author. If an argument’s basic premises are sound, the argument is strengthened. If an argument’s basic premises are flawed, the argument is weakened. In support questions, where you have to decide about weakening or strengthening the question, pinpoint what the argument assumes. Then compare that assumption with the answer choices. If the question asks you to find the choice, which most strengthens the argument, look for the choice that is most in keeping with the argument’s basic assumption. If the question asks you to choose the choice that most weaken the argument, look for the answer that casts the most doubt on that assumption.
• Some Critical Reasoning questions are essentially mini analytical reasoning questions, so, be familiar with all of the important logical facts and apply whenever needed.

Important Note:

We will study this topic in detail with more categories and in actual and hard difficulty level scenarios later on in advance level, after that you’ll never make any mistake on such questions.

Let’s discuss an example.
 

For Question # 1 – 3, refer to the following information:

Prime Minister: We have to make contract with foreign investors to work on coal project to generate electricity, so that it would become available 24 hours through the country.

Mr X: This would definitely be the huge burden on the consumer, because of Prime Minister & his family’s investment on this project, indicating the price of electricity would be as much high as it would generate maximum profit for the investors. So a huge burden on the majority of our citizen.

Questions 1-4 based on the argument above:

1: Mr X responded to Prime Minister’s proposal in which of the following way?

A) He has rejected the proposal for lack of trust on the investors.
B) He has rejected the proposal for lack of trust on Prime Minister.
C) He identified a flaw in the proposal and it’s devastating impact on the whole nation.
D) He identified a flaw in the proposal and gave alternative proposal.
E) He has accepted the proposal and would support it.

2: Which of the following is the assumption of Mr X’s response?

A) Foreign investment is much needed for our economy.
B) Foreign investment is dangerous for the people of this country.
C) Prime Minister has no faith on the people of this country.
D) People of this country don’t want 24 hour electricity.
E) Prime Minister will urge huge price of that electricity, to earn maximum return on investment.

Important scenario (Except type):

3: According to the arguments above, all of the following would be true EXCEPT:

A) For Mr X, Prime Minister is doing business while in government.
B) Mr X is not entirely rejecting Prime Minister’s proposal.
C) Mr X is in the opposite political party from what Prime Minister is in.
D) Mr X is much caring about the purchasing power of the people of this country.
E) The assumption of Prime Minister’s argument is that there’s shortage of electricity in this country.

4: Every Saturday, Amir has pizza for lunch and then goes to the movies.
If the statement above is true, which of the following statements must also be true?

1. If it is not Saturday, than Amir is not having pizza for lunch and is not going to the movies.
2. If Amir has pizza for lunch and then goes to the movies, it is Saturday.
3. If Amir has pizza for lunch, but does not go to the movies, it is not a Saturday.

(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) 3 only
(D) 1 and 2 only
(E) 2 and 3 only

Answer Explanations:

First read the question, then come on the information given the the arguments. Get the information of what is required in the question/questions.

Answer 1: (C)

The question asked Khan responded to Sharif’s proposal in what way? To answer this, focus on the words of Khan’s response. He didn’t reject the proposal, but identified a weakness in the proposal and it’s side-effect. So Choice A & B can be eliminated easily. Choice C looks to be the most relevant, and perhaps is the right answer but not necessarily the right answer because we should look at other options that may be more close. Choice D also looks to be relevant on one part, but Khan didn’t gave alternative anywhere in his argument, so option C is better than D. Khan’s argument doesn’t support Sharif’s argument anywhere in his response so option E can be eliminated. Therefore Option C truly indicating the Khan’s response, while identifying the flaw in the argument and implying it’s sever impact on the nation.

Answer 2: (E)

To answer this type of question, always think all possible assumptions that can be made without looking at the options. If I’ll answer this question, I’ll think Mr. Khan has mainly assumed the two things: 1) The project would ultimately be much profit oriented because of Sharif’s investment in the project, that he’ll never allowed to get minimum return on investment and 2) People of Pakistan is looking for electricity but with affordable rate. Now, when I see over the choices, only choice E gives one of the two assumptions above. Therefore E is correct.

Answer 3: (C)

This type of question has word ‘EXCEPT’ says that according to the argument each option is true but only one option is not true; and this wrong option would be the right answer that should be selected. ‘Process Of Elimination (POE)’ is the best method to answer this type of question. In this technique, we need to eliminate all those options that are true and after that we’ll left with only the wrong option, which would be the right answer. So let’s do it. Option A signify that Khan think that Sharif is doing business while in government is true, because Sharif has investment in the project. Option B signify that Khan is not entirely rejecting the Sharif’s proposal is also true because Khan didn’t say anywhere the he’ll not accept Sharif’s proposal, but we’ll make a little mark over this option, in case when remaining options are clearly true, than we may come again to this option and compare it with other less seem to be true option. Option C signify that Khan is in opposite political party of what Sharif is in, is not clear in the argument.

Important Note:

It seems to be true according to the general information of what you have, but actually we have to answer entirely according to the information of the passage so you should not know who is Mr X and who is Prime Minister. Also it is highly advise not to be emotional while solving the question. Take your emotions aside and let the logic to apply and get the clear answer. Option D signify that Khan is more caring about the buying capability of the people of Pakistan and yes that’s true (not be emotional even you’re supporter of other political party), because he said in his argument that the price of the electricity would become so high that majority of people wouldn’t able to buy it. Option E says Sharif’s argument is based on assumption that there’s shortage of electricity, is also true, because he want to generate it to overcome this hurdle. Therefore Option C (which is not always be true according to the given information, as we don’t know how is Mr X and how is Prime Minister, but what we know is just what given in the information in the passage) is right answer.

Answer 4: (C)

This type of question are also come in these exams. To answer this accurately, you need to convert the statements into some variables like A, B & C etc. So the converted form is If event A will occur, then both event B and event C will also occur. Here’s we made it:
A = Saturday
B = Amir has pizza for lunch
C = Amir will go for the movies.
So according to the information in the question, we can say that when event A will occur, then both event B and event C will also occur.
Let’s come two each of 3 statements in questions one-by-one.

Statement 1:

If event A will not occur, then both event B and event C will not occur.

Remember that question ask which of the following statement/statements MUST be true, means which statement always be true. As it’s given that if A will occur, then both B and C will occur. But remember that if event A will not occur, then it is not necessary that even B and C will also not occur, i.e., both B and C may occur even A will not occur. But if even A occur then it is confirmed that both event B and event C will occur. Therefore 1st statement must not be true, in other words this could be true but not always. Because it may be possible that A will not occur but B and C will occur.

Statement 2:

If event B and event C both occur then A will occur.
Similarly, it is not necessary that the vise versa (the other way around) would also be true, i.e. if A comes then both B and C also come; but if B and C also come, it may not necessary that A has come. In other words, If A will come then it is compulsory that both B and C would also come, but if both B and C may also come if A will not come. Therefore 2nd statement must not be true, i.e., could be true but not always.

Statement 3:

If event B will occur but event C will not occur, A will not occur.
Accordingly to statement in the question, if A will occur that must lead to the occurrence of event B and event C. When any of the two events B and C will not occur, that must signify that A will not occur. Therefore only 3rd statement must be true.