What is

KRITI SINGH
Critical
Reasoning
 Critical Reasoning
Type of Questions

Assumption
Course
of Action

Conclusion Evaluating
Strengthen the
or
and argument
Inference
Weaken
❖ Conclusion: Conclusion is the main point of an argument, and it is based on
facts.

❖ Facts or premises: a premise or fact is a stated evidence that supports the

conclusion.

❖ Assumption: an unstated / hidden fact which supports the conclusion.

❖ Inference: An inference is something which we get or interpret from the given

statement.
 Company XYZ
has suffered huge
losses this quarter;

Premise and therefore

Conclusion
they should do a
thorough analysis
of their strategies.
Finding Conclusion
Some paleontologists have suggested that Apatosaurus, a huge dinosaur, was able to gallop.
This, however, is unlikely, because galloping would probably have broken Apatosaurus’s legs.
Experiments with modern bones show how much strain they can withstand before breaking.
By taking into account the diameter and density of Apatosaurus leg bones, it is possible to
calculate that those bones could not have withstood the strains of galloping.
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion drawn by the
argument as a whole?
(A) Galloping would probably have broken the legs of Apatosaurus.
(B) It is possible to calculate that Apatosaurus leg bones could not have withstood the strain
of galloping.
(C) The claim of paleontologists that Apatosaurus was able to gallop is likely to be incorrect.
(D) If galloping would have broken the legs of Apatosaurus, then Apatosaurus was probably
unable to gallop.
(E) Modern bones are quite similar in structure and physical properties to the bones of
Apatosaurus.
Inference
 Fact: Anil has started devoting 15 hrs to
study seriously for BPO.
Inference Now what can be said about 'Anil'?
These could be as follows:
Anil is a hard working person.

Anil is likely to crack BPO.

Anil is much focused, determined and

has lots of patience etc.
1. People are always less happy to accept scientific data they feel contradicts their
preconceived beliefs. No surprise here; no human likes to be wrong. But science isn't
supposed to care about preconceived notions. Science, at least good science, tells us
about the world as it is, and not as some wish it to be. Sometimes what science finds is
consistent with a particular religion's wishes. But usually it is not.
Question: What can be inferred about good science?
a) A good science is well received by the educated people.
b) A good science is based on concrete results obtained through testing the
hypothesis.
c) A good science and religion are same.
d) A good science will always prove the general populace wrong.
The lifeline of Mumbai is it train network. One of the most crowded places in the city. A
Group of commuters of the Mumbai suburban railways called for a strike in response
to the increase in the number of accidents in that route in the past one year due to
overcrowding. The commuters want to continue the strike unless the authorities
agree to increase the frequency of the trains in that route.
Which of the following can be inferred from the above statement?
a) Increase in the frequency of the trains would lead to decrease in number of such
accidents
b) The trains in the Mumbai suburban run overcrowded
c) The railway authorities are in different to the safety of commuters
d) The railway did not increase the frequency in proportion to the increase in the
number of commuters in the past one year
Paradox

 A paradox is a statement that

apparently contradicts itself and yet
might be true (or wrong at the same
time).
 A recent archeological expedition in Northern Asia revealed a great number of
skeletons of animals that died about 1000 years ago. Further research
indicated that all the skeletons had been subjected to temperatures in excess
of 300 degrees Celsius. This fact provided grounds for speculation that they
were killed and cooked by tribes that lived in Northern Asia at that time.
However, some of the skeletons belonged to animals that were considered
sacred by those tribes and were never hunted or eaten.
 Which of the following best explains the apparent discrepancy above?
1. Some of the skeletons found during the expedition belonged to animals that
no longer inhabit the area.
2. Skeletons of most animals did not have damages typical of the skeletons of
animals that had been killed, cut, and cooked.
3. Tribes that inhabited Northern Asia 1000 years ago used fire to cook food.
4. Another study indicated that there was a great famine in Northern Asia at that
time, which forced local tribes to look for alternative sources of food.
5. A further study indicated evidence of a large fire that had occurred in Northern
Asia approximately 1000 years ago.
In 1960, 10% of every dollar paid in automobile insurance premiums went to pay
costs arising from injuries incurred in car accidents. In 1990, 50% of every dollar paid
in automobile insurance premiums went toward such costs, despite the fact that cars
were much safer in 1990 than in 1960.
Which of the following, if true, best explains the discrepancy outlines above?
(A) There were fewer accidents in 1990 than in 1960.
(B) On average, people drove more slowly in 1990 than in 1960.
(C) Cars grew increasingly more expensive to repair over the period in question.
(D) The price of insurance increased more rapidly than the rate of inflation between
1960 and 1990.
(E) Health-care costs rose sharply between 1960 and 1990.
 Solutions: *Best explains/discrepancy = paradox question. Portion of
dollars paid has increased but cars are much safer now. (C) is irrelevant to
the question because the question is not about repair costs. The correct
answer is (E); even though cars are safer in 1990, healthcare costs rose in
1990.
 Evaluating the argument

If Idaho is larger than Idaho is larger than

California, then it is California. Therefore, Idaho is
larger than Alaska. ---------------------- larger than Alaska.
 Historically, the drug industry promoted its products to physicians by educating them in their
offices or at industry conferences. In the last 10 years, it has become much more
commonplace for drug companies to advertise prescription drugs directly to consumers, via
television advertising and other media. Some public health advocates have become
concerned that patients, encouraged by advertising, may pursue the use of prescription
drugs that may be inappropriate for the individual patient or situation. However, since
physicians must prescribe these medications, there is no reason for such concern.
Which of the following pieces of information would be most helpful in addressing the
concern articulated by the public health advocates?
a) • Certain over-the-counter medications are as effective for many common medical
conditions as more powerful nonprescription medications.
b) • Prescription medication television advertisements directed at the general public only
appear on certain programs and are not seen by many potential consumers.
c) • Physicians are not susceptible to pressure from patients in determining appropriate
courses of treatment, including drug prescriptions.
d) • Prescription medicines have been proven to be safe and effective treatments for many
patient conditions.
Every town with a pool hall has its share of unsavoury characters.
This is because the pool hall attracts gamblers and all gamblers are unsavoury.

Which of the following. if true, cannot be inferred from the above?

A) All gamblers are unsavoury.

B) All pool halls attract gamblers.
C) Every town has unsavoury characters.
D) All gamblers are attracted by pool halls.
E) An explanation of what attracts gamblers.
Parallel reasoning
Argument: All sharks have fins and all dolphins have fins therefore they are similar.
(A) Sharks and dolphins are similar, however, they have many differences.
(B) All sharks have teeth, dolphins are similar to sharks therefore they must have teeth.
(C) Bats and eagles must be similar because every bat has wings and so does every eagle.
(D) All dogs have eyes and all cats have eyes.
(E) Some rats have fur and all mammals have fur, therefore, rats are mammals.
 Studies show that repeated exposure to an allergen can trigger an allergic person’s
defense mechanisms to the extent that eventually, even minimal exposure to the
allergen can provoke a stronger than normal, even life-threatening reaction.

Which of the following is the best analogy for the process by which minimal
contact with an allergen can cause a major reaction?

A. People with unhealthy diets are more susceptible to diabetes and high blood
pressure.

B. Because minor earthquakes can weaken the existing infrastructure in an area, a

series of minor earthquakes can sometimes lead to more damage than a single major
earthquake.

C. Peanut allergy sufferers should avoid all potential contact with peanuts.

D. A student who fails a test can still earn a good grade if she works hard for the rest
of the semester.

E. Drivers who speed regularly are more likely to be caught than those who speed
only occasionally.
Course of action
 1.STATEMENT: The Police has been alerted in the district following flood
triggered by incessant rains. •
Course of Action
I. a) Relief to flood affected people should be arranged.
II. b) Supply of flood article should be arranged.
III. c) Adequate medical facilities should be arranged.
a) Only 1 follows
b) Only 2 follows
c) Only 3 follows
d) None follows
 Strengthen
and Weaken
 Strengthen and Weaken
questions ask you to find
info that would make the
conclusion of an
argument more or less likel
y to be true, based on the
evidence that's provided.
Strengthen:
Which one of the following, if true, most strongly supports the argument
above?
Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the ecologist’s
reasoning?
Weaken:
Which one of the following, if true, most undermines the argument?
Which one of the following represents the strongest counter to Ana’s
argument?
Which one of the following, if true, casts the most doubt on the reasoning
above?
 The average life expectancy for the United States population as a whole is 73.9
years, but children born in Hawaii will live an average of 77 years, and those born in
Louisiana, 71.7 years. If a newlywed couple from Louisiana were to begin their family
in Hawaii, therefore, their children would be expected to live longer than would be the
case if the family remained in Louisiana. Which of the following, if true, would most
seriously weaken the conclusion drawn in the passage?
 A. Insurance company statisticians do not believe that moving to Hawaii will
significantly lengthen the average Louisianan's life.
 B. The governor of Louisiana has falsely alleged that statistics for his state are
inaccurate.
 C. The longevity ascribed to Hawaii's current population is attributable mostly to
genetically determined factors.
 D. Thirty percent of all Louisianans can expect to live longer than 77 years.
 E. Most of the Hawaiian Islands have levels of air pollution well below the national
average for the United States.
The average life expectancy for the United States population as a whole is 73.9 years, but
children born in Hawaii will live an average of 77 years, and those born in Louisiana,
71.7 years. If a newlywed couple from Louisiana were to begin their family in Hawaii,
therefore, their children would be expected to live longer than would be the case if the
family remained in Louisiana. Which of the following statements, if true, would most
significantly strengthen the conclusion drawn in the passage?
A. As population density increases in Hawaii, life expectancy figures for that state are
likely to be revised downward.
B. Environmental factors tending to favor longevity are abundant in Hawaii and less
numerous in Louisiana.
C. Twenty-five percent of all Louisianans who move to Hawaii live longer than 77 years.
D. Over the last decade, average life expectancy has risen at a higher rate for Louisianans
than for Hawaiians.
E. Studies show that the average life expectancy for Hawaiians who move permanently to
Louisiana is roughly equal to that of Hawaiians who remain in Hawaii
Cause: It is the condition under which an event
occurs.
Effect: The consequence of an even occurred is
the effect

For every cause, there is an effect happening

Rain and thunder showers bashed the city during
the past three days.
Many people stayed indoor during the past three
days.
Thankyou