FSOT Logical Reasoning Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A report on international development states: 'Countries that have received consistent, high levels of our food aid over the past decade now have, on average, weaker agricultural sectors than countries that received less aid. This correlation suggests that sustained, large-scale food aid can create dependency and undermine local food production by depressing market prices for domestic farmers.' Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument made in the report?
- The countries that received less aid were, on average, more politically stable during the decade in question.
- Several of the countries that received high levels of food aid also experienced significant droughts during the same period.
- In a study of provinces within a single aid-recipient country, provinces that refused food aid saw a 15% increase in local agricultural output compared to provinces that accepted it. (Correct answer)
- The food aid provided was primarily composed of grains that are not traditionally grown in the recipient countries.
Correct answer: In a study of provinces within a single aid-recipient country, provinces that refused food aid saw a 15% increase in local agricultural output compared to provinces that accepted it.
The correct answer provides a direct, controlled comparison that isolates the variable of food aid. By showing that provinces rejecting aid had better outcomes than those accepting it within the same country, it offers strong evidence for the causal link suggested in the report, filtering out other national-level variables.
Question 2: The new cybersecurity protocol for the embassy is a necessary step. Last year, there were five attempted intrusions into our network. This year, after implementing a less comprehensive protocol, we have already seen ten attempts. Therefore, the more robust the security measures we implement, the more secure our network will be.
- The cost of implementing the new protocol is justified by the threat level.
- The number of attempted intrusions is a reliable indicator of the network's actual security level. (Correct answer)
- The new, more robust protocol will not have any undiscovered vulnerabilities.
- The individuals attempting to intrude the network are more skilled this year than they were last year.
Correct answer: The number of attempted intrusions is a reliable indicator of the network's actual security level.
The argument uses the number of 'attempted intrusions' as its primary evidence for the network's vulnerability. The conclusion that a new protocol will make the network 'more secure' only holds if one assumes that a higher number of attempts directly equates to a lower level of security. It's possible the number of attempts increased for other reasons (e.g., the embassy became a more prominent target), and the increase in detected attempts actually shows the current system is working well.
Question 3: All diplomats assigned to posts designated as 'high-threat' must complete the Foreign Affairs Counter Threat (FACT) course. The embassy in Country Y has been designated a 'high-threat' post. Sarah is a diplomat who has just received her assignment to the embassy in Country Y.
- All diplomats currently in Country Y have completed the FACT course.
- Only diplomats who complete the FACT course are considered for assignment to Country Y.
- No diplomat who has not completed the FACT course is currently in Country Y.
- Sarah must complete the FACT course for her assignment. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Sarah must complete the FACT course for her assignment.
The premises establish a clear logical chain. Premise 1: If assigned to a high-threat post, then one must complete the FACT course. Premise 2: The embassy in Country Y is a high-threat post. Premise 3: Sarah is assigned to that embassy. Therefore, the conclusion that Sarah must complete the FACT course necessarily follows.
Question 4: A recent study found that Foreign Service Officers who speak three or more languages are, on average, promoted to the Senior Foreign Service faster than their bilingual or monolingual colleagues. This demonstrates that advanced linguistic ability is the most critical factor for rapid advancement in the Foreign Service.
- The State Department offers financial incentives for officers to learn strategically important languages.
- Foreign Service Officers who learn additional languages are often assigned to more complex and high-profile posts where promotion opportunities are more frequent. (Correct answer)
- Many senior Foreign Service officers are fluent in only one or two languages.
- The study also found that multilingual officers reported higher job satisfaction.
Correct answer: Foreign Service Officers who learn additional languages are often assigned to more complex and high-profile posts where promotion opportunities are more frequent.
The argument makes a causal claim: Language skills cause faster promotion. This answer choice weakens the argument by providing a strong alternative explanation for the correlation. It suggests that language skills lead to better assignments, and it is the nature of these high-profile assignments, not the language ability itself, that leads to faster promotion. This breaks the direct causal link asserted in the conclusion.
Question 5: The 'resource curse' is a paradoxical phenomenon where countries with an abundance of valuable natural resources, like oil or minerals, tend to have less economic growth and worse development outcomes than countries with fewer natural resources. This is contrary to the expectation that resource wealth should fuel development.
- The global demand for natural resources has steadily increased over the past fifty years.
- Countries with abundant natural resources often invest heavily in education and healthcare.
- The currencies of resource-rich nations often appreciate, making their other export industries, such as manufacturing and agriculture, less competitive on the global market. (Correct answer)
- International aid organizations tend to focus their efforts on countries that lack significant natural resources.
Correct answer: The currencies of resource-rich nations often appreciate, making their other export industries, such as manufacturing and agriculture, less competitive on the global market.
The paradox is that resource wealth leads to poor outcomes. This answer provides a plausible economic mechanism, often called 'Dutch Disease,' that explains the paradox. An overvalued currency, driven by the high value of the single resource export, harms the competitiveness of all other parts of the economy, leading to a lack of diversification and stunting overall growth.
Question 6: My predecessor, who was in charge of the public affairs section, was universally liked by the local press, and during his tenure, our embassy received consistently positive media coverage. I, on the other hand, have faced critical reporting since I arrived. Clearly, the decline in positive press coverage is a direct result of my poor relationship with the local media.
- relies on the ambiguous testimony of an unnamed predecessor.
- attacks the character of the local press rather than their arguments.
- draws a general conclusion based on a single, unrepresentative case.
- assumes that because one event followed another, the first event must have caused the second. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: assumes that because one event followed another, the first event must have caused the second.
The speaker observes two sequential events: 1) their arrival and 2) negative press coverage. They then conclude that event 1 caused event 2. This is a logical fallacy known as 'post hoc ergo propter hoc' (after this, therefore because of this). The argument fails to consider other possible factors that could have caused the shift in media tone, such as a change in local politics, a new government policy, or a recent controversial action by the embassy's home country.
FSOT Logical Reasoning Questions and Answers
A report on international development states: 'Countries that have received consistent, high levels of our food aid over the past decade now have, on average, weaker agricultural sectors than countries that received less aid.
This correlation suggests that sustained, large-scale food aid can create dependency and undermine local food production by depressing market prices for domestic farmers.' Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument made in the report?