Critical Reasoning and Logical Inference Flashcards
6 cards from real Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Critical Reasoning and Logical Inference flashcards as text
A journalist claims: 'Reading fiction improves empathy. Therefore, people who read a lot of fiction are more empathetic.' Which BEST challenges this?
Answer: Empathetic people may be more drawn to reading fiction in the first place
The journalist assumes fiction causes empathy, but the relationship could be reversed — naturally empathetic people may prefer fiction. This is reverse causation.
Every complaint submitted through the online portal is logged within 24 hours. Ahmed's complaint was not logged within 24 hours. What MUST be true?
Answer: Ahmed's complaint was not submitted through the online portal
If all portal complaints are logged within 24 hours, and Ahmed's was not, his complaint was not submitted through the portal. The contrapositive follows.
Sales of umbrellas rise every time it rains. Sales rose today. What MUST be true?
Answer: We cannot confirm it rained solely from umbrella sales data
Rain causes umbrella sales to rise, but umbrella sales could rise for other reasons (e.g. a sale, a promotional campaign). Rising sales alone don't confirm rain.
The committee will only approve a proposal if it is both cost-effective and environmentally sound. A proposal is cost-effective but not environmentally sound. Which is TRUE?
Answer: The committee will not approve the proposal
Both conditions must be met. The proposal lacks the environmental requirement, so despite being cost-effective, it will not be approved.
An argument states: 'Our new recruitment process takes longer but is more thorough. Therefore, it improves the quality of hires.' Which STRENGTHENS this argument?
Answer: Analysis shows employees hired through the new process perform better after 6 months
If employees hired through the new process demonstrably perform better, this directly supports the claim that the new process improves hire quality.
If interest rates rise, mortgage costs increase. If mortgage costs increase, fewer homes are sold. Interest rates rose last month. Which MUST follow?
Answer: Fewer homes will be sold
This is a chain of conditionals: rates rise → costs increase → fewer sales. Since rates rose, the chain leads to fewer homes being sold.