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
All mammals are warm-blooded. Dolphins are mammals. Which conclusion MUST be true?
Answer: Dolphins are warm-blooded
This is a valid syllogism. If all mammals are warm-blooded and dolphins are mammals, then dolphins must be warm-blooded.
No students who failed the exam passed the course. James failed the exam. Which conclusion MUST be true?
Answer: James did not pass the course
The rule states no exam-failers passed the course. James failed the exam, so he must not have passed the course. This follows logically.
If it rains, the match is cancelled. The match was not cancelled. Which conclusion is VALID?
Answer: It did not rain
This uses the logical form of contrapositive: if P then Q; not Q, therefore not P. If rain causes cancellation and there was no cancellation, it did not rain.
All the files in folder A are marked confidential. This file is not marked confidential. Which MUST be true?
Answer: This file is not in folder A
If all files in folder A are confidential, and this file is not confidential, it cannot be in folder A. The contrapositive is valid.
A survey found that people who drink coffee daily score higher on alertness tests. The survey concludes coffee improves alertness. Which WEAKENS this conclusion?
Answer: Alert people may be more likely to drink coffee, not the other way round
The conclusion assumes coffee causes alertness, but the relationship could be reversed — alert people may choose to drink coffee. This is the reverse causation flaw.
Every employee who completed the training received a certificate. Sarah received a certificate. Which CANNOT be concluded?
Answer: Sarah completed the training
The rule says completing training leads to a certificate — but others may also receive certificates. Sarah having a certificate does not prove she completed the training. This affirms the consequent fallacy.