Critical Reasoning Questions

Critical Reasoning Questions

Directions for 1-5: In making decisions about important questions, it is desirable to be able to distinguish between ‘strong’ arguments and ‘weak’ arguments. ‘Strong’ arguments are those which are both important and directly related to the question. ‘Weak’ arguments are those which are of minor importance and also may not be directly related to the question or may be related to a trivial aspect of the question. Each question below is followed by two arguments numbered I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments a ‘strong’ argument is and which a ‘weak’ argument is. Give answer:
1	If only argument I is strong.
2	If only argument II is strong.
3	If either I or II is strong.
4	If neither I nor II is strong.
5	If both I and II are strong.

1)

Should there be no restriction on use of pesticides in the agricultural/horticultural fields? Arguments:

i

Yes, otherwise the crops will get damaged due to attack of pests.

ii

No, indiscriminate use of pesticide will contaminate the crop which is a health hazard.

Ans:

2

2)

Should there be a directive from government to the farmers as regards choice of crop on their land depending upon the soil quality and other relevant factors? Arguments:

I

No, the farmers are capable of judging and it should be left to them to choose the crop to be cultivated on their land.

ii

Yes, this will maximize the output as the government machinery can provide lot of input based on the scientific data available.

Ans:

5

3)     Should the government set up weather forecasting centers in each                 district of the country to provide data-based information to the                       farmers?             Arguments:

i

No, the government does not have adequate resources to set up such centers.

ii

No, the villagers have enough experience to understand the weather conditions.

Ans:

4

4.    Should the government of India allow farmers to cultivate Bt Cotton?       Arguments:

i

No, Bt Cotton is found to have harmful effects on human being.

ii

Yes, many western countries have allowed their farmers to do so. Ans:   1

5)

Should the government immediately withdraw subsidy on fertilizers bought by the rich farmers? Arguments:

i

Yes, the rich farmers can afford to buy the fertilizers at market rate as they make considerable profit.

ii

No, the procurement price fixed by the government is low and hence the subsidy at the present level should continue.

Ans:

3

Directions for 6-10: Below in each question are given two statements (A) and (B). These statements may be either independent causes or may be effects of independent causes or a common cause. One of these statements may be the effect of the other statement. Read both the statements and decide which of the following answer choices correctly depicts the relationship between these two statements. Mark answer:
1	If statement (A) is the cause and statement (B) is its effect.
2	If statement (B) is the cause and statement (A) is its effect.
3	If both the statements (A) and (B) are independent causes.
4	If both the statements (A) and (B) are effects of independent causes.
5	If both the statements (A) and (B) are effects of some common cause.

6)	(A) The local co-operative credit society has decided to stop giving loans to farmers with immediate effect. (B) A large number of credit society members have withdrawn major part of their deposits from the credit society.
	Ans:	5
7)	(A) There is sharp decline in the production of oil seeds this year.
	(B) The government has decided to increase the import quantum of edible oil.
	Ans:	1
8)	(A) The local farmers approached the NGO seeking advice to protest against the proposed steel plant in the locality.
	(B) The drought situation has worsened for the third consecutive year in the area forcing the local farmers to resort to huge borrowings.
	Ans:	4
9)	(A) The local Self Help Group has done a commendable job in improving the quality of life of the poor.
	(B) The rich people in the area have come together and started negative campaign against the Self Help Group.

                Ans:  3

10)	(A) All those farmers who are affected by the construction of the thermal power project have decided not to allow the plant to function.
	(B) Majority stakeholders in the thermal power project have decided to go ahead and run the plant.

                      Ans:  5

Directions for 11-15: In each question below are three statements followed by four conclusions numbered I, II, III and IV. You have to take the three given statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts and then decide which of the given conclusions logically follows from the three given statements disregarding commonly known facts. Then decide which of the answers (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) is the correct answer and indicate it on the answer sheet.
	11)		Statements: Some sweets are almonds. Some almonds are cashews. All cashews are pistachio. Conclusions:
			i	All almonds are pistachio.
			ii	Some pistachios are sweets.
			iii	Some sweets are cashews.
			iv	All almonds are either sweets or cashews.
			1	None follows
			2	Only II and III follow
			3	Only IV follows
			4	Only either I or IV follows
			5	None of these                                  Ans: 5
	12)	Statements: Some stones are pearls. All pearls are jewelry. All jewelries are diamonds. Conclusions:
		i			Some stones are diamonds.
		ii			All pearls are diamonds.
		iii			Some jewelries are stones.
		iv			Some diamonds are pearls.
		1			Only I, II and III follow
		2			Only III and IV follow
		3			Only I and II follow
		4			Only II, III and IV follow
		5			All follow
		Ans:			3
	13)	Statements: Some fruits are seeds. All seeds are trees. All plants are trees. Conclusions:
		i			Some plants are seeds.
		ii			Some plants are fruits.
		iii			Some trees are fruits.
		iv			No plant is a seed.
		1			Only III follows
		2			Only III and either I or IV follow
		3			Only II and either I or IV follow
		4			Only I and IV follow
		5			None of these
		Ans:			2
	14)	Statements: All keys are locks. All locks are latches. All latches are safes. Conclusions:
		i			All keys are latches.
		ii			All locks are safes.
		iii			All safes are latches.
		iv			All locks are keys.
		1			Only I and III follow
		2			Only II and III follow
		3			Only I and II follow
		4			Only III and IV follow
		5			All follow
		Ans:			3
	15)	Statements: Some rocks are bricks. Some bricks are sands. No sand is cement. Conclusions:
		i			Some rocks are cements.
		ii			Some rocks are sands.
		iii			Some sands are bricks.
		iv			No brick is cement.
		1			None follows
		2			Only I and II follow
		3			Only I and III follow
		4			Only II and III follow
		5			None of these
		Ans:			5